Green was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. He started performing at age ten in a Forrest City quartet called the Greene Brothers; he dropped the final "E" from his last name years later as a solo artist. They toured extensively in the mid-1950s in the South until the Greenes moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, when they began to tour around Michigan. His father kicked him out of the group because he caught Green listening to Jackie Wilson.
In 1967 at the age of 16, Al formed an R&B group, Al Green & the Creations, with several of his high-school friends. Two Creation members, Curtis Rogers and Palmer James, founded their own independent record company, Hot Line Music Journal, and had the group record for the label. By that time, the Creations had been re-named the Soul Mates. The group's first single, "Back Up Train," became a surprise hit, climbing to number five on the R&B charts early in 1968. The Soul Mates attempted to record another hit, but all of their subsequent singles failed to find an audience. In 1969, Al Green met bandleader and Hi Records vice president Willie Mitchell while on tour in Midland, Texas. Impressed with Green's voice, he signed the singer to Hi Records, and began collaborating with Al on his debut album
He was perhaps the ideal complement to the orchestral, syrupy, strong soul production work of Hi Records wizard Willie Mitchell, who also helmed 70s classics for Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles, and himself.
On October 18, 1974, Mary Woodson, a woman who was his longtime girlfriend, threw a large pot of sticky boiling grits on him as he was preparing to shower, because he didn't want to get married. She committed suicide in minutes, which deeply affected Green to turn to God and religion. This assault from behind caused third-degree burns on his back, stomach and arm. Deeply shaken, Green continued to reaffirm and grow closer to his deeply held love for God, and became an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Memphis in 1976.
Continuing to record R&B, Green saw his sales start to slip and drew mixed reviews from critics. 1977's The Belle Album was critically acclaimed but did not regain his former mass audience. In 1979 Green injured himself falling off the stage while performing in Cincinnati and interpreted this as a message from God. He then concentrated his energies towards pastoring his church and gospel singing, also appearing in 1982 with Patti Labelle in the Broadway musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God. According to Glide Magazine, "by the late 70s, he had begun concentrating almost exclusively on gospel music." His first gospel album was The Lord Will Make a Way. From 1981 to 1989 Green recorded a series of gospel recordings, garnering eight "soul gospel performance" Grammys in that period. In 1985, he reunited with Willie Mitchell along with Angelo Earl for He Is the Light, his first album for A&M Records. In 1984, director Robert Mugge released a documentary film, Gospel According to Al Green, including interviews about his life and footage from his church. In 1989, Green released "I Get Joy", again with producer/guitarist Angelo Earl. In 2001, he appeared in the movie and soundtrack of On the Line featuring Lance Bass.
After spending several years exclusively performing gospel, Green began to return to Rhythm & Blues. First, he released a duet with Annie Lennox, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" for Scrooged, a 1988 Bill Murray film. In 1989 Green worked with producer Arthur Baker writing and producing the international hit "The Message Is Love". In 1991 he created the introductory theme song for the short-lived television series Good Sports featuring Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. In 1992, Green recorded again with Baker, the Fine Young Cannibals, and reunited with his former Memphis mix engineer (this time functioning as producer) Terry Manning, to release the album Don't Look Back. His 1994 duet with country music singer Lyle Lovett blended country with R&B, garnering him his ninth Grammy, this time in a pop music category. Green's first secular album in some time was Your Heart's In Good Hands (1995), released to positive reviews but disappointing sales, the same year Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2000, Green published Take Me to the River, a book discussing his career. Green received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.
In 2001, Green's live cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" was released on the soundtrack to Will Smith's film Ali (the song plays when Muhammad Ali learns of the death of close friend Malcolm X).
By 2003 Green released a non-religious (secular) album entitled I Can't Stop, his first collaboration with Willie Mitchell since 1985's He is the Light. In March 2005 he issued Everything's OK as the follow-up to I Can't Stop. Green also collaborated with Mitchell on this secular CD.
The title of Al Green's latest album Lay It Down released May, 2008, truly tells it like it is. Conceived as a collaboration between the soul legend and a handful of gifted young admirers from the worlds of contemporary R&B and hip hop, the album is drawn from a series of inspired sessions that yielded the most high-spirited, funky and often lushly romantic songs of Green's latter-day career.
