Take Five
Al Jarreau & Kurt Elling Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just stop and take a little time out with me
Oh just take five, just take five
Stop your busy day and take the time out to see
That I'm alive, I'm alive

Oh, though I'm going out of my way
Just so I can pass by each day
Not a single word do we say
It's a pantomime, I'm out of time
Still I know our eyes often meet
I feel tingles down to my feet
When you smile, that's much too discreet
Sends me on my way

Now wouldn't it be better not to be so polite
When you could offer a light?
Just start a little conversation now, it's alright
When you're taking five (ah-ha)

Five

Won't ya take a little time out with me (my pretty)
Baby take five
Stop your busy day and take the time to see, girl, that I'm alive
Though I'm going out of my way
Just so I can pass by each day
Not a single word do we say
It's a pantomime, I'm out of time
Still I know our eyes often meet
I feel tingles down to my feet
When you smile, that's much too discreet
Sends me on my way

Wouldn't it be better not to be so polite, pretty mama
Don't you know that you could offer me a light?
Start a little conversation now, it's alright
When you're taking five

Won't ya take a little time out with me, girl
Come take five
Stop your busy day and take the time to see that I'm alive
Oh, though I'm going out of my way
So I can pass by each day
Not a single word do we say
It's a pantomime, I'm out of time
Still I know our eyes often meet
I feel tingles down to my feet
When you smile, that's much too discreet
Sends me on my way

Baby, just don't say hello and do not stare
You could offer your hand
Hugging and a-chugging it could be so grand
Oh take five





If you want to

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Al Jarreau's song Take Five are an invitation to stop and take a little time out with him. He urges the listener to take five and stop their busy day to acknowledge that he is alive. Even though he goes out of his way and passes by each day, not a single word is exchanged, and their communication is reduced to a pantomime. They occasionally make eye contact, and he gets tingles down to his feet when she smiles, but she is much too discreet. He suggests that it would be better not to be so polite and start a little conversation. Al Jarreau wants to spend time with this woman, take five and get to know her better.


Line by Line Meaning

Just stop and take a little time out with me
Pause for a moment and spend some time with me.


Oh just take five, just take five
Take a five minute break with me.


Stop your busy day and take the time out to see
Stop your hectic schedule and take a moment to notice.


That I'm alive, I'm alive
Acknowledge that I am present and living.


Oh, though I'm going out of my way
Despite the extra effort I'm putting in.


Just so I can pass by each day
So I can cross paths with you each day.


Not a single word do we say
We don't speak to each other at all.


It's a pantomime, I'm out of time
It's a show or act, but I'm running out of time.


Still I know our eyes often meet
Even though we don't talk, we make eye contact.


I feel tingles down to my feet
I get an excited feeling throughout my entire body.


When you smile, that's much too discreet
Your smile is subtle and not noticeable enough.


Sends me on my way
It motivates me and makes me feel good.


Now wouldn't it be better not to be so polite
Wouldn't it be nicer to not be so formal or reserved.


When you could offer a light?
Can you not offer me a light?


Just start a little conversation now, it's alright
It's okay to initiate a small conversation now.


When you're taking five (ah-ha)
During our five minute break together.


Won't ya take a little time out with me (my pretty)
Will you spend a moment with me, my lovely?


Baby take five
Come and take a five minute break with me, darling.


Though I'm going out of my way
Despite making additional effort.


Just so I can pass by each day
So that we can see each other daily.


Don't you know that you could offer me a light?
Do you know that you could give me a light?


Start a little conversation now, it's alright
It's perfectly alright to initiate a small talk now.


Won't ya take a little time out with me, girl
Will you pause with me for a while, girl?


Come take five
Join me for a five minute break.


Stop your busy day and take the time to see that I'm alive
Pause your busy schedule and acknowledge my presence.


Baby, just don't say hello and do not stare
Don't greet me or stare at me, my dear.


You could offer your hand
You can extend your hand to me.


Hugging and a-chugging it could be so grand
Hugging and enjoying ourselves could be amazing.


Oh take five
Come and take a little break with me.




Lyrics Β© Soundreef Ltd.
Written by: Paul Desmond

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@rickreese7675

Won't you stop and take a little
Time out with me, just take five
Stop your busy day and take the
Time out to see if I'm alive
Though I'm going out of my way
Just so I can pass by each day
Not a single word do we say
It's a pantomime and not a play
Still, I know our eyes often meet
I feel tingles down to my feet
When you smile, that's much too discreet
Sends me on my way
Wouldn't it be better not to be so polite
You could offer a light
Start a little conversation now, it's alright
Just take five, just take five
Though I'm going out of my way
Just so I can pass by each day
Not a single word do we say
It's a pantomime and not a play
Still, I know our eyes often meet
I feel tingles down to my feet
When you smile, that's much too discreet
Sends me on my way
Wouldn't it be better not to be so polite
You could offer a light
Start a little conversation now, it's alright
Just take five, just take five



All comments from YouTube:

@theRealPlaidRabbit

I love how free he is. He doesn't feel any obligation to act like a normal person who makes sense in normal ways-- everything is music, everything is rhythm, everything is experience, everything is art.

@emanx222

Omg this comment right here perfectly expressed what drew me to Al!!!!

@selinanicholas761

classic

@realmusicentertainmentcompany

ExactlyπŸ’―βœ”οΈβ€οΈ He doesn't let anyone put him in a boxπŸ’―βœ”οΈπŸ‘‘

@rogerwilliamson7161

A real master!

@rashido8360

Everything about him is Al Jarreau, simples.

35 More Replies...

@acraftman2823

It took many, many years of listening to all kinds of music before I was musically intelligent enough to comprehend the depth and ability of this man's music.

@lukaveselinovic

Recorded On December 2016

@chrisricks6363

I was hooked the first time I heard him. The song was My favorite things. I thought he would look like Bing Crosby. Imagine my reaction to finding this video.

@lukaveselinovic

Finished on January 2017

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