As the son of a vicar, he had his first singing experiences in a church choir. He attended Ripon College, where he also sang non-professionally with a group called the Indigos, and graduated in 1962. He went on to earn a master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa, and worked as a rehabilitation counselor in San Francisco before joining a small jazz club trio headed by George Duke and deciding that he would make professional singing his life in 1968
He appeared in such Los Angeles hot spots as Dino's, the Troubador and Bitter End West. Television exposure came from Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin and David Frost, while he expanded his nightclub appearances to include performing at the Improv between the acts of such rising-star comics as Bette Midler, Jimmie Walker, and John Belushi, among others.
He was spotted by Warner Bros. in 1975 and soon thereafter released his critically acclaimed debut album, We Got By, which catapulted him into international fame and garnered him a German Grammy Award. A second German Grammy would follow with the release of his second album, Glow.
One of Jarreau's most commercially and artistically successful albums is Breakin' Away (1981), which includes the hit song "We're in This Love Together." He wrote and performed the Grammy-nominated theme to the 1980s American television show Moonlighting. Among other things, he is well-known for his scat singing and the ability to perfectly imitate conventional guitar, bass and percussive instrumentation. He was also a featured vocalist on USA for Africa's "We are the World" and sang the line, "...and so we all must lend a helping hand."
He has toured and performed with such greats as Joe Sample, Kathleen Battle, Miles Davis, David Sanborn and Rick Braun. He also performed the role of the Teen Angel in a 1996 Broadway production of Grease. On March 6, 2001 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
Like a Lover
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To come from tomorrow
Don't wait for your love
To come from yesterday
Your heart better skip a
Beat tomorrow
Your heart better jump
A beat from yesterday
Love you lost
When someone needs
The love that you have
Don't ache for the
Love you need
Someone somewhere
Wants what you've got
Maybe she's looking
For you in London
L is for lover
Maybe she's looking
For you in Boston
O is for an offer
Maybe she's looking
For you in Houston
V you got to venture
Maybe she's looking
For you in Kingston
E maybe forever
Don't wait for your mum
To lesson your sorrow
Don't wait for the crown
To bring you brighter days
Your heart better skip
A beat to tomorrow
Your heart better jump
A beat from yesterday
Don't wait for the love you lost
When someone needs
The love that you have
Don't ache for the love you need
Someone somewhere
Wants what you've got
Don't cry for the love you lost
When someone needs
The love that you have
Don't sigh for the love you need
Someone somewhere
Wants what you've got
Do not cry for the love you lost
Do not cry for the love you need
Do not mourn for the love you lost
Don't mourn for the love you need
Do not cry for the love you lost
Do not ache for the love you need
Do not mourn for the love you lost
Don't mourn for the love you need
Maybe she's looking for you in Moscow
L is for lover
Looking for you in Glasgow
O is for an offer
Maybe she's looking for you in Rio
V you got to venture
Maybe she's looking for you in Tokyo
E maybe forever
Maybe she's looking for you in Sydney
L is for lover
Maybe she's looking for you in Philly
O is for an offer
Maybe she's looking for you in Lisbon
V you got to venture
Maybe she's looking for you in Brooklyn
E maybe forever
The song "Like a Lover" by Al Jarreau speaks of the urgency of not waiting for love to come from the past or the future, but embracing the present and taking a chance on love now. The chorus speaks to the idea that one should not mourn or ache for lost love when someone else may be waiting to reciprocate the love that they have to offer. The song encourages listeners to be proactive in their pursuit of love and not let opportunities pass them by.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't wait for your love
To come from tomorrow
Do not postpone finding love until the future, act in the present.
Don't wait for your love
To come from yesterday
Do not dwell in past relationships or events, focus on the present for finding love.
Your heart better skip a
Beat tomorrow
Your heart will skip a beat in excitement for what the future holds.
Your heart better jump
A beat from yesterday
Your heart will beat faster in anticipation for the future and the possibilities it holds.
Don't wait for the
Love you lost
Do not dwell on the love that was lost, but rather focus on the love that awaits.
When someone needs
The love that you have
Someone out there is looking for the kind of love that you can offer.
Don't ache for the
Love you need
Do not suffer in longing for the love that is missing, but take the initiative to find it.
Someone somewhere
Wants what you've got
There is someone out there who desires the kind of love you can offer.
Maybe she's looking
For you in London
L is for lover
Potentially, a woman is searching for love, and L hints of love being in London.
Maybe she's looking
For you in Boston
O is for an offer
Possibly, this woman is interested in making you an offer of love in Boston.
Maybe she's looking
For you in Houston
V you got to venture
Perhaps she wants to take chances with you in Houston, suggesting the need for taking risks in love.
Maybe she's looking
For you in Kingston
E maybe forever
She might be seeking you out in Kingston, hoping or maybe expecting the relationship to last forever (E).
Don't wait for your mum
To lesson your sorrow
Do not depend on your mother to comfort or console you when upset, especially about love.
Don't wait for the crown
To bring you brighter days
Do not anticipate power or other external forces to genuinely improve your life, including your love life.
Your heart better skip
A beat to tomorrow
Your heart will beat with hope and anticipation for the upcoming day.
Your heart better jump
A beat from yesterday
Your heart will beat faster in excitement for the present and future because of the choices you make.
Don't cry for the love you lost
When someone needs
The love that you have
Do not cry over losing love, when someone is waiting for the kind of love you can offer.
Don't sigh for the love you need
Someone somewhere
Wants what you've got
Do not keep desiring the kind of love that is not present, considering that someone out there desires the kind of love you can offer.
Maybe she's looking for you in Moscow
L is for lover
She could be searching for love and for someone to love in Moscow, with L hinting at the presence of love in Moscow.
Looking for you in Glasgow
O is for an offer
Perhaps someone wants to make you an offer of love in Glasgow, with O signifying offer.
Maybe she's looking for you in Rio
V you got to venture
Perhaps she wants you to take a chance in love in Rio, with V implying taking a risk or venture.
Maybe she's looking for you in Tokyo
E maybe forever
She could be looking to prolong love forever in Tokyo, with E conveying forever.
Maybe she's looking for you in Sydney
L is for lover
Possibly, someone is searching for love in Sydney, with L indicating that love is available in Sydney.
Maybe she's looking for you in Philly
O is for an offer
Perhaps someone wants to offer you love in Philly, with O meaning offer.
Maybe she's looking for you in Lisbon
V you got to venture
Maybe she wants to take a risk in Lisbon to find love together, with V being an indicator for venturing out.
Maybe she's looking for you in Brooklyn
E maybe forever
Possibly, she is seeking love in Brooklyn and expecting it to last forever, with E indicating forever.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Bergman, Dorival Tostes Caymmi, Marilyn Bergman, Nelson Motta
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Evan Varns
This entire song is absolutely gorgeous, but from 3:24 to 4:19 is just heartbreakingly beautiful and perfect.
Natalie Kimber
Rest in Peace, Lover Al Jarreau. My childhood is filled with memories of breakfast (Mornin), christmas, road trips through forested mountains, beaches... Al was with me and family through it all before I turned 7. Foundation for life I guess. I've never stopped loving your music, and this was probably my favorite song and best rendition I've ever heard. Heaven has a new angel.
Kenneth Caston
You have been my best friend through thick & thin , since live in Europe album in 1977 I have been a devoted fan & FOLLOWER of your music genious ever since, RIP , my old friend & much love !! Kenneth J Caston 2021 !
M.C. Oult
There have been several wonderful renditions of this great song over the years; but IMHO there has never yet been one that reaches the emotional depth of AJ and this amazing arrangement. A masterpiece.
Thanks, Mathew, for posting this!
John Fenner
There Can’t Be A Better Vocal Or Arrangement Of This ! . Marvellous!.
Dr. Laura Klein
THANK YOU, Mathew, for posting this INCREDIBLE song by Al Jarreau! I can't believe you can't get it on Amazon Alexa! One of his most soulful for sure.
Aloebunny
The best renditon of this song by far! What a voice, great song!!!
Max Shumake
The most beautiful piano solo and Al. Awesome.
TheAdisah
No one can sing this song for me but you Al!
Stephanie Brooks
Takes me back to some good times. Rest in peace Al.❤