One of the most famous and influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, B… Read Full Bio ↴One of the most famous and influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, Bill Evans formed the acclaimed piano trio in 1959, along with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. Evans' focus in this trio was jazz standards and original compositions, with an emphasis on interplay among the band members that often bordered on collective improvisation and blurred the line between soloist and accompanist. This trio recorded four albums: Portrait in Jazz (1959), Explorations, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, and Waltz for Debby (all recorded in 1961). The latter two albums are live recordings drawn from the same recording date, and they are routinely named among the greatest jazz recordings of all time. After LaFaro's untimely death, Evans went into seclusion for nearly a year, then re-formed the trio. After that, the personnel of the trio (other than Evans) changed every few years.

Bassists included Scott LaFaro(1959-1961), Chuck Israels (1962-1965), Gary Peacock(1963), Teddy Kotick (1966), Eddie Gomez(1966-1977), and Marc Johnson(1978-1980).
On drums the trio had Paul Motian (1959-1962), Larry Bunker ( 1962-1965), Arnie Wise (1966, 1968), Joe Hunt (1967), Philly Joe Jones (1967, 1977-1978), Jack DeJohnette (1968), John Dentz (1968), Marty Morell (1968-1975), Eliot Zigmund (1975-1977), and Joe La Barbera (1978-1980).

All Of You
Bill Evans Trio Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I love the looks of you, the lure of you
The sweet of you, the pure of you
The eyes, the arms, the mouth of you
The East, West, North and the South of you
I'd love to gain complete control of you
And handle even the heart and soul of you
So love at least a small percent of me do
For I love all of you

I'd love to gain complete control of you
And handle even the heart and soul of you

So love at least a small percent of me do
For I love all, all of you

Overall Meaning

The Bill Evans Trio’s rendition of Cole Porter’s “All of You” is a jazz standard which showcases Bill Evans’ talent and versatility as a pianist. The lyrics are sung in a romantic tone, emphasizing a deep longing for the subject of the song. The imagery is vivid, using metaphors that promise complete adoration and possession of the person addressed in the song. The repetition of the line “For I love all of you” conveys the depth of the singer’s affection, emphasizing that not even the subject’s innermost being could be left out of this love.

The overall mood of “All of You” is that of a passionate love song, yet the lyrics have been interpreted in various ways throughout the years. Some have seen this song as a manifestation of a narcissistic and controlling obsession. Others saw it as an expression of the singer’s true love, only seeking to gain knowledge and understanding of every part of the loved one. Either way, this song embodies the essential core of human emotions found in love - the longing, the desire for control, and the need for connection.

Line by Line Meaning

I love the looks of you, the lure of you
I am completely drawn to the physical attractiveness and charm that you possess

The sweet of you, the pure of you
Your personality is both genuinely kind and innocent, which adds to your appeal

The eyes, the arms, the mouth of you
Every aspect of your being, from your eyes to your embrace and your lips, is fondly admired by me

The East, West, North and the South of you
I am encompassing every aspect of you - your physical being, your personality, your perspectives - from every direction possible

I'd love to gain complete control of you
My attraction to you is so strong that I wish to have complete authority over every aspect of your life

And handle even the heart and soul of you
I desire to not only control your physical self, but also your emotional and spiritual self

So love at least a small percent of me do
Although I have an intense feeling for you, I am asking you to reciprocate a small portion of that emotion

For I love all of you
Despite my desire for control, I cherish every part of who you are and my love for you is all-encompassing

Writer(s): Cole Porter, Gerald Marks, Miles Davis Copyright: Sony/ATV Tunes LLC, Chappell & Co. Inc., Jazz Horn Music Corp.

Contributed by Samuel N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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