Born in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, with his parents Mr. & Mrs. William Gilman Jr., Gilman first received notice as a performer at age seven, attracting the attention of a local vocal coach, Angela Bacari, who later became his manager. Eventually he met with Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) who helped him record demos, including "Roly Poly". Two months later he was signed by Sony Music Nashville.
His 2000 debut album, One Voice, had a very widely-played single that crossed over well into top 40 airplay. The album reached multi-platinum status, and earned a Grammy nomination. Generally touted as a child prodigy, Gilman appeared on various talk shows. Classic Christmas (which was certified gold) was released later in the year.
He released Dare to Dream (certified gold) on Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Epic Records in 2001, and in 2003 released Music Through Heartsongs, an album inspired by the poetry of Mattie Stepanek. Later in 2003, he performed at a benefit for The Station nightclub fire. In May 2005, he released Everything and More, his first album since his voice changed.
Billy's latest album, self-titled, was released in September 2006 on the Image Entertainment label. The first single off the upcoming album, Southern Star, heralds a return to his country music roots. Billy is scheduled to begin working on his next album with Eddie Galan and Andrew Lane of Trilogy Productions.
All I Ask
Billy Gilman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I won't say a word
They've all been said before, you know
So why don't we just play pretend
Like we're not scared of what is coming next or scared of having nothing left!
Look, don't get me wrong I know there is no tomorrow
All I ask is
If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
'Cause what if I never love again?
Let this be our lesson in love
Let this be the way we remember us
I don't wanna be cruel or vicious
And I ain't asking for forgiveness
But all I ask is
If this is my last night with you
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
Give me a memory I can use
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
It matters how this ends
'Cause what if I never love again?
What if I never love again?
The lyrics to Billy Gilman's song All I Ask revolve around the concept of the fear of the unknown and the unpredictability of love. The song begins with the lines "I will leave my heart at the door, I won't say a word, they've all been said before, you know, so why don't we just play pretend." This sets the tone for the song and reflects the fear of vulnerability that comes with opening oneself up to love. The singer of the song is hesitant to express his true feelings and is instead choosing to play pretend and ignore the fear of what might come next.
The chorus of the song is a plea for connection and intimacy, with the lines "If this is my last night with you, hold me like I'm more than just a friend, give me a memory I can use, take me by the hand while we do what lovers do." The singer is expressing his desire for a deeper connection, to be held and loved like he is more than just a friend. He wants to create a memory that he can treasure even if it's the last time he sees this person. The fear of never loving again is ever-present throughout the song and is brought up in the final lines of the chorus "It matters how this ends, 'cause what if I never love again?"
Overall, the song is a beautiful exploration of the fear and beauty of love. It touches on the fear of vulnerability, the need for connection, and the fragility of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I will leave my heart at the door
I am hesitant to get involved in this relationship and will not let my heart control me.
I won't say a word
I am afraid to speak my mind for fear of saying the wrong thing.
They've all been said before, you know
All the words I can think of have already been spoken, nothing new can be added.
So why don't we just play pretend
Let's pretend we're something we're not and just enjoy this moment.
Like we're not scared of what is coming next or scared of having nothing left!
Even though I fear the future and the possibility of being alone, I want to ignore those feelings and just live in the present with you.
If this is my last night with you
This moment, this night, may be our last together.
Hold me like I'm more than just a friend
I want to be held as if there is something between us that's deeper than friendship.
Give me a memory I can use
Make this moment memorable so that I can hold onto it even if we don't see each other again.
Take me by the hand while we do what lovers do
Let us act like we're in love, even if it's just for this one night.
It matters how this ends
The outcome of tonight's events will have an impact on me, regardless of what happens.
'Cause what if I never love again?
I am afraid that if this relationship doesn't work out, I may never find someone to love again.
Let this be our lesson in love
Even if this relationship ends badly, let us learn from it and take something positive away.
Let this be the way we remember us
I want to remember this night in a positive way, even if it is our last.
I don't wanna be cruel or vicious
I don't want to hurt you intentionally or be mean-spirited.
And I ain't asking for forgiveness
I am not asking you to forgive me for anything, I just want to enjoy this moment.
But all I ask is
All that I request is...
'Cause what if I never love again?
Despite wanting to live in the moment with you, I am still afraid of the possibility of never finding love again.
What if I never love again?
What if this moment, this relationship, is all that love has in store for me?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, Philip Martin II Lawrence, Christopher Steven Brown, Peter Gene Hernandez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind