In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equaled only by Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Mathis. He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records number one Adult Contemporary artist and winning three straight American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist. Several well-known entertainers have given Manilow their "stamp of approval," including Sinatra, who was quoted in the 1970s regarding Manilow, "He's next." In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him and said, "Don't stop what you're doing, man. We're all inspired by you."
As well as producing and arranging albums for other artists, such as Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick, Manilow has written songs for musicals, films, and commercials. From February 2005 to December 30, 2009, he was the headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton, performing hundreds of shows before ending relationship with the hotel. From March 2010, he has headlined at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. He has sold more than 80 million records worldwide
All the Time
Barry Manilow Lyrics
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There's only me
Crazy in a way
That no one else could be
I would have given everything I own
If someone would have said "you're not alone"
All the time I thought that I was wrong
If I'd've just believed in all I had
If someone would have said "you're not so bad"
All the time, all the wasted time
All the years waiting for a sign
To think I had it all
All the time
All the time I thought
There's only me
Crazy in a way
That no one else could be
I can't believe that you were somewhere, too
Thinking all the time there's only you
All the time, all the wasted time
All the years waiting for a sign
To think I had it all
All the time
In "All The Time," Barry Manilow sings about the feeling of isolation and loneliness, and how he once thought that he was the only one feeling that way. At the start of the song, he describes himself as "crazy in a way that no one else could be," suggesting that he felt like he had some sort of mental illness or abnormality. He admits that he would have given everything he owned just to hear someone tell him that he wasn't alone. Therefore, it is evident that Barry Manilow created this song to remind his listeners that they are not alone in their struggles.
The second verse shifts the perspective of the song, as Barry Manilow begins to reflect on how his life would have been different if he had just believed in himself more. He suggests that he needed to belong somewhere, and that he wanted to believe that he was capable of great things. He acknowledges that he had it all, but he didn't realize it at the time. This verse is a reminder to his audience that our perception of ourselves is often flawed and that we should work to build self-confidence and believe in ourselves.
The final verse brings the song to a hopeful conclusion, as Manilow realizes that he was not the only one feeling alone all the time. He sings, "I can't believe that you were somewhere, too, thinking all the time there's only you." This line is significant in that it speaks to the universality of the human experience, that no matter what one is going through, there is always someone else who can relate. The song's repetition of the phrase, "all the time," creates a sense of continuity throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of the message.
Line by Line Meaning
All the time I thought
Throughout my life, I believed
There's only me
That I was the only person in the world
Crazy in a way
I felt irrational thoughts and emotions
That no one else could be
Which I thought no one else could understand
I would have given everything I own
I would have sacrificed everything I had
If someone would have said "you're not alone"
If only someone had reassured me that I was not the only one feeling this way
Wanting to believe but needing to belong
I desired to have faith but also craved acceptance within a group
If I'd've just believed in all I had
If only I had believed in myself and my capabilities
If someone would have said "you're not so bad"
If only someone had told me that I was not as worthless as I thought
All the time, all the wasted time
Throughout my life, I spent so much time unnecessarily
All the years waiting for a sign
For many years, I waited for a sign to guide me
To think I had it all
Only to realize that everything I had been looking for was within me
I can't believe that you were somewhere, too
It's hard to fathom that there were other people experiencing similar emotions
Thinking all the time there's only you
Believing all along that you were the only one who felt the way you did
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY MANILOW, MARTIN PANZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind