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.

Until You Love Me
Al Jarreau Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want to know the places that you go when you're all alone.
And I want to see all the secrets that you keep when you're not with me.
And I'll open the treasures of love deep in my heart.

CHORUS:
And I promise I'll hold you close to me.
I'll write you a song with words so sweet
And I'll sing to you the melody,

‘Til you Love me.

Tell me your dreams
And every wish that I might grant for thee.
Open your heart and let me fill you up with everything you need.
And we'll walk step by step, you and me in harmony.

CHORUS X 1
Show me the key
And I'll write a symphony for you and me.
Words can't explain how much your love means to me.

CHORUS X 3

Overall Meaning

Al Jarreau's song "Until You Love Me" is a love song that expresses the desire to know everything about the one you love. The lyrics express a deep longing to be close to the person and learn about their secrets and desires. The song starts with the lines "I want to know the places that you go when you're all alone, and I want to see all the secrets that you keep when you're not with me." The singer expresses his willingness to open the treasures of love deep in his heart and promises to hold the person close to him.

The chorus of the song is a promise to the loved one that the singer will write them a sweet song with a beautiful melody, and he will continue to sing until they love him. The singer goes on to ask the person to tell him their dreams and every wish that he might grant for them. Additionally, the singer wants the person to open their heart and let him fill it up with everything they need. He promises to walk step by step with them in perfect unity.

The song ends with the singer asking the person to show him the key to their heart, and he promises to write a symphony for the two of them. The lyrics convey an immense sense of love and longing for someone, and the song's melody helps to make the lyrics more powerful and emotional.

Line by Line Meaning

I want to know the places that you go when you're all alone.
I am curious about your individuality and I am interested to know where you go when you are by yourself.

And I want to see all the secrets that you keep when you're not with me.
I desire to know every little thing that you conceal about yourself when you are not with me.

And I'll open the treasures of love deep in my heart.
I am willing to unlock the profound love that is engulfed deep inside my heart.

And I promise I'll hold you close to me.
I pledge to embrace you warmly and keep you close to me.

I'll write you a song with words so sweet
I will pen a melody filled with sweet lyrics for you.

And I'll sing to you the melody,
I will croon the composition to you.

‘Til you Love me.
Until the time you begin to love me.

Tell me your dreams
Share with me your aspirations and desires.

And every wish that I might grant for thee.
Express each and every one of your wishes that I can fulfill for you.

Open your heart and let me fill you up with everything you need.
Unveil your emotions and allow me to replenish your soul with all that is required.

And we'll walk step by step, you and me in harmony.
Together we will walk in a synchronized and melodious fashion.

Show me the key
Provide me with the clues to unlock your love.

And I'll write a symphony for you and me.
Using the key, I will create a masterpiece for the two of us.

Words can't explain how much your love means to me.
Words fall short in describing the immense significance and value of your love to me.