The project features the sophisticated R&B voices of singer-songwriters John Legend, Anthony Hamilton and Corinne Bailey Rae, and it was co-produced with Green by two of hip-hop's most innovative players, drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson from the Roots and keyboardist James Poyser , the go-to guy for high-profile artists ranging from Erykah Badu to Common. Add in Brooklyn's celebrated Dap-King Horns (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse), guitarist Chalmers "Spanky" Alford (Mighty Clouds of Joy, Joss Stone) and bassist Adam Blackstone (Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff), among others, and you've got a modern soul-music dream team, fronted by the most expressive voice in the business.
I Say a Little Prayer
al green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you put on your makeup
I say a little pray for you
I say a little pray for you
Each day I just take time, oh
From a coffee break time
I say a little pray for you, ooh
I say a little pray for you
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
And how I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me, ooh
I run for the bus, dear
Riding, though, and I think of us and I
Say a little prayer for you
Say a little prayer for you, oh
Alright baby
There is no one but you
Oh please love me too
Ooh, I'm in love with you
Here's my prayer, ohh-oh
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
And how I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me, ohh
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever, forever, must never will part
And how I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
To live without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me, ooh-ooh
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
And I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
And how I love you
Together, together
"I Say a Little Prayer" by Al Green is a heartfelt love song where the singer expresses their deep devotion and affection for their loved one. The lyrics depict the singer's daily routine of starting their day by thinking about and praying for their beloved. The act of saying a little prayer serves as a way for the singer to express their unconditional love and dedication.
The opening lines, "Each morning I wake up, before you put on your makeup, I say a little prayer for you," shows the singer's commitment to their loved one from the very beginning of the day. It signifies their desire for their loved one to have a good day and to be surrounded by positivity and blessings.
The chorus, "Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart, and I will love you. Forever, forever, we never will part, and how I love you," emphasizes the everlasting nature of the singer's love. They express their willingness to be together forever and their fear of experiencing heartbreak if they were ever to live without their loved one.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest a sense of yearning, as the singer thinks of their beloved during daily activities like running for the bus. The line, "Say a little prayer for you, say a little prayer for you," conveys the singer's ongoing dedication to their loved one, continuously offering them love, support, and positive energy.
Overall, "I Say a Little Prayer" encapsulates a deep and unending love, demonstrated through the singer's daily prayers and unwavering commitment to their loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Each morning I wake up
Every morning when I wake up
Before you put on your makeup
Before you get ready for the day
I say a little pray for you
I offer a small prayer on your behalf
I say a little pray for you
I offer a small prayer on your behalf
Each day I just take time, oh
Every day I find a moment
From a coffee break time
From my break time with coffee
I say a little pray for you, ooh
I offer a small prayer on your behalf
I say a little pray for you
I offer a small prayer on your behalf
Let me tell you now
Let me explain it to you
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
Eternally, you will remain in my heart
And I will love you
And I will continue to love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Always, we will never separate
And how I love you
And how deeply I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
United, that is how it should be
To live without you
To exist without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me, ooh
Would only result in emotional pain for me
I run for the bus, dear
I hurry to catch the bus, my dear
Riding, though, and I think of us and I
While riding, I think about our relationship and I
Say a little prayer for you
Offer a small prayer on your behalf
Say a little prayer for you, oh
Offer a small prayer on your behalf
Alright baby
Okay darling
There is no one but you
There is no one else but you
Oh please love me too
Oh please also love me
Ooh, I'm in love with you
I am deeply in love with you
Here's my prayer, ohh-oh
This is my prayer, ohh-oh
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
Eternally, you will remain in my heart
And I will love you
And I will continue to love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Always, we will never separate
And how I love you
And how deeply I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
United, that is how it should be
To live without you
To exist without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me, ohh
Would only result in emotional pain for me
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
Eternally, you will remain in my heart
And I will love you
And I will continue to love you
Forever, forever, must never will part
Always, we must never separate
And how I love you
And how deeply I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
United, that is how it should be
To live without you
To exist without you
Would only mean heartbreak for me, ooh-ooh
Would only result in emotional pain for me
Forever, forever, you'll stay in my heart
Eternally, you will remain in my heart
And I will love you
And I will continue to love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Always, we will never separate
And how I love you
And how deeply I love you
Together, together, that's how it must be
United, that is how it should be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Lucky Show
This makes me want to get up in the morning. And say a little prayer to you, God and for you all.
Era Love
true geniuses are always underrated !...who is feeling the music when singing? ...Al does*
Renard345
I got this album...today!
The Lucky Show
You made a great choice 3 years ago Renard345!
Primus Pilus
Worst Al G tune.