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.
Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
Watchin' the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again
Yea
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the time roll away
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
Cause I had nothin' to live for
And look Like nothin's gonna come my way
So I'm just goin to sit on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the time roll away
Ooh
I'm sittin' on the dock the dock of the bay wastin' time
Look pop nothin's goin' to change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same
Yes
Sittin' here restin' my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
Yes
2000 miles I roam
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm jus' gon' sit at the dock of a bay
Watchin' the time roll away
Ooh
Sittin' On the dock of the bay wastin' time
Al Jarreau's version of "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" is a soulful, insightful interpretation of the iconic Otis Redding song. The opening verses depict a poignant scene of a man sitting on the dock of the San Francisco Bay, watching the ships roll in and out. The lyrics convey a sense of melancholy and longing, as the singer reflects on his life and his lack of direction. The opening line, "sittin' in the mornin' sun," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer waits for something to happen.
The song's next verse reveals the singer's motivation for leaving his home in Georgia and heading west to San Francisco Bay. He had nothing to live for and was looking for a change, but now finds himself stuck in the same place, wasting time. The lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness and frustration, as the singer laments the fact that nothing seems to be changing in his life. The final verses emphasize the singer's loneliness and isolation, as he reflects on the 2,000 miles he has traveled to make this dock his home.
Overall, Al Jarreau's version of "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" is a moving portrayal of a man struggling to find meaning in his life. The song's lyrics offer a universal message about the importance of finding purpose and direction, and the consequences of wasting time.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' in the mornin' sun
I am sitting in the sun in the morning
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' come
I will continue to sit when the evening arrives
Watchin' the ships roll in
I am observing the arrival of ships
Then I watch 'em roll away again
And then I watch them depart
Yea
Yes
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
I am sitting on the bay's dock
Watchin' the time roll away
Watching time pass by
Oh
Expressing surprise or emotion to the previous statement
I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay
I am only sitting on the dock of the bay
Wastin' time
Wasting my time doing nothing
I left my home in Georgia
I departed from my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco Bay
I went to the Frisco Bay
Cause I had nothin' to live for
Because I had no purpose in life
And look Like nothin's gonna come my way
I don't see any good opportunities coming my way
So I'm just goin to sit on the dock of the bay
Therefore, I'll just sit on the bay's dock
Watchin' the time roll away
Watching the time go by
Ooh
Expressing excitement or surprise
I'm sittin' on the dock the dock of the bay wastin' time
I am just sitting on the bay's dock wasting my time
Look pop nothin's goin' to change
Hey, nothing is going to change
Everything still remains the same
Everything is still the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
I am not able to do everything ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same
So I suppose I'll keep being the same
Yes
Expressing agreement to the previous statement
Sittin' here restin' my bones
I am sitting, resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
But this loneliness is not letting me go
Yes
Agreement
2000 miles I roam
I traveled two thousand miles
Just to make this dock my home
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm jus' gon' sit at the dock of a bay
Now, I am just going to sit on the bay's dock
Watchin' the time roll away
Watching the time go by
Ooh
Excitement or surprise
Sittin' On the dock of the bay wastin' time
Just sitting on the bay's dock, wasting my time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steve Cropper, Otis Redding
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind