In 1961 she participated in BBC TV's A Song for Europe Contest, the UK qualifying heat for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her entry, "I Will Light a Candle" was placed fourth. Lale Andersen, who recorded the original German version of "Lili Marleen" also entered the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, although her song only made it to #13. Anne made another attempt at Eurovision in 1963 with "My Continental Love" - and came fourth again.
She also sang and acted in several motion pictures.
In 1990 she was awarded the OBE for her work with the "Not Forgotten Association", a charitable organization for disabled former service personnel from all wars. Anne Shelton died in Hurstmonceux, England in 1994 and was interred in the Brenchley Gardens cemetery in South East London.
All or Nothing at All
Anne Shelton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Half a love, never appealed to me
If your heart, never could yield to me
Then I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all
All or nothing at all
If it's love, there is no in between
Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
But please don't bring your lips so close to my cheek
Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall
The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
And my heart may go dizzy and fall
And if I fell (I fell) under the spell of your call
I would be, caught in the undertow
So you see, I've got to say no, no
All or nothing at all
The lyrics of Anne Shelton's "All or Nothing at All" represent a person's uncompromising stance on love. The singer asserts that they will only accept a full-scale commitment of love from their partner. They turn down the idea of anything less than complete devotion, as “half a love, never appealed” to them. The singer is clear that if the partner's heart cannot yield to their love, then they would rather have nothing at all.
The song progresses to explain that for the singer, love is either everything or nothing. There is no middle ground; no in-between. The singer feels that it is better to have nothing at all than to begin a relationship that might leave them wanting more or end in disappointment. The chorus, “All or nothing at all,” reiterates the importance of the singer's strong convictions about love.
The singer's resolve is tested in the bridge, as the partner comes too close for comfort. The singer acknowledges that the kiss in their partner's eyes and the touch of their hand make them weak, and they could fall under the spell of their partner's call. Ultimately, the singer concludes by saying they must say "no" to the idea of anything other than "all" of their partner's love, as anything else would leave them caught in the undertow.
Line by Line Meaning
All or nothing at all
I only want a love that is complete and genuine, not something that is half-hearted.
Half a love, never appealed to me
I do not want a love that is partial or incomplete in any way.
If your heart, never could yield to me
If you cannot give me your whole heart and true love, then I am not interested.
Then I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all
I am willing to forgo any relationship or love if it is not all or nothing.
If it's love, there is no in between
Love cannot be something that is undecided, it has to be a clear decision.
Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
It would be foolish to start something that may not work out and then regret it later.
No I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all
I would rather not engage in a relationship that is not whole and true.
But please don't bring your lips so close to my cheek
I am tempted by your affection, but I do not want to be lured in by it.
Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall
Your smile may persuade my feelings even further, but I must stay true to my original stance.
The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
Your affection and touches cause me to feel vulnerable and susceptible to your persuasion.
And my heart may go dizzy and fall
My heart may become overwhelmed and too attached to you.
And if I fell (I fell) under the spell of your call
If I succumbed to your advances and became emotionally invested in you.
I would be, caught in the undertow
I would become trapped in a love that was not 'all or nothing'.
So you see, I've got to say no, no
I must decline anything that is not a complete and whole relationship.
All or nothing at all
I require and deserve a love that is full and genuine, otherwise it is not worth pursuing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Arthur Altman, Jack Lawrence
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kamilla V
Anne Shelton's singing is an inspiration to classical singers as well, her diction and technique are exquisite. And the orchestral arrangements I've heard on her recordings are excellent too.
Ildeu Raimundo da Silva
Mr. David Henry , I´ll absolutely speechless ! Anne Shelton was an incredible talent, her music wil live forever in our lives . Greetings from Brazil.
jcriedijk
That LP is called All Star Festival If I am right,with maybe 10 other intern.singers and it could have been published abt 1961,so indeed half a century ago.I must have over 25 LP's of Anne,but this particular song,so close to classical music,is voicewise maybe one of her best songs.She was born in 1923,so in1961 she was 37-38 years,which proves that she was at the top of her vocal abilities and still extremely powerful with a fantastic breathcontrol.The voice was almost mezzo,sometimes alto
K Hussein
Awesome!
jcriedijk
Kamilla196 :Fully agreed.She's brilliant.Many classical singers saw her version of Greensleeves (with an enormous orchestra 50 years ago!)as a standard.Anne was fabalous too in Irish ballads,small almost classical gems when she was still in her prime.And what a nice lady she was.Met her once,she must have been one of the sweetest persons in music;fans adored her.Musically speaking she was for me Britains nr 1 and a sister-in-Art with Jo Stafford in the USA Anne's Greensleeves is on a rare LP
bbcisrubbish
I understand she lived at COODEN in Sussex. I had a friend in the same area. Really nice, beautiful houses, his had 23 rooms and 63 windows.
gfm1377
1943 a very good year for me, I was born haha
birdandthe
recorded july 29 1943
birdandthe
rec july 29th 1943