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.
The Little Christmas Tree
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The snow flakes fall
Against my window pane
And wonder if you
Are watching snow
Flakes too
I take a walk downtown
To where
You used to meet me
There's joy everywhere
But all that's
Waiting there
Is just
[Chorus]
A little Christmas tree
Lookin' sorta
Sad n' lonely just like me
No one seems to care
They just went away
And left it standing there
All alone on Christmas Eve
I hear the Christmas bell
The happy people singing
The songs of good cheer
That only brings me tears
I sadly close my eyes
And say a little prayer
You'll be
Waiting there for me
I look but all I see
Is just
[Chorus]
This is the season of love
But I'm as sad as I can be
Why did you have to leave me
Oh
[Chorus]
The Little Christmas Tree by Al Jarreau is a song about loneliness during the holiday season. The song starts with the singer watching the snowflakes fall against his window and wondering if the person he loves is also watching the snowflakes. He then takes a walk downtown to where he used to meet his loved one, but all he finds is a little Christmas tree that looks "sad n' lonely just like me." Despite the joy and happiness that surrounds the holiday season, the singer is consumed by loneliness and sadness because he is missing his loved one.
In the chorus, the little Christmas tree serves as a metaphor for the singer's own loneliness. He feels that no one cares about him or the tree, that they have all gone away and left him standing there all alone on Christmas Eve. The song continues with the singer hearing the Christmas bell and the happy people singing songs of good cheer, which only brings him to tears. He says a little prayer that his loved one will be waiting for him, but all he sees is the little Christmas tree standing alone.
The song expresses the feelings of those who are alone during the holiday season, a time when family and friends gather to celebrate love and joy. It is a reminder that even in a time of happiness and warmth, some people may still feel lonely and sad, missing those who are no longer with them.
Line by Line Meaning
I watch
I gaze intently at the scene before me
The snow flakes fall
Frozen rain drops descend gently from the sky
Against my window pane
Upon the glass of my window, the snowflakes settle
And wonder if you
I am curious if you
Are watching snow
You are observing the white snow
Flakes too
Identical to mine
I take a walk downtown
I venture to the city center
To where
In the direction of the place
You used to meet me
Where we had scheduled to assemble
There's joy everywhere
A plethora of happiness is present
But all that's
Everything that was
Waiting there
In that location and state
Is just
Merely
A little Christmas tree
A small evergreen, adorned for the holiday
Lookin' sorta
Appearing in a way
Sad n' lonely just like me
Depressed and solitary, just as I am
No one seems to care
No individual appears to be concerned
They just went away
They simply departed
And left it standing there
And abandoned the tree, remaining upright and exposed
All alone on Christmas Eve
Solely present on the night before Christmas
I hear the Christmas bell
I detect the sound of the traditional, festive chime
The happy people singing
The joyous individuals singing
The songs of good cheer
The melodies emitting positive, cheerful vibes
That only brings me tears
Causing me to weep
I sadly close my eyes
Reluctantly, I shut my eyes
And say a little prayer
I offer a small, quiet plea
You'll be
You shall be
Waiting there for me
Expectantly anticipating my arrival
I look but all I see
I search for your presence, but all I observe
Is just
Simply
A little Christmas tree
The small evergreen, standing without purpose
This is the season of love
This time of year signifies love
But I'm as sad as I can be
Despite that fact, I am as unhappy as possible
Why did you have to leave me
What was the reason for your departure
Oh
An expression conveying various emotions
[Chorus]
A repeating verse that serves as the song's main message
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mickey Rooney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind