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.
Murphy's Law
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's too right
So something must be wrong
It's a bubble
That's gonna break
Says Murphy's Law
I need you
Been alone too long
If it might miss
It's gonna miss
That's Murphy's Law
And the perfect fit just
Rubs my worry stone
But if it works don't fix it
Ya leave it alone
CHORUS:
'Cause you're the only luck I need
You make it go
You're the only luck I need
To make Murphy pass my door
We put something on baby
Didn't we, didn't we, didn't we, didn't we
It's so sweet
I repeat
That something must be wrong
If it might not
Then we must stop
And talk about it
It's a work of fiction
They call it a law
But the contradiction
Is we fooled 'em all
CHORUS:
You're the only luck I need...
...You're the only luck I need
You make Murphy tell and show
You're the only luck I need...
...You're the only luck I need
To make old Murphy pass my door
If it works don't fix it
The winner takes all
You know it's the Murphy fiction
That's due for a fall
CHORUS:
The lyrics of Al Jarreau's song "Murphy's Law" portray the idea of apprehension towards a seemingly perfect situation. Al Jarreau is convinced that if something is too good and too right, then it is prone to going wrong. This he describes as a bubble that is going to break, and he attributes it to Murphy's Law. He is in a state of excitement, having found someone he needs and wants after being alone for so long. But he is still unsure about this perfect fit because he believes that if it might miss, it's definitely going to miss, according to Murphy's Law.
Al Jarreau finds himself in a dilemma because he feels like he has put something in place that is so sweet and perfect that something must be wrong with it. He contemplates stopping to talk about it if it might not work. Despite this anxiety, Al Jarreau continues to believe that his new found partner is the only luck that he needs to make Murphy pass his door. He understands that "if it works, don't fix it", and that the winner takes all. In the end, Al Jarreau thinks that Murphy's Law is a work of fiction, and he is convinced that they have fooled them all, defying the contradiction between the principles that govern Murphy's Law and the reality he is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
It's too good
The situation feels too positive and perfect to be true
It's too right
Everything seems to be going perfectly without any issues or flaws
So something must be wrong
According to Murphy's Law, if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is
It's a bubble
The positive situation is fragile and might burst unexpectedly
That's gonna break
According to Murphy's Law, any situation that seems perfect will eventually have flaws
I need you
I feel a strong emotional and physical need for you
I want you
I desire and crave your presence and affection
Been alone too long
I have been without companionship for a significant period of time and feel the need to connect with someone
If it might miss
If there is a chance of failure or disappointment
It's gonna miss
According to Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong will go wrong
And the perfect fit just
When everything seems to fit perfectly without any problems or obstacles
Rubs my worry stone
It makes me feel anxious and nervous about the future, despite the current positivity
But if it works don't fix it
If a situation is currently favorable and successful, there is no need to make any changes or adjustments
Ya leave it alone
It is best to avoid interfering with something that is working well and might cause unintentional harm
You're the only luck I need
I believe that being with you will turn the uncertain and unpredictable nature of life in my favor
You make it go
Your presence and affection give me the hope and energy to face life's challenges
To make Murphy pass my door
To avoid the pitfalls and disappointments of life, as predicted by Murphy's Law
We put something on baby
Together, we have created something special and meaningful
Didn't we, didn't we, didn't we, didn't we
Reinforcing the fact that we have built something together
It's so sweet
The situation is incredibly positive, joyful, and pleasurable
I repeat
I keep reminding myself of the positive aspects of the situation to overcome any negative feelings or doubts
If it might not
If there is a chance for failure, disappointment or loss
Then we must stop
We need to take time to evaluate the situation and see if there is anything that needs to be addressed or amended
And talk about it
We must communicate honestly and openly about our thoughts, feelings, and concerns to resolve any issues that might arise
It's a work of fiction
Murphy's Law is only a theoretical concept and not necessarily a reflection of reality
They call it a law
Despite its fictional nature, Murphy's Law is commonly accepted and acknowledged in popular culture
But the contradiction
The inconsistency and irony of Murphy's Law not being a law but still being referred to as one
Is we fooled 'em all
Our ability to create our luck with our attitude, actions, and beliefs, despite the negative assumptions of Murphy's Law
The winner takes all
If we persist and stay optimistic, we have a better chance of overcoming the challenges and obstacles of life
You know it's the Murphy fiction
Acknowledging that Murphy's Law is not a proven fact but rather a theoretical concept based on negative assumptions
That's due for a fall
Predicting that the pessimistic nature of Murphy's Law will not survive when faced with a positive mindset and approach to life
Contributed by Arianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.