All The Way
Frank Sinatra & Nelson Riddle Orchestra Lyrics

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When somebody loves you
It's no good unless he loves you, all the way
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you, all the way

Taller than the tallest tree is
That's how it's got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue see is

That's how deep it goes, if its real

When somebody needs you
It's no good unless he needs you, all the way
Through the good or lean years
And for all the in between years, come what may

Who know where the road will lead us
Only a fool would say

But if you'll let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you, all the way, all the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "All the Way" by Frank Sinatra express the idea that love is only genuine and worthwhile when it is given completely and without reservation. The first verse introduces the central premise of the song: that being loved only partially or half-heartedly is insufficient. The following lines then highlight the depth and intensity of love that is genuine and sincere, using metaphors such as "taller than the tallest tree" and "deeper than the deep blue sea" to describe the all-encompassing nature of true love.

The second verse builds on this theme by emphasizing the importance of reciprocity in love. It argues that love must be mutual and enduring, persevering through both good times and bad, in order to be meaningful. The lines "through the good or lean years, and for all the in-between years, come what may" evoke a sense of steadfast commitment that transcends momentary emotions or circumstances. The final lines of the song then offer a poignant promise: that if the object of the singer's affection allows himself to be loved completely, the singer will reciprocate that love "all the way, all the way."

Line by Line Meaning

When somebody loves you
If someone loves you

It's no good unless he loves you, all the way
Their love is half-hearted unless it's complete and deep-rooted

Happy to be near you
I'm delighted to be close to you

When you need someone to cheer you, all the way
I want to be here for you always, to give you comfort and support

Taller than the tallest tree is
My love for you is immeasurable

That's how it's got to feel
Only this level of love will satisfy me

Deeper than the deep blue sea is
My love is vast and profound

That's how deep it goes, if its real
To be true, love must be penetrating and all-encompassing

When somebody needs you
If someone needs you

It's no good unless he needs you, all the way
Their need for you must be absolute and unwavering

Through the good or lean years
In the good times and bad