With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
All My Love
Bettye Lavette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To chase a feather in the wind
Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight
There moves a thread that has no end.
For many hours and days that pass ever soon
The tides have caused the flame to dim
At last the arm is straight, the hand to the loom
All of my love, all of my love
Oh, all of my love to you now
All of my love, all of my love
Oh, all of my love to you now.
The cup is raised, the toast is made yet again
One voice is clear above the din
Proud Arianne one word, my will to sustain
For me, the cloth once more to spin.
Oh, all of my love, all of my love
Oh, all of my love for you now
All of my love, all of my love
Yes, all of my love to you, child.
Yours is the cloth, mine is the hand that sews time
His is the force that lies within
Ours is the fire, all the warmth we can find
He is a feather in the wind.
Oh, all of my love, all of my love
Oh, all of my love to you now
All of my love, oh-oh
Yes, all of my love to you now.
All of my love, all of my love
All of my love, love
Sometimes, sometimes, alright
Sometimes, sometimes, oh, all
Hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey
Ooh, ooh, yeah,
It's, all, all, all, all, all of my love, all of my love
All of my love to you now
All of my love, all of my love
All of my love
To, to you and you and you and you and yeah
I get a little bit lonely, just a little, just a little
Just a little bit lonely, just a little bit lonely
Hey, hey, hey, hey...
Bettye Lavette's "All My Love" is a soulful ballad that speaks to the depths of love and devotion that one can have for another person. The song opens with the contemplation of falling out of love, with the metaphor of a fire that once burned bright but is now dimming. The singer then reflects on the possibility of chasing after something as fleeting as a feather in the wind, but in the midst of this uncertainty, there is a thread that weaves a cloak of delight, suggesting that love has the power to bring joy and warmth even in the midst of uncertainty.
Throughout the song, there are references to weaving, with the hand that sews time and the cloth that needs to be spun. This imagery speaks to the idea that love requires effort and investment, just like weaving requires skill and patience. The repeated chorus of "all of my love" speaks to the depth of the singer's feelings, and the final lines "I get a little bit lonely, just a little, just a little" suggest that even with all the love she has to give, there are still moments of longing and emptiness.
Overall, "All My Love" is a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and the efforts required to keep it burning bright, ending on a note of hope and dedication to those the singer loves.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I fall out of love, my fire in the light
If I stop loving you, the passion in me fades away.
To chase a feather in the wind
It's a foolish pursuit to chase something that's impossible to catch.
Within the glow that weaves a cloak of delight
In the warmth of our love's embrace, there is happiness.
There moves a thread that has no end.
Our love is eternal, it never stops growing.
For many hours and days that pass ever soon
Time flies by too quickly, even when we're happy.
The tides have caused the flame to dim
Our passion for each other has sometimes weakened but it's still there.
At last the arm is straight, the hand to the loom
Finally, we're ready to weave our love into something deeper and more meaningful.
Is this to end or just begin?
Is our relationship coming to a close or is it about to embark on a new adventure?
All of my love, all of my love
I give you all the love I have and all the love I can find.
Oh, all of my love to you now
Right now, you are the object of my love and affection.
The cup is raised, the toast is made yet again
We're celebrating our love as we have done many times before.
One voice is clear above the din
Amidst all the noise around us, it's your voice I hear and follow.
Proud Arianne one word, my will to sustain
I'm convinced that my love for you will never falter.
For me, the cloth once more to spin.
I will continue weaving our love story, trying to make each thread stronger and more resilient than the last.
Yours is the cloth, mine is the hand that sews time
You are my life's partner and I'm the one who shapes our future together.
His is the force that lies within
The universe is the driving force behind everything that happens in our lives.
Ours is the fire, all the warmth we can find
Our love is the source of comfort and security in our lives.
He is a feather in the wind.
Compared to our love, everything else is transient and fleeting.
Sometimes, sometimes, alright
There are moments of doubt, but overall we're doing okay.
Sometimes, sometimes, oh, all
Even when we face difficulties or we're apart, we still have each other in our hearts.
Hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey
We're having fun, enjoying each other's company, and embracing life.
Ooh, ooh, yeah,
We're in love, and it shows in everything we do.
It's, all, all, all, all, all of my love, all of my love
Every ounce of my being is filled with love for you.
To, to you and you and you and you and yeah
My love extends to everyone and everything that is dear to you.
I get a little bit lonely, just a little, just a little
Sometimes I miss you and feel your absence, no matter how brief it may be.
Hey, hey, hey, hey...
Let's keep dancing, laughing, and loving each other for as long as we can.
Writer(s): Robert Plant, John Paul Jones Copyright: Flames Of Albion Music Inc.
Contributed by James C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.