His hit "It's Too Late (She's Gone)" was covered by many, including Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominos and the Grateful Dead. In 2005, it was heavily sampled by Kanye West on Late Registration's "Gone."
What Am I Livin' For?
Chuck Willis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What am I living for if not for you,
What am I living for if not for you,
Oh nobody else, nobody else will do
What am I longing for each lonely night,
To feel your lips to mine, to hold you tight
You'll be the only girl my whole life through,
I want you close to me that's all I know,
I want you all the time because darling I love you so
What am I living for if not for you,
What am I living for if not for you,
What am I living for if not for you,
Baby nobody else, nobody else will do
What am I living for if not for you,
Darling nobody else, nobody else will do
Nobody else, nobody else will do
The lyrics of Chuck Willis's song "What Am I Living For" describe the intense feelings of love and longing for a specific person. The repetition of the main refrain "What am I living for if not for you" emphasizes that the singer's reason for being alive is solely dependent on the person he loves. He is so consumed by this love that nobody else will do, and he can't imagine his life without this person. The second verse further illustrates the singer's deep longing for the person, as he dreams of feeling their lips against his and holding them close. The bridge expresses the intensity of the singer's love and how he wants to be with this person all the time.
Overall, the song conveys the idea that the singer's love for this person is all-encompassing and essential to him. He feels incomplete and lost without them, and nobody else can ever take their place. The lyrics are simple, yet relatable to anyone who has experienced deep and consuming love.
Line by Line Meaning
What am I living for if not for you,
I don't see the point of living if I can't be with you
Oh nobody else, nobody else will do
I'm so in love with you that no one else can take your place
What am I longing for each lonely night,
When I'm alone, all I can think about is being with you
To feel your lips to mine, to hold you tight
I crave the physical intimacy we share when we're together
You'll be the only girl my whole life through,
I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you
I want you close to me that's all I know,
Being close to you is all I want, it's the only thing that matters
I want you all the time because darling I love you so
I can't get enough of you because I'm deeply in love with you
Baby nobody else, nobody else will do
You're the only one I want, there's no one else who can satisfy me like you do
Darling nobody else, nobody else will do
You're my one and only, there's no one else I desire or need
Nobody else, nobody else will do
I'm completely devoted to you, and no one else can take your place
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRED JACOBSON, ART HARRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Milton Moore
I WAS BORN IN 1945 IN DALLAS AND LIVED THERE UNTIL 1995. I NEVER KNEW OF THE CAFE YOU MENTIONED. I REMEMBER EATING A FEW TIMES AT A BARBECUE RESTUARANT ON LOVERS LANE OWNED BY A LINEMAN FOR THE DALLAS COWBOYS, JOHN NILAND.
ANOTHER RESTAURANT I ATE AT MORE OFTEN ESCAPES MY 77 YEAR OLD BRAIN.
I ATE A LOT AT IL SORRENTO ON NORTHWEST HIGHWAY. ALWAYS HAD THE CHICKEN CAPONE JERUSALEM.
I WENT OFTEN TO THE WILSHIRE THEATRE. I SAW "PAINT YOUR WAGON" THERE. ALSO THE ESQUIRE, DELMAN,
GRANADA, PALACE, MAJESTIC, LAKEWOOD, BUCKNER BLVD DRIVE-IN, TOWER,
WYNNEWOOD, ARCADIA, (ON GREENVILLE AVE,) ALL OVER.
WASN'T THERE A THEATRE ON LOVERS LANE NEAR LEMMON AVENUE? ON MY FIRST DATE I TOOK A GIRL I MET AT "EL CENTRO JR. COLLEGE" (DOWTOWN), TO THAT THEATRE, AFTER WE ATE, SOMEWHERE.
I LIVED ALL OVER EAST DALLAS, CASA LINDA SHOPPING CENTER AREA, WHITE ROCK LAKE ENVIRONS, GASTON AVENUE, SWISS AVENUE. GREENVILLE AND LOVERS. ETC.
LOVED SAMMY'S BARBECUE ON INWOOD ROAD. THE CATTLEMAN'S NEAR SOUTHLAND CENTER, EL FENIX AND EL CHICOS,
KIRBY'S STEAKHOUSE ON GREENVILLE AVE.,
COLTER'S BARBECUE, VICKS,
LUBYS CAFETERIAS, HIGHLAND PARK CAFETERIA,(SAW HARVEY MARTIN OF THE COWBOYS THERE), FRED'S BARBECUES, (WHERE I FIRST HEARD GENE WATSON'S "FAREWELL PARTY"
ON THE JUKE BOX,
BRINKS COFFEE SHOP, THE CORK AND CLEAVER, PHIL'S DELLICATESAN ON
OAK LAWN NEAR CEDAR SPRINGS...
....A MILLION
MEMORIES. I MOVED TO LAS VEGAS IN 1995.
CHEERS!👍😊
Derek M. Theriault
#ugottalisten2b4udie #1 on R&B Charts in 1958.
Harold "Chuck" Willis (January 31, 1926 – April 10, 1958)
What am I longing for..each lonely night?
To feel your lips to mine..to hold you tight.
You'll be the only girl..my whole life through..
Lloyd Goulbourne
after 65 years i still dedicate this to my wife although she now lives in Heaven..not ashame to say i still cry for her
Gary Beauchamp
"Our song" when my wife and I were sating was "Blueberry Hill." I lost 12 years ago after 42 years of marriage and miss her every day. My one true love.
DUKEJETT80
@That Man MAN.....THAT WAS SOOO WELL PUT....THANKS FOR MAKING ME TEAR UP.
Carolyn Roberts
@Abel Hansen I do cry, after all these years !
Abel Hansen
If you did not?
I think there is some wrong with you. But you did cry.
Abel.
From Australia.
Carolyn Roberts
Brings back a lot of MEMORIES, Happy and sadness, I also lost my husband 21yrs ago.
Howard Manley
Hi I’m in my late 70s now this brings back great memories ,Chuck died way too young 30 years old ,I remember doing the stroll to a lot of his songs , I think he should’ve made it into the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame....
*Eyes-of-Horus*
There are a LOT of those from the beginning of Rock and Roll that never made it into the Rock and Roll "hall of fame." It turned into (like one person called it) The Rock and Roll Hall of Whoever's Popular at the Time."
Norman Klature
@Karen Cephas black only rest rooms, white only cafes, riding in back of buses, white only hotels, then ole chucky hauled off and died not ever enjoying freedom, liberty, freewill, poor ole chunky baby
Norman Klature
He won’t, the best are not in it, excluding Laverne Baker of “I cried a tear” fame. Go on, look the song up, and Sil Austin of “Danny Boy” the best ever saxophonist, ever and is the most romantic instrumental version.