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 (Fro..
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
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again
I was half not whole, in step with none
Come show me your kindness
In your arms, I know 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
Woman, don't you know with you 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 know I'll find this
Woman, don't you know with you I'm born again?
Lying safe with you I'm born again
The song "With You I Am Born Again" by Billy Preston and Syreeta is a love song that expresses the deep and transformative power of love. In the first verse, the singer implores his lover to bring him comfort and softness amidst the chaos and madness of life. He proclaims that with her, he is born again, suggesting that he has been reborn through the power of their love. The second verse further explains the transformative nature of their relationship, with the singer describing himself as "half not whole" and "in need of one" before finding completeness in the arms of his lover.
The chorus of the song repeats the sentiment that the singer is reborn and safe within the embrace of his lover. The final lines of the song, "Lying safe with you I'm born again," emphasize the intimacy and security that their love provides. Overall, the lyrics of the song convey a sense of gratitude and awe for the transformative power of love, suggesting that it can heal and complete even the most broken of individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Come bring me your softness.
I need your tenderness and gentle nature.
Comfort me through all this madness.
Amidst all the chaos in the world, I seek solace in your loving presence.
Woman, don't you know with you I'm born again?
You have given me a new lease on life and made me feel alive again.
Come give me your sweetness.
I need your kindness and affection.
Now there's you, there is no weakness.
With you by my side, I feel strong and capable to face any adversity.
I was half not whole, in step with none.
I was incomplete and lost without you.
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.
I desire your compassion and benevolence.
In your arms I now I'll find this.
I know I'll find what I'm looking for in your embrace.
Lying safe within your arms, I'm born again.
I feel secure and loved when I'm with you.
Lying safe with you I'm born again.
Being with you has given me a new beginning and a fresh start.
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
@Manulannes
Come bring me your softness
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
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 know, 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
Woman, don't you know
With you 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
Woman, don't you know, with you 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 know, I'll find this
Woman, don't you know, with you I'm born again
Lying safe with you I'm born again
@dbfoxybrown
If your listening to this in 2024 I salute you 🙏
@valentinepayne6464
Who is listening to this March 2023. A classic sweet harmony goosebumps every time i hear this song.
@barbie91766
Still listening in Feb 2024, Dallas, TX
@BeeApple-sr3db
This was my first marriage wedding song. My husband died at the age of 37. Rest in Peace Michael. ❤
@catmother4214
I'm so sorry. What a beautiful tribute then to your late husband. I just read Billy Preston's bio and it was very sad. Yet watching this, I believe he had some wonderful years because of his amazing talent. RIP. 💔💔💔
@vikkibrown2023
~I'm so very very sorry~~God be with you always~~💗💗💗
@KevinLong-jr1zv
Sorry for your loss🙏. This song is bananas. They don't make them like this anymore....
@BeeApple-sr3db
@@KevinLong-jr1zv Thank you.
@shawndemetrios7899
This song is beyond beautiful
@spyari18
Syreeta was underrated. She had such a pure beautiful tone and richness to her amazing voice. Billy also amazing talent. Those who gave thumbs down have no concept what this song is all about