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.
Tired of Being Alone
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so tired of on-my-own
Won't you help me girl
Just as soon as you can
People say that I've found a way
To make you say that you love me
Hey baby, you didn't go for that
That I wanna come back
Show me where it's at, baby
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so tired of on-my-own
Won't you help me girl
Soon as you can
I guess you know that I, uh, I love you so
Even though you don't want me no more
Hey hey hey hey, I'm cryin' tears
All through the years
I'll tell ya like it is
Honey, love me if you will
Yeah baby
Tired of being alone here by myself, now
I tell ya, I'm tired baby
I'm tired of being all wrapped up late at night
In my dreams, nobody but you, baby
Sometimes I wonder
If you love me like you say you do
You see baby, I been thinkin' about it, yeah
I been, I been wantin' to get next to you baby
Ya see, sometimes I hold my arms, I say mmmm hmmm hmmm
Yeah baby
Meeting you has proven to be
To be my greatest dream, yeah
Tired, baby
Yeah, you don't know what I'm talkin' about
Sometimes late at night I get to wonderin' about you baby
Oh baby, baby
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so tired of being alone
I'm so tired of being alone
The lyrics to Al Jarreau's song "Tired of Being Alone" express a deep feeling of loneliness and the desire for companionship. The repetition of the phrase "I'm so tired of being alone" reinforces this sense of isolation and longing. The persona in the song is seeking the love and affection of a woman and is asking for her to help him as soon as she can, showing an urgency in his need for companionship.
The second verse of the song reveals that the persona has attempted to make the woman say she loves him, but she did not fall for it. This suggests that the persona may have tried to manipulate the woman into loving him, indicating a sense of desperation in his desire for companionship. He wants to come back to the relationship, but needs the woman to show him where it's at.
The song also expresses heartache and longing, with the persona crying tears throughout the years, expressing his love for the woman even though she doesn't want him anymore. He wonders if she loves him like she says she does, indicating a lack of trust and insecurity in the relationship. All in all, "Tired of Being Alone" is a powerful anthem for anyone who's ever felt lonely and longed for love and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so tired of being alone
I am exhausted and exasperated from being solitary for so long
I'm so tired of on-my-own
Being alone has worn me down to a weary state
Won't you help me girl
I am reaching out for your assistance and companionship
Just as soon as you can
I need your help as soon as possible
People say that I've found a way
Others believe that I have discovered a method
To make you say that you love me
I supposedly have a technique to make you profess your love for me
Hey baby, you didn't go for that
But, darling, it did not work in reality
It's a natural fact
It is an undeniable truth
That I wanna come back
I long to return to you
Show me where it's at, baby
Guide me to your location, my love
I guess you know that I, uh, I love you so
You must be aware of my intense affection for you
Even though you don't want me no more
Despite the fact that you no longer desire me
Hey hey hey hey, I'm cryin' tears
I am weeping uncontrollably
All through the years
For an extended period of time
I'll tell ya like it is
I will speak plainly and truthfully
Honey, love me if you will
My dear, if you choose to, please express love for me
Yeah baby
Oh, my love
Tired of being alone here by myself, now
I am exhausted from staying by myself now
I tell ya, I'm tired baby
I am fatigued, my love
I'm tired of being all wrapped up late at night
I am weary of being alone and wrapped up in my thoughts late at night
In my dreams, nobody but you, baby
In my dreams, only you, my love, exist
Sometimes I wonder
Occasionally, I ponder
If you love me like you say you do
If you truly love me as you declare
You see baby, I been thinkin' about it, yeah
You see, my love, I have been contemplating it
I been, I been wantin' to get next to you baby
I have been desiring to be near you, my love
Ya see, sometimes I hold my arms, I say mmmm hmmm hmmm
You see, occasionally I hug myself and make sounds of longing
Meeting you has proven to be
Encountering you has demonstrated to me
To be my greatest dream, yeah
That it is my ultimate aspiration, yes
Yeah, you don't know what I'm talkin' about
Yes, you do not comprehend what I am expressing
Sometimes late at night I get to wonderin' about you baby
At times, late at night, I contemplate about you, my love
Oh baby, baby
Oh, my love
I'm so tired of being alone
I am exceedingly weary of being alone
I'm so tired of being alone
I am incredibly exhausted from being by myself
I'm so tired of being alone
I am extremely fatigued of being solitary
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind