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.
You Ought to Be With Me
Al Jarreau Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About how you want to be
You ought to be with me
Yeah, you ought to be with me
Thinking 'bout what people do
Talking 'bout how I love you
Thinking there's nothing to what they say
They don't want to see us do
All of the things we want to
You ought to be with me
Hey, you ought to be with me
You don't have to waste my time
If you want to be a friend of mine
You can leave me now and walk away
And turn your back for another day
Oh baby, yeah yeah
Ought to be the kind of girl
That can brighten this old world
And it's hard to see why you and me
Can't be together happily
I'm trying to realize
You being with some other guy
I don't know the reason why
You oughta be with me until I die
Hey, you ought to be with me until I die
I don't want to waste my time
If you want to be a friend of mine
I wanna hold you tight, love you right
Put good feeling in your night
In "You Ought to Be With Me," Al Jarreau sings about wanting to be with someone who may be facing resistance or obstacles in their relationship. The song begins with an invitation to have a conversation about how the other person wants to be, suggesting a desire for a deeper connection. Jarreau then reflects on the opinions and rumors that surround their relationship, stating that they do not hold any weight and should not deter them from being together.
The lyrics imply that despite any disapproval or external pressure, the singer firmly believes that they should be together. Jarreau expresses frustration with those who oppose their relationship, emphasizing that they should not interfere with their happiness. He implores the person to make a decision and not waste his time if they only want to maintain a friendship. He mentions the possibility of the person leaving and turning their back, but acknowledges that it would be a temporary separation.
The song speaks to the singer's longing for a deep connection and the frustration of not being able to understand why the person they want to be with is involved with someone else. The lyrics reveal a plea for the person to be with the singer until the end, emphasizing the intensity of their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sit right down and talk to me
Take a seat and have a genuine conversation with me
About how you want to be
Discuss your desire to be in a relationship with me
You ought to be with me
It is in your best interest to be with me
Yeah, you ought to be with me
Yes, it is truly in your best interest to be with me
Thinking 'bout what people do
Contemplating the actions of others
Talking 'bout how I love you
Expressing my deep affection for you
Thinking there's nothing to what they say
Believing that their words hold no significance
You're going to be with me anyway
Regardless, you will still choose to be with me
They don't want to see us do
Others do not wish to witness our actions
All of the things we want to
Engaging in everything that brings us joy
You ought to be with me
It is the right decision for you to be by my side
Hey, you ought to be with me
Listen, it is truly in your best interest to be with me
You don't have to waste my time
You do not need to consume my time if you do not genuinely care
If you want to be a friend of mine
If you desire to have a meaningful friendship with me
You can leave me now and walk away
You have the option to depart from our connection and move on
And turn your back for another day
Choosing to ignore our bond for a while
Oh baby, yeah yeah
Darling, oh yes
Ought to be the kind of girl
Should possess the qualities of a wonderful woman
That can brighten this old world
Capable of bringing joy to this weary world
And it's hard to see why you and me
Finding it difficult to comprehend why you and I
Can't be together happily
Cannot experience happiness in each other's presence
I'm trying to realize
I am attempting to comprehend
You being with some other guy
You being in a relationship with another man
I don't know the reason why
I am unaware of the explanation for this
You oughta be with me until I die
It is crucial for you to be by my side until the end of my life
Hey, you ought to be with me until I die
Listen, it is truly in your best interest to be with me until the end
I don't want to waste my time
I do not wish to spend my time pointlessly
If you want to be a friend of mine
If you desire to have a genuine friendship with me
I wanna hold you tight, love you right
I long to embrace you tightly and love you perfectly
Put good feeling in your night
To bring positive emotions into your evening
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Green, Al Jackson Jr, Willie Mitchell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind