His first musical success was as a 14-year-old guitarist in the Royal Teens, best known for their novelty blues riff, "Short Shorts". In 1960, he joined the song-writing team of Bob Brass and Irwin Levine, who wrote the hit, "This Diamond Ring", for Gary Lewis and the Playboys. When he was 21, he moved to Greenwich Village.
He performed with Bob Dylan in concert in 1965 and in the studio in 1965 and 1966, including playing Hammond organ with Dylan at the (in)famous Newport Folk Festival of 1965. He worked extensively with Mike Bloomfield for a number of years after the two met as studio musicians on Dylan's legendary Highway 61 Revisited album.
In 1965, he co-formed The Blues Project and played their most famous gig at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. He formed Blood, Sweat & Tears in the same year, leaving after the group's first album, Child is Father to the Man, in 1968.
Kooper played on hundreds of records, including The Rolling Stones, B.B. King, The Who and Cream. On occasion, he has even overdubbed on his own efforts, as on The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper album, as Roosevelt Gook. He discovered the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and produced their first three albums, including the single Sweet Home Alabama. Kooper also wrote the score for the TV series, Crime Story, and has also written music for several made-for-television movies. Kooper also produced a now rare album by a group called Appaloosa.
Al Kooper has published a memoir, Backstage Passes: Rock 'n' Roll Life In The Sixties (1977), now available in revised form as Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards: Memoirs of a Rock 'N' Roll Survivor 2007
Kooper currently teaches songwriting and production at Berklee College of Music in Boston and plays weekend concerts with his band Jimmy Vivino and The ReKooperators.
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Al Kooper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, there was a woman in the valley
She had been sick, sick so very long
When she heard that jesus was passing by
So she joined the gathering room
And while she was pushing her way through
Someone asked her what are you trying to do
If i could just touch the hem of his garment
I know I'll be made whole
She cried
Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord
I know i'll be made whole
Oh, she spent her money here and there
Until she had no, had no more to spare
The doctors, they'd done all they could
But their medecine would do no good
When she touched him the savior didn't see
But still he turned around and cried
Somebody touched me
She said
It was I who just wanna touch the hem of your garment
I know i'll be made whole right now
she stood there crying
Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh lord
Said
If could just touch the hem of his garment
I know I'll made whole right now
The song "Touch The Hem Of His Garment" is a moving gospel track that tells the story of a sick woman who has been ill for a very long time. She hears that Jesus is passing by and decides to join the gathering room to see him. The woman pushes her way through the crowd, and when someone asks what she is trying to do, she replies that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus's garment, she knows she'll be made whole. The woman believes in the healing power of Jesus and hopes that by reaching out to touch him, she will be cured of her sickness. Throughout the song, she repeats her belief that she will be made whole if she can touch Jesus's garment.
As the song progresses, the woman spends all her money trying to find a cure for her illness but finds no relief. However, when she finally touches Jesus's garment, she knows that her prayers have been answered. The woman cries out to Jesus, thanking him for healing her, and professes her faith in his power. The song is a powerful testament to the belief that Jesus has the power to heal and cure all ailments. Many people can relate to the woman in the song, who has suffered for a long time and who puts all her faith in Jesus's healing power.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, there was a woman in the valley
There existed a woman in a low land
She had been sick, sick so very long
She endured a prolonged illness
When she heard that jesus was passing by
Upon learning that Jesus was near
So she joined the gathering room
She went to the meeting place
And while she was pushing her way through
As she maneuvered through the crowd
Someone asked her what are you trying to do
An observer inquired about her intentions
She said
She answered
If i could just touch the hem of his garment
Simply by making contact with the hem of Jesus' clothing
I know I'll be made whole
I will be healed entirely
She cried
She sobbed
Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord
She addressed God
I know i'll be made whole
She had faith in her complete recovery
Oh, she spent her money here and there
She used her funds on various remedies
Until she had no, had no more to spare
Until she ran out of money
The doctors, they'd done all they could
The medical professionals exhausted their efforts
But their medecine would do no good
However, the medicine was ineffective
When she touched him the savior didn't see
When she made contact with Jesus, he did not initially notice
But still he turned around and cried
However, he still turned and spoke
Somebody touched me
He felt someone touch him
She said
She replied
It was I who just wanna touch the hem of your garment
It was me who desired only to make contact with your clothing
I know i'll be made whole right now
I trust I will be healed instantly
She stood there crying
She remained there weeping
Oh Lord, oh Lord, oh Lord, oh lord
She continued to call to God
Said
Declared
If could just touch the hem of his garment
If I could just make contact with the edge of his clothing
I know I'll made whole right now
I am certain I will be completely healed instantly
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.