Alwin Lopez Jarreau (12 March 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 12 february 20… Read Full Bio ↴Alwin Lopez Jarreau (12 March 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 12 february 2017, Los Angeles, California), known popularly as Al Jarreau, was an American, Grammy Award–winning jazz singer. Versatile in his singing style, Jarreau is a twelve-time Grammy-nominated vocalist and the only vocalist in history to win a Grammy Award in three separate categories: jazz, pop, and R&B.

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.

O Come All Ye Faithful
Al Jarreau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, come ye
Oh come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the King of angels
Oh come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord

God of God

Light of light
Lo, he abhors
Not the virgin's womb
Very God
Begotten not created
Oh come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens
Of heaven above
Glory to God
In the highest

Oh come
Let us adore him
Christ the Lord

See how the shepherds
Summoned to his cradle
Leaving their flocks
Draw nigh with lowly fear
We too will thither hend
Our joyful footsteps
Oh come, let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Yea, Lord, we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus
To thee be glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
Oh come

Let us adore him
Christ the Lord

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Al Jarreau's song 'O Come All Ye Faithful' are a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The opening lines invite all to come to Bethlehem - the birthplace of Jesus - and witness the arrival of the King of Angels. This is a call to all Christians around the world to come and pay their respects to the Messiah. The lyric 'let us adore him, Christ the Lord' is a reminder to listeners of the importance of this occasion and to approach it with reverence.

The following lines of 'O Come All Ye Faithful' describe the divine nature of Jesus. The reference to Jesus as 'Very God' and 'Begotten, not created' gives listeners insight into the divine nature of Christ. The second stanza goes on to highlight the importance of the event with the line 'Sing, choirs of angels'. This instigates a chorus of angels from the heavens who all sing 'Glory be to God in the highest.'

The final stanza of 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is an invitation to join the shepherds who were summoned to Jesus' cradle. They left behind their flocks to pay homage to the Messiah. The line 'Yea, Lord, we greet thee' is a declaration of the immense joy and reverence that this event holds. The lyrics of 'O Come All Ye Faithful' remind listeners of the importance of the event and invite everyone to come and celebrate the birth of Christ.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, come ye
Come, everyone

Oh come ye to Bethlehem
Come to Bethlehem

Come and behold him
See him for yourself

Born the King of angels
He is the King of angels

Oh come, let us adore him
Let us worship him

Christ the Lord
He is the Lord Messiah

God of God
He is God

Light of light
He is the light of light

Lo, he abhors
He does not dislike

Not the virgin's womb
He is not against being born of a virgin

Very God
He is truly God