After recovering from polio as a child, and studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the 1940s. Her roles usually focused on her abilities as a dancer, and she was paired with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly; her films include Singin' in the Rain (1952), The Band Wagon (1953) and Silk Stockings (1957). She stopped dancing in films in the late 1950s, but continued acting in film and television, and in 1992 made her Broadway debut.
In her later years, she discussed the history of the Hollywood musical in documentaries, and participated in That's Entertainment! III in 1994. She was awarded the National Medal of the Arts and Humanities in 2006.
All Of You
Cyd Charisse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there's a big romantic deal I've got to wangle
For I've fallen for a certain luscious lass
And it's not a passing fancy or a fancy pass
I love the look of you, the lure of you
The sweet of you, the pure of you
The eyes, the arms, the mouth 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
In Cyd Charisse's song "All of You," the lyrics express the singer's deep affection and desire for someone they have fallen in love with. The first two lines indicate that the singer has observed the person's attractiveness from every perspective and is now determined to pursue a romantic relationship with them. The phrase "a fancy pass" suggests that this is not a fleeting infatuation, but a genuine and lasting connection.
The subsequent lines vividly describe the singer's love for the person, encompassing both physical and emotional aspects. The repetition of "the look of you, the lure of you" emphasizes the singer's fascination with the person's appearance and magnetic appeal. The mention of "the sweet of you, the pure of you" conveys the singer's admiration for the person's genuine and authentic qualities.
The following lines indicate the singer's desire to have complete control and ownership over the person, even suggesting they want to handle their "heart and soul." This demonstrates the depth of the singer's longing for a profound connection and emotional intimacy.
Ultimately, the song concludes with a plea for the person to reciprocate the singer's feelings, even if only in a small measure. The line "For I love all of you" encapsulates the singer's profound love and affection for the person, expressing a desire for a mutual and fulfilling relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
After watching your appeal from every angle
After observing your charm from every perspective
There's a big romantic deal I've got to wangle
There's a significant romantic endeavor I must maneuver
For I've fallen for a certain luscious lass
Because I've become enamored with a particular seductive woman
And it's not a passing fancy or a fancy pass
And it's not a momentary infatuation or a superficial move
I love the look of you, the lure of you
I adore your appearance, your captivating appeal
The sweet of you, the pure of you
The sweetness of your character, the purity of your essence
The eyes, the arms, the mouth of you
Your eyes, your embrace, your lips
The east, west, north, and the south of you
Every aspect of you, from every direction
I'd love to gain complete control of you
I would love to possess absolute command over you
And handle even the heart and soul of you
And manage even your deepest emotions and innermost being
So love, at least, a small percent of me, do
So please, at the very least, have affection for a fraction of me
For I love all of you
Because I love every part of you
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Sentric Music, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michelle GRUBER
Excellent, superb, these two excellent artists were perfect in their art. What a pleasure it is to look at them now.
Cheryl Wong
I'm 15 and nearly cried watching this. FRED RULES!!! Along with Charisse and those lovely ppl back in the day!!
astaire8
THIS IS WONDERFUL ..... Fred is my favourite and Cyd is lovely.. Thank you !
mca1218
Perhaps the last great example of the Astaire "seduction dance." He was about 57 here and still doin' it better than anyone. Wonderful bits of business with him trying to get Cyd dancing: forcing her into a spin, her pirouetting into 5th position (then trying to come out of it), then finally surrendering at 00:59 when the reprise of Porter's "All of You" swells and glistens. Just gorgeous.
JACK ANTHONY
@Dazie The liberals are coming after our films next.
Dazie
Next, they’re coming for the films. If the govt doesn’t stop it, enjoy while you can bf they’re destroyed too.
Dazie
This is love. Nothing today on film compares.
Norma Flint
FRED ASTAIRE - THE MASTER OF DANCE -My favourite always...Thanks..
Dazie
When those violins come in...watch out! Takes my breath away. Where is the music of today that equates? Would love to see an authentic Broadway remake of Silk Stockings with the original score.
Jill Wintz
Who WOULDN'T !