Though her recording career had begun in the late 1970s with her eponymous debut album, it was with 1990's I Fell in Love that Carter's career really took off, with the album and title song topping the US country albums and singles charts, respectively. The album, which featured straight-ahead, retro-sounding country (her prior work had combined country, rock and roll and pop sounds), was among the first successes of the 1990s "neotraditionalist" movement in country. 1993's Little Love Letters featured the hit "Every Little Thing", which was accompanied by one of the top-rated music videos of the year.
Carter's winning stream ended with 1995's Little Acts of Treason, which, while critically well received, failed to achieve the commercial success of the Carter's two previous releases.
She also found limited amounts of fame with the song "It takes one to know me", which was released on the albums "Johnny Cash the Legend" and "Johnny and June duets". Originally recorded in 1977 with a full string backing group, it was lost in a tape collection in Hendersonville and uncovered in 2003. It was then remastered by her brother John Carter Cash. In the remastered version, John added his and his wife Laura's backing vocals and a guest appearance from Carlene herself - more than 35 years after she wrote and recorded the song.
She was played by Victoria Hester in the movie Walk the Line.
The track 'Every Little Thing' is also featured in the pinball machine 'Red and Ted's Road Show' released by Williams Electronic Games in 1994. Carter also does the voice of one of the main characters in the pinball game
All Night Long
Carlene Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My feet start itchin' when the sun goes down
Time to come clean, you got the goods on me
But I ain't no angel, and it's plain to see
That I love you more than anything in this whole world
And when it comes to you, you know that I'm your girl
So let me make it up to you, all night long
But I was hip-mo-tized by the swinging doors
I love to party and I love to dance
A little wink and a smile don't mean romance
Maybe I been naughty, now I wanta be nice
You need some warmin' up 'cause you're as cold as ice
So let me make it up to you, all night long
[Chorus]
Let me make it up to you
I want to wake up with you
I promise that I'll be true blue
Let me make it up to you
I want to stay up with you
All night long, all night long
[Chorus]
Well, I love you more than anything in this whole world
And when it comes to you, you know that I'm your girl
So let me make it up to you, all night long
Let me make it up to you, all night long
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
All night long, all night long
Carlene Carter's song "All Night Long" is a love song from the perspective of a person who realizes they have made a mistake and promises to make up for it. The song opens with the singer confessing that they have been out all night "sneaking around" and that they are ready to come clean. They admit that they are not an angel, and that they have been caught red-handed. However, they are also quick to emphasize their love for the person they are addressing and that they are ready to make it up by spending the whole night with them.
In the second verse, the singer explains that they were tempted by the allure of the nightlife, but that the innocent flirting doesn't mean anything. They acknowledge that they may have stepped out of line, but that they want to make amends. The song's chorus is a plea to the person they love, asking for a chance to be forgiven and to make it right. The last line of the chorus promises that the singer will be faithful and true blue.
The song's message of contrition is wrapped up in a fun, uptempo melody that toes the line between country and rock. Like many of Carter's songs, "All Night Long" is infused with a sense of joy and celebration. Despite the serious subject matter, there is a sense of lightheartedness to the lyrics and the delivery that makes the song feel like a genuine plea for forgiveness rather than a somber confession.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I've been out all night just sneakin' around
I was out all night having a good time, but I wasn't doing anything wrong.
My feet start itchin' when the sun goes down
I love to go out and have fun when the night comes.
Time to come clean, you got the goods on me
I know you know what I've been up to, so I need to tell you the truth.
But I ain't no angel, and it's plain to see
I'm not perfect and I know it.
That I love you more than anything in this whole world
You mean everything to me, and I want you to know that.
And when it comes to you, you know that I'm your girl
I'm here for you and I always will be.
So let me make it up to you, all night long
I want to make it up to you by spending time with you and showing you how much I care.
Hey, I wasn't doing nothin' honey you ain't done before
I wasn't doing anything wrong, and you've probably done similar things in the past.
But I was hip-mo-tized by the swinging doors
I was having so much fun that I lost track of time and forgot about my responsibilities.
I love to party and I love to dance
I enjoy going out and having a good time with my friends.
A little wink and a smile don't mean romance
Just because I smile and have fun with other people doesn't mean I'm interested in them romantically.
Maybe I been naughty, now I wanta be nice
I know I've been having too much fun and neglecting my relationship, but I want to make things right.
You need some warmin' up 'cause you're as cold as ice
You've been distant lately, and I want to show you how much I care and make you feel loved and appreciated.
[Chorus]
The chorus is repeating the theme of wanting to make it up to their loved one and spend all night together.
Well, I love you more than anything in this whole world
This line is repeating to emphasize the importance of their love.
All night long, all night long
This line is repeating to emphasize the desire to spend all night with their loved one.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT BARTHA, JAMES ALLEN DAVIS, AMAPOLA DONNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind