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.

Tomorrow Today
Al Jarreau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chant:
We need a think tank I'm thinking
We need a think tank I'm thinking

Verse 1:
With tender smile, we bless a child
with love and light, and patron saint.
Don't let them cry, that we denied

tomorrow's child today.

Verse 2:
The hurt, the need, to heal, to feed
They linger near the marketplace.
Will we deny, or compromise
tomorrow's child today?

Pre-chorus:
La la la la la la la ley lu, La la lee lew-lay
Mama loves a mambo, Mama Papa sway
La la la la la la la ley lu, La la lee lew-lay
Mama Papa thinkin' 'bout tomorrow today

Verse 3:
As rivers roar, the eagles soar
this ancient lore of rightful place.
Do we ignore, or save them for
Tomorrow's child today?

Pre-chorus:
La la la la la la la ley lu, La la lee lew-lay
Mama loves a mambo, Mama Papa sway
La la la la la la la ley lu, La la lee lew-ay
Mama Papa thinkin' 'bout:

Chorus:
Tomorrow today---Is anybody thinkin' 'bout
Tomorrow today---Is anybody thinkin' 'bout

Verse: Instrumental

Pre-chorus:
La la la la la la la ley lu, La la lee lew-lay
Mama loves mambo, Mama Papa sway
La la la la la la la ley lu, La la lee lew-lay
Celebrate and think about:

Chorus:
Tomorrow Today - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout
Tomorrow Today - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout
Thinkin' about the homeless - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout
Thinkin' about the joblessness - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout

Thinkin' about the children - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout
Thinkin' about the forest, yes - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout

Overall Meaning

The song "Tomorrow Today" by Al Jarreau is a powerful message about the importance of thinking about the future and taking action to ensure a better tomorrow. The opening chant, "We need a think tank I'm thinking", emphasizes that we need to come together and put our minds to work to solve the issues that we face as a society.

The first and second verses touch on the importance of taking care of the world and the people who live in it. Jarreau sings about blessing a child with love and light, and not denying them the opportunities they need to thrive. He also highlights the hurt and need that exist in the world, questioning whether we will deny or compromise the needs of future generations. The pre-chorus features a playful "La la la" refrain, which is contrasted with the seriousness of the message in the verses. It is a reminder that while we need to take action and think about the future, we should not forget to celebrate life in the present.

In the third verse, Jarreau talks about the importance of preserving nature and the beauty of the world. He sings about the rivers roaring and eagles soaring, and questions whether we will ignore or save them for tomorrow's child. The final chorus adds a call to action, asking if anybody is thinking about the issues that plague our society such as homelessness, joblessness, and the environment. The song ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing that it is possible to make a difference and create a better tomorrow if we all work together to think and act today.

Line by Line Meaning

With tender smile, we bless a child with love and light, and patron saint.
We show kindness and love towards children by blessing them with our smiles and good intentions. We wish them well and hope that they have a bright future ahead of them.

Don't let them cry, that we denied tomorrow's child today.
We must not ignore or deny the needs of the future generation. We must take care of them and provide them with the resources they need to survive and thrive.

The hurt, the need, to heal, to feed They linger near the marketplace.
There are people who are in distress and require help, such as those who are hungry or sick. They can be found near the marketplace, searching for assistance.

Will we deny, or compromise tomorrow's child today?
We must decide whether or not we will neglect or make sacrifices for the future generation today. We must consider the long-term effects of our actions.

As rivers roar, the eagles soar this ancient lore of rightful place.
Nature has its own way of functioning, and we must respect its balance. We must acknowledge the importance of preserving the environment and the ecosystems within it.

Do we ignore, or save them for Tomorrow's child today?
We must choose whether to disregard or safeguard nature for future generations. We must strive to leave the world in a better condition than we found it.

Thinkin' about the homeless - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout Thinkin' about the joblessness - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout Thinkin' about the children - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout Thinkin' about the forest, yes - Is anybody thinkin' 'bout
Are we considering the struggles faced by those who are homeless and unemployed? Are we prioritizing the well-being of children and the preservation of nature? We need to address these issues and take action to solve them.

Contributed by Caroline A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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