Preston first came to widespread attention of a U.S. mainstream audience as the organist (and sometimes vocalist) in the house band on the television show 'Shindig,' popular during 1964-66. On tour backing stars Little Richard and Sam Cooke, he met the Beatles (early in their career) in Hamburg, Germany in 1962. He was later invited by George Harrison to join The Beatles in the studio for the filming/recording of 'Let It Be' (1970). Preston's most memorable performance with the Beatles is on the track "Get Back".
The apparent reason for the collaboration was that the project was being done live— without overdubs— and the Beatles wanted a second keyboardist. Preston's soulful style was to compliment the rhythm and blues approach the Beatles had for this album. His was a genre they'd grown up listening to and were reaching back to as well as paying tribute to.
Another apparent reason for Preston's involvement was to buffer the growing tensions between the members of the band (that had started around the time of filming). Everyone set aside their differences to make Preston feel welcome at the sessions. Members of the band have later commented on their joy with working with Preston, whom they respected as a talented musician.
While Preston was never considered for permanent membership in the Beatles (despite stories to the contrary), he did continue working with them through to the end of the 60s: releasing two solo albums on Apple Records (the Beatles' label), collaborating with George Harrison on 'All Things Must Pass', and joining in on the Concert for Bangladesh— one of the first significant benefit concerts of its kind (at Madison Square Garden in 1972). Preston also later made an appearance in the infamous Beatles tribute film 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1978), as the title character— Sgt. Pepper. He's sometimes been referred to as a 'Fifth Beatle'.
In addition to work with said group, Preston also played and toured with The Rolling Stones, playing on significant albums such as 'Sticky Fingers' and 'Exile on Main St.' In the 70s, Preston also worked with Bob Dylan, playing as an accompanist on ' Blood on the Tracks', and Aretha Franklin, on her record 'Young, Gifted and Black'. As the years went on, Preston collaborated with numerous other artists including Barbra Streisand and Miles Davis, also notable touring with Sly and the Family Stone for a time. He also played organ with the Ray Charles big band on tour in the late 60s.
In terms of his solo career, Preston's hit tracks "Will It Go 'Round in Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing" both reached all the way to number one in the U.S. and still remain staples of oldies stations. He won a Grammy Award for best pop instrumental performance for "Outa Space" in 1971, and he received an invitation to the White House no less in 1974. Though perhaps overshadowed by his collaborative work, he devolved a strong and devoted fan-base as album after album made it into the Billboard top 200 album chart.
Preston was also the music director and band leader for the Garry Shandling show in the 80s, returning to the TV work that had given him his start. Yet, in the 80s and 90s, Preston sadly suffered substance abuse and financial issues. He spent three years in prison in 1997 for a drugs possession charge handed out earlier that year (cocaine possession and assault).
His last recordings were on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' album 'Stadium Arcadium' and with Neil Diamond for his "12 songs" record, both produced by Rick Rubin.
A U.S. musical legend, Preston passed away at the age of 59 in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a result of "malignant hypertension that resulted in kidney failure and other complications".
With You I'm Born Again
Billy Preston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Comfort me through all this madness
Woman, don't you know with you I'm born again?
Come give me your sweetness
Now there's you, there is no weakness
Woman, don't you know with you I'm born again?
I was half not whole, in step with none
Come show me your kindness
In your arms I now I'll find this
Woman, don't you know with you I'm born again?
Lying safe with you I'm born again
Come bring me your softness
Comfort me through all this madness
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again
Come give me your sweetness
Now there's you, there is no weakness
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again
I was half not whole, in step with none
Reaching through this world, in need of one
Come show me your kindness
In your arms I now I'll find this
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again
Lying safe with you I'm born again
The lyrics of the song 'With You I'm Born Again' by Billy Preston featuring Syreeta Wright are an expression of how the love of another person can bring hope and healing to a person who feels broken and lost. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song as it begs the woman to bring softness into the singer's life and comfort him through the madness that comes with living in this world. The chorus emphasizes the power of love by stating that it has made him a new person; he feels born again. The singer's vulnerable side is revealed in the second verse as he admits to feeling incomplete, out of step with the world around him, and in desperate search of a person to fill his emptiness to make him whole.
The idea of being born again could be interpreted in different ways; it could be understood as a spiritual rebirth or a new beginning. The love the singer has found in the arms of a woman has brought a rejuvenating effect on his spirit and soul. The song's captivating melody combined with the powerful lyrics is an ode to the transformative power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Come bring me your softness
Please show me your tenderness and compassion
Comfort me through all this madness
Provide me solace during these chaotic times
Woman, don't you know with you I'm born again?
You have revitalized me and given me a new lease on life
Come give me your sweetness
Allow me to experience your affection and warmth
Now there's you, there is no weakness
You complete me, and there are no vulnerabilities
I was half not whole, in step with none
I was incomplete and out of sync with the world
Reaching through this world, in need of one
I was searching for someone to fill the void in my life
Come show me your kindness
Demonstrate your gentle and benevolent nature to me
In your arms I now I'll find this
By being held by you, I'll discover what I've been missing
Lying safe with you I'm born again
I feel secure and whole when I'm with you
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again
My life is made anew when I'm in your embrace
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CAROL CONNORS, DAVID SHIRE, DAVID L SHIRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheEarthMaster
Am I the only one who thinks this should be nominated as the greatest love song of all time??
@johnraby4214
No, it's up there in the top 3!
@urbanlark
This is very beautiful but Lenny Williams Cause I Love You won that title a while ago, LOL
@garyking3285
It's up there
@Airsoftcleaner
You are not alone
@timetravellingone
This and Lionel Richie's duet with Diana Ross "Endless Love" are neck and neck imo
@denisefreeman6042
Doesn't matter what I'm doing...if I hear this song, it brings a tear to my eye...not because it's sad but because it's so beautiful.
@jasonliebenberg7918
❤❤😢😢
@vveisshardt
between the vocals and that orchestra how could you not honestly... ;_;
@veronicaalleyne
I think this song is how all of us wish love could be