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.
Winter Wonderland
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you listening?
In the lane
Snow is glistening
A beautiful sight
We're happy tonight
Walking
In a winter wonderland
Gone away
Is the bluebird
Here to stay
Is a new bird
He sings a love song
As we go along
Walking
In a winter wonderland
In the meadow
We can build a snowman
And pretend
That he is Parson Brown
He'll say are you married?
We'll say No man
But you can do the job
When you're in town
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream, by the fire
To face unafraid
The plans that we've made
Walking
In a winter wonderland
In the meadow
We can build a snowman
And pretend
That he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun
With Mr. Snowman
Until the other kids
Come knock him down
When it's cold
Ain't it thrilling
When your nose
Gets to chilling
We'll frolic and play
The Eskimo way
Walking
In a winter wonderland
Walking
In a winter wonderland
The song Winter Wonderland by Al Jarreau is a classic Christmas tune that describes the wonder, excitement and joy that come with the winter season. In the opening lines, the singer paints a picture of an idyllic winter scene, where the sound of sleigh bells complement the glistening snow in the lane. The song suggests that there is something magical about the winter season, and that it inspires happy thoughts and feelings in people. The scene highlights the simplicity of walking in the snow, but also illuminates the beauty that can be found in the winter season if only we pay attention.
In the next verse, the singer talks about the change in seasons where the bluebird of happiness is gone, and a new bird sings a love song. The imagery in the verse suggests that despite the challenges that winter poses, it is a season that inspires new beginnings for those who allow themselves to immerse into it. The final verse describes the pleasures that can be derived from building a snowman and enjoying some time in the company of friends. The song highlights the fun activities that come with winter, from playing games to enjoying the snow. Overall, the song portrays a winter wonderland as a magical destination where joy can be found in the most ordinary activities.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleigh bells ring
The sound of jingling bells alerts us to the arrival of winter and the upcoming holiday season
Are you listening?
Are you paying attention to the magic of this moment?
In the lane
As we walk through the quiet and peaceful street
Snow is glistening
The white snow sparkles under the moonlight like millions of tiny diamonds
A beautiful sight
This winter wonderland is a breathtaking and picturesque scene
We're happy tonight
The cheer and joy of the holiday season has enveloped us and lifted our spirits
Walking
Strolling arm in arm and enjoying this delightful winter evening
Gone away
The bluebird, a symbol of happiness, has migrated for the winter
Is the bluebird
The bluebird has left, but a new bird has arrived with a different song to sing
Here to stay
This new bird will be with us for the winter season, singing and chirping cheerfully
He sings a love song
This new bird serenades us with its sweet and soothing melody
As we go along
Our journey through this winter wonderland is accompanied by the bird's charming song
In the meadow
A grassy clearing, blanketed with snow and untouched by human footprints
We can build a snowman
We can create a frosty friend out of the snow in the meadow
And pretend
In our imagination, this snowman comes to life and becomes a beloved companion
That he is Parson Brown
We give the snowman a name and pretend he is a wise and friendly clergyman
He'll say are you married?
We imagine the snowman asking us if we are already taken by someone special
We'll say No man
We pretend to answer the snowman's question with a playful rhyme
But you can do the job
We say that the snowman should try his hand at matchmaking since he seems to be such a great listener
When you're in town
Perhaps the snowman can help us find love when we are back in civilization
Later on, we'll conspire
After a long day of playing in the snow, we will gather around the fireplace and hatch secret plans
As we dream, by the fire
Relaxing in the warmth of the fire, we allow ourselves to drift into dreams of the future
To face unafraid
We will bravely confront whatever challenges life may bring in the upcoming year
The plans that we've made
We will work together to achieve our goals and make our dreams a reality
And pretend
Just like before, we will use our imagination to create wonderful stories and scenarios
That he's a circus clown
The snowman takes on a new identity as we build him up with different accessories and adornments
We'll have lots of fun
We will delight in the simple pleasures of play and laughter
With Mr. Snowman
Our snowy companion is there to join us in our adventures and bring us joy
Until the other kids
Unfortunately, not everyone shares our exuberance and some jealous kids may try to ruin our fun
Come knock him down
Our precious snowman will eventually succumb to the destructive power of these bullies
When it's cold
The biting chill of the winter air is uncomfortable and painful
Ain't it thrilling
But there is something undeniably exciting and exhilarating about being out in the cold
When your nose
The harshness of the weather causes our noses to become red and numb
Gets to chilling
But in some strange way, this discomfort is a reminder of how alive we are
We'll frolic and play
We will embrace the joy of the moment and forget about our worries and responsibilities
The Eskimo way
We will let ourselves be guided by our inner child and laugh and play like we did when we were young
Walking
Every step we take is a celebration of life and love, and we are grateful for this winter wonderland that surrounds us
In a winter wonderland
For today, we forget about our problems and immerse ourselves in the magic of this winter wonderland
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Jeremy Stuart Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RHINO
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TralfazConstruction
I believe that this is the best version of Winter Wonderland that I have ever heard. There's an unquantifiable quality to Al's rendition which, for me, seems to 'fold' time back over itself as I can recall each Christmas since my earliest memory in a stream of pleasant memories as I listen to Al sing.
TralfazConstruction
That's fine. There are a lot of qualities about it that I found to admire.
Jordan Sparks
this is the worst version of winter wonderland that I have ever heard. Honestly can't believe anyone enjoys it.
OntoitinThere
This is our favorite Christmas album!
fastone56
Great version of a classic Christmas song.
Ramia Lar
Never knew he did a Christmas album. Such an accomplished musician and gentleman Rest on sir!
sandra rogers
I can listen to this year round, smooth jazz sound to it Ya Dig ❤ ❤
sandra rogers
Beautiful throwback classic Christmas song Ya Dig ❤
wisdom chase
Not crazy about the CD but I love this!