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.
Lock All The Gates
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She keeps the waiting
In candlelight the sacred
Alter shines
He suckled the young lambs
Upon his knee
Giving the weary sleep in peace
He read the stars inside her dream
Of winter's love for spring,
She kept the vision
Sweet chariots aflame against the sky
He played on the harp sweet melody
Children and emperors came to see
He drove the dragons into the nights
But he was blind
So lock all the gates and
Bolt the chamber door
Because nobody leaves or
Enters anymore
Now lock all the gates and
Bolt the chamber door
Would you lock all the
Gates and the chamber
Come, come
Somebody come and lock
All the gates and bolt the chamber
Cause nobody leaves or enters anymore
By snowy fields and lanes she
Keeps the waiting
In candlelight the sacred alter shines
He suckled the young lambs upon his knee
He bid the weary sleep in peace
He read the stars inside her dream
But he was blind, he was blind
The lyrics of Al Jarreau's song Lock All the Gates contain several metaphors that symbolize different things. The opening lines of the song, 'By snowy fields and lanes, she keeps the waiting, in candlelight the sacred altar shines,' suggest a sense of expectation and anticipation. The imagery of 'snowy fields and lanes' represents the unknown, mystery, and waiting for something to happen. The candlelight on the sacred altar symbolizes the hope and promise of something sacred and divine about to happen.
The next lines, 'He suckled the young lambs upon his knee, giving the weary sleep in peace. He read the stars inside her dream, but he was blind,' paint the picture of someone who is nurturing and caring for others. This person knows how to comfort the weary and has a special gift to understand others deeply. However, the line 'but he was blind' reveals the irony that even though he can understand and nurture others, he cannot see the truth about himself.
The last verses, 'so lock all the gates and bolt the chamber door because nobody leaves or enters anymore,' suggest a sense of finality and closure. People are being held in a confined space, possibly a prison or a chamber, and are not allowed to leave. The fact that the song ends with the repeated plea to 'lock all the gates and bolt the chamber door' emphasizes the theme of confinement and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
By snowy fields and lanes she keeps the waiting
She waits by the snow-covered fields and lanes
In candlelight the sacred alter shines
The altar shines in the candlelight
He suckled the young lambs upon his knee
He nursed the young lambs while they sat on his lap
Giving the weary sleep in peace
He gave peace to the tired who slept
He read the stars inside her dream
He interpreted the stars within her dream
But he was blind
Despite his abilities, he could not see
Of winter's love for spring, she kept the vision
She held onto the vision of winter's affection for spring
Sweet chariots aflame against the sky
Beautiful chariots on fire in the sky
He played on the harp sweet melody
He played a beautiful melody on the harp
Children and emperors came to see
Kids and rulers came to view
He drove the dragons into the nights
He made the dragons leave at night
So lock all the gates and bolt the chamber door
Seal all entry points and secure the room
Because nobody leaves or enters anymore
No one is allowed to leave or enter anymore
Would you lock all the gates and the chamber
Could you secure all entrances and the room
Come, come somebody come and lock all the gates and bolt the chamber
Please come and lock all entry points and secure the room
Because nobody leaves or enters anymore
No one is allowed to leave or enter anymore
By snowy fields and lanes she keeps the waiting
She waits by the snow-covered fields and lanes
In candlelight the sacred alter shines
The altar shines in the candlelight
He suckled the young lambs upon his knee
He nursed the young lambs while they sat on his lap
He bid the weary sleep in peace
He asked the tired to sleep in peace
He read the stars inside her dream
He interpreted the stars within her dream
But he was blind, he was blind
Despite his abilities, he could not see
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AL JARREAU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tamme Bergsma
One of his ultimate best songs. I love his voice and this arrangement.
tobor58
Thank you for this.
Al Jarreau was a one of a kind talent a secret pleasure on Black College Radio (WHUR/WEAA) back in the Day. We Got By for sure. Rest In Power.
He was one of the nicest people I’d ever have the pleasure of meeting.
Those performances back then were transformative.
John Allen
A rare talent. A once in a generation voice!
Maurizio
I never heard this before but damn this is fantastic😍 greetings from switzerland 🇨🇭💯☝🏽
Maurizio
First
Nosbor Ellav
Canta demais!!!!
Perverted Alchemist
I never thought I would see an Al Jarreau clip from his first album. This is pretty rare considering how famous he is for his stuff from the 1980's.
Philippe Diot
Awesome from the king al jarreau ! Amazing artist ! Love him so much !
Kathy Miller
I have been listening to this recording since it was released. I never knew there was a video.
Thanks Al.
Oscar Padilla
Hermoso