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.
Waltz For Debby
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Populated by dolls and clowns
And a prince and a big purple bear
Lives my favorite girl.
Unaware of the worried frowns
That we weary grown-ups all wear.
To silent music-songs
That are spun of gold
Somewhere in her own little head
Then one day all too soon
She'll grow up & she'll leave her doll
And her prince & her silly old bear.
When she goes they will cry
As they whisper good-bye
They will miss her I know
But then so will I.
Earrings made of shoestrings
Barbie dolls with blue jeans
Makin' cross eyes
Shakes me when I'm sleepin'
Did you ever see
A kitten with an apron on
Stop 'n start his stereo
When she knows her brothers down the hall runnin' 'round and skippin'
'Round
Because she's so,
She's so inspired
Then she's tired
Please put me jammies on
Daddy look at the rain
Can I go and play in the rain
In the sun she dances
To silent music-songs
That are spun of gold
Somewhere in her own little head
Then one day all too soon
She'll grow up & she'll leave her doll
And her prince & her silly old bear
When she goes they will cry
As they whisper good-bye
They will miss her I know
But then so will I.
The song "Waltz For Debby" by Al Jarreau is a nostalgic tribute to childhood innocence and a reminder that growing up often means leaving behind the carefree joys of childhood. The lyrics describe a young girl who lives in her own imaginative world, full of dolls, clowns, a prince, and a big purple bear. She is oblivious to the concerns of adults and dances in the sun to imaginary golden music that only she can hear. However, the song acknowledges the inevitable reality that one day the young girl will grow up and leave behind her childhood toys and fanciful world, prompting nostalgic memories and tears from those who knew and loved her, including the singer.
The song captures the essence of childhood, with its innocence and imaginative play, and the bittersweet feeling of watching that innocence disappear with the passage of time. It is also a tribute to the joys of imagination and the importance of holding onto those memories even as we grow older. The lyrics paint a picture of a young girl who is entirely content in her own world, where anything is possible and everything is magical. But the song also hints at the sadness and loss that come with growing up and moving on from our childhood fantasies.
Line by Line Meaning
In her own sweet world
The girl being referred to in the song lives in a world of her own, entirely different from that of grown-ups
Populated by dolls and clowns
Her world is full of dolls and clowns, which are prominent characters that make up her world
And a prince and a big purple bear
Also part of her world are a prince and a big purple bear, which add to the quirky, fantastical nature of her world
Lives my favorite girl.
The girl being described is the artist's favorite, likely because of her unique and imaginative outlook on life
Unaware of the worried frowns
The girl is blissfully unaware of the stress and worry that plagues adults
That we weary grown-ups all wear.
This stress and worry is a shared experience among all adults
In the sun she dances
The girl dances happily in the sunshine
To silent music-songs
Her music is the sound of the world around her, not anything that can be heard by others
That are spun of gold
The source of her music and inspiration is highly valued, precious and unique (using gold as a metaphor)
Somewhere in her own little head
The source of her imagination and creativity is within her own mind
Then one day all too soon
Unfortunately, the girl will eventually grow up
She'll grow up & she'll leave her doll
She will stop playing with her toys and other childish things
And her prince & her silly old bear.
The prince and bear will no longer be part of her life as she grows older
When she goes they will cry
When she leaves behind her childish ways, her toys and dolls will be left behind, and they will miss her
As they whisper good-bye
They will say farewell quietly, without causing too much commotion
They will miss her I know
The artist of the song knows that the toys and dolls will miss the girl's presence
But then so will I.
The artist of the song will also feel a sense of loss when the girl leaves behind her childhood
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind