Calloway was a master of energetic scat singing and led one of the United States' most popular African American big bands from the start of the 1930s through the late 1940s. Calloway's Orchestra featured performers that included trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Adolphus "Doc" Cheatham, saxophonists Ben Webster and Leon "Chu" Berry, New Orleans guitar ace Danny Barker, and bassist Milt Hinton. Calloway continued to perform until his death in 1994 at the age of 86.
All at Once
Cab Calloway and His Orchestra Lyrics
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All at once, I knew I'd met my one for all.
For I found when I heard you hello-ing
That my heart,somehow, was answering your call.
Once or twice, I thought I'd met that someone,
But I soon found that, that someone
Never would do.
I'd given up my hoping when
All at once, my one for all was you.
I felt I never would fall,
I'd given up my hoping when
All at once, my once for all was you.
The song "All At Once" by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra is a love ballad that talks about how the singer had never thought they would find their one true love until they came across their current significant other. The song opens with the line "All at once, my lucky star was glowing," which suggests that the singer's past experiences have brought him/her to feel fortunate about finding the special someone who is their "one for all." The lyrics also indicate that the singer had been in search of true love for some time but had not found someone compatible enough to be their forever partner.
The song reflects a message of hope that true love may come unexpectedly and that one should not give up their search for love, as the right person may come along when they least expect it. The singer in the song stresses that they had "given up their hoping" before fate brought them and their partner together. These lyrics resonate with many people who have experienced the roller coaster of emotions that comes with the search for love.
Line by Line Meaning
All at once, my lucky star was glowing,
Suddenly and unexpectedly, I felt extremely lucky and fortunate as if a star was shining down on me.
All at once, I knew I'd met my one for all.
Just as suddenly, I had a deep realization that I had met the person who was meant to be my one and only forever.
For I found when I heard you hello-ing
It was only when I heard you say 'hello' that I realized the true depth of my feelings.
That my heart,somehow, was answering your call.
I was surprised to realize that my heart was immediately responding and deeply connecting with you and your voice.
Once or twice, I thought I'd met that someone,
I had previously thought that I had met the person I was meant to be with, but it turned out I was wrong.
But I soon found that, that someone
It didn't take long for me to realize that the person I thought was the one for me, was not.
Never would do.
They were simply not the right fit or what I was truly looking for in a partner.
Felt I never would fall,
I had given up on the hope that I would find the right person for me.
I'd given up my hoping when
I had lost all faith in finding someone who was truly meant for me.
All at once, my one for all was you.
But then, when I least expected it and had given up all hope, I found you - the person who completed me and was everything I had been searching for.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, KURT WEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind