He was about to return to college to study law enforcement, when Richard Finch and Harry Wayne Casey of KC and the Sunshine Band invited him to sing the lyrics for a song that they had recorded for the band, but could not reach the high notes that were required for the song. In fact the original intention was that Gwen, his wife, should record it, but she was late for the session and George recorded alone. It suited his high-pitched voice to the extent that the song, "Rock Your Baby", became one of the first hits of the disco era in 1974, selling an estimated eleven million copies worldwide, topping the charts in the U.S., UK, and eighty other countries.
The song was so successful that Rolling Stone magazine voted it the #1 song of the year in 1974. McCrae received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocalist the following year. Two further single releases, "I Can't Leave You Alone" (U.S. R&B #10 and U.S. Pop #50) and "It's Been So Long" also reached the UK Singles Chart Top 10, but he had much less success with follow-ups in the US although his 1975 single "I Get Lifted" reached the #8 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and #37 on the Billboard Hot 100. He continued to record with, and manage, his wife until their divorce in 1976. McCrae's fortunes slipped as the decade progressed. McCrae continued to record and tour through the 1980s in his own right, particularly in Europe, where he remained popular.
The indie rock band Yo La Tengo covered the song "You Can Have It All" on their 2000 album, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out.
You Can Have It All
George McCrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take it baby
If you want, want my heart
Take it baby
You can have it all
You can have it all
Take it baby
And if you want my last dime
Take it baby
You can have it all
You can have it all
Take it baby
Take it baby
Take it baby
Take it baby
You can have it all
You can have it all
You can have it
You can have it
Have it all
Have it all
In George McCrae's song "You Can Have It All," he communicates the notion of giving his all, be it his love or time, to someone he values so dearly. The lyrics express an almost unconditional love for the person, as he is willing to give his heart and the last dime, which is an indication of his selflessness. He is telling this person that anything which makes them happy, they can have it- whether it is his possessions, his love, or his time. The chorus repeats the phrase "you can have it all" four times, making it clear that the singer is willing to give everything they possess to make the recipient of the song happy.
The song communicates a message of complete love and sacrifice, and it encourages all its listeners to appreciate the value of authentic love. The opening line, "If you want, want my love, take it baby," is an invitation to trust blindly and receive love without any reservations. McCrae's smooth and soothing voice carries an assurance that the recipient of the song can take everything from him and will receive love without any bounds. It is a message of upholding the value of love itself.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want, want my love
I am willing to give you my love.
Take it baby
It's yours for the taking.
If you want, want my heart
I am willing to give you my heart.
If you want, want my time
I am willing to dedicate my time to you.
And if you want my last dime
I am willing to give you all that I have financially.
You can have it all
Everything that I have to offer is yours.
Take it baby
It's yours for the taking.
Take it baby
It's yours for the taking.
Take it baby
It's yours for the taking.
Take it baby
It's yours for the taking.
You can have it all
Everything that I have to offer is yours.
You can have it
Everything is yours.
You can have it
Everything is yours.
Have it all
Everything that I have to offer is all yours.
Have it all
Everything that I have to offer is all yours.
Writer(s): H.w. Casey, R. Finch
Contributed by James M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.