Reader was born in Glasgow, the daughter of a welder, and the eldest of seven children (her brother, Francis, is vocalist with the band The Trash Can Sinatras). She began playing the guitar at the age of ten, and started her musical career busking, first in Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street, then in the early 1980s around Europe (where she also worked with circus and performance artists).
Back in Scotland, she joined the punk band Gang of Four as a backing singer which led to her first US tour. After leaving the band she started working as a session vocalist in London, singing with such acts as Eurythmics, Alison Moyet and Language.
In 1984, Reader sang for a brief time with disco group Outbar Squeek. Around the same time she teamed up with Mark E. Nevin, a guitarist and songwriter, to record a few of his songs. They subsequently formed Fairground Attraction, together with Simon Edwards and Roy Dodds. In 1988 the band released their first single, Perfect, which became a UK number one, winning best single at the 1989 Brit Awards. Their first album, The First of a Million Kisses, was also a success, reaching number two in the UK album chart, and winning best album at the 1989 Brit Awards.
This success was short-lived, however. In November, 1989, after a break, during which Reader had her first child, Charlie with her French-Algerian partner Milou, Mark Nevin abandoned a recording session for the second album, which would eventually lead to the splitting of the band. A makeshift second album, a collection of B-sides and live tracks, Ay Fond Kiss was rushed out the following year.
Reader returned to Scotland, but before she embarked on her solo career she took a temporary detour into acting. She played Jolene Jowett, a singer and accordionist, in John Byrne's Your Cheatin' Heart, a comedy-drama series for BBC television, set in the country music scene in Scotland.
Returning to London, Reader worked on new material with a backing band calling itself "The Patron Saints of Imperfection" (made up of Roy Dodds, Neill and Calum MacColl, and Phil Steriopoulos). This became her first solo album, recorded for RCA: 1992's Mirmama. It was followed by Eddi Reader (1994), which won her the "Best female singer" Brit Award that year, Candyfloss and Medicine (1996), Angels & Electricity (1998), Simple Soul (2001) and Driftwood (2002) - a "homegrown" release of songs recorded during the Simple Soul sessions.
In 2003, she recorded her album of material by Robert Burns with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra leading to excellent reviews and an international resurgence in interest in Scotland's Bard.
The Song "Bell Book And Candle" was included in the final soundtrack of the TV show by WB "Charmed", The name of the disc is "Charmed: The Final Chapter".
In the 2006 New Years Honours List, Reader was awarded the MBE for services to music.
Her eighth studio album Peacetime was released in the UK on 29 January 2007 on the Rough Trade label. Critically praised and produced by fellow Scottish folk musician John McCusker the album features a few Burns songs alongside brand new material with longtime collaborator Boo Hewerdine and Trashcan Sinatras' John Douglas. Reader promoted the album with a 15 date UK tour in February.
All Or Nothing
Eddi Reader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All of the time walking backwards, all of the time I was blind
And the only voice I was hearing was yours inside my head
Saying "Get yourself back to the kitchen, girl, one true move and you're dead"
But I found out it's all or nothing
And all of the time he fiddled, I danced to the dark of his breath
And the only sound I was hearing was the one inside my own mind
Saying "Get yourself back to the kitchen sink, girl, you've blown it one more time"
I found out it's all or nothing at all
{yes it's over, nothing lasted}
Nothing's changed, yes it's over, still you breathe
I whistled a tune called 'crazy' and I tiptoed a very tight line
I faltered ever so slightly, all of the time I was blind
And the only voice I was hearing was the one inside my head
Saying "Get yourself out of the kitchen, girl – fly to the moon instead"
I found out, it's all or nothing
I found out, it's all or nothing
Yes, it's all or nothing at all
Fly me to the moon, let me roll among
Fly me to the moon, let me roll among the stars
The lyrics of Eddi Reader's "All Or Nothing" tell the story of a woman who has been told by a male authority figure that she needs to stay in the kitchen and avoid making mistakes. She struggles with this message, feeling trapped in her limited role and uncertain about her choices. Throughout the song, she hears both her own voice and the voice of the man in her head, but in the end, she decides to break free and take a chance on "crazy" ideas like flying to the moon. The refrain "All or nothing" suggests that she realizes she can't live half-heartedly or be content with mediocrity - she has to go all in, even if it means risking failure or judgment.
The imagery in the song is evocative and poignant, painting a picture of a woman who has been held back and feels powerless. The lines "I tiptoed a very tight line" and "walking backwards" suggest that she is careful and uncertain, hesitant to take risks or assert herself. The repetition of "fly me to the moon" at the end of the song is a powerful symbol of the woman's desire for freedom, adventure, and new horizons.
Line by Line Meaning
I whistled a tune called 'lazy' and I tiptoed a very tight line
I was complacent and barely making an effort, while also barely avoiding disaster.
All of the time walking backwards, all of the time I was blind
I was moving in the wrong direction and unable to see my own mistakes.
And the only voice I was hearing was yours inside my head
Saying "Get yourself back to the kitchen, girl, one true move and you're dead"
I was haunted by the oppressive words of someone who wanted to confine me to traditional gender roles and punish me for deviation.
But I found out it's all or nothing
I learned that there is no middle ground, and that in order to succeed, I must give my all.
And all of the time he fiddled, I danced to the dark of his breath
Too lazy to crumble and jumble there, over and over he played
And the only sound I was hearing was the one inside my own mind
Saying "Get yourself back to the kitchen sink, girl, you've blown it one more time"
I was stuck in a toxic relationship in which my partner manipulated and controlled me, while I lacked the courage to break free.
I found out it's all or nothing at all
I discovered that there are no half-measures when it comes to living and loving – either I give everything I have, or I give up entirely.
{yes it's over, nothing lasted}
Nothing's changed, yes it's over, still you breathe
The relationship is gone and dead, but the other person still lingers on and refuses to let go.
I whistled a tune called 'crazy' and I tiptoed a very tight line
I faltered ever so slightly, all of the time I was blind
And the only voice I was hearing was the one inside my head
Saying "Get yourself out of the kitchen, girl – fly to the moon instead"
I took a risk and stepped outside my comfort zone, although I still struggled with self-doubt and uncertainty.
I found out, it's all or nothing
I found out, it's all or nothing
Yes, it's all or nothing at all
I embraced the realization that life is about commitment and passion, and that nothing worth having comes without bold action.
Fly me to the moon, let me roll among
Fly me to the moon, let me roll among the stars
I dream of soaring to new heights and exploring the infinite possibilities of the universe.
Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.