Born in Pensacola, Florida, McCrae grew up singing in her pentecostal church and later discovered secular singers like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. She began performing in local clubs as a teenager, and singing with local groups like the Lafayettes and the Independents. In 1963, she met a young sailor named George McCrae, whom she married within a week.
From 1963 onward, she recorded as a duo with her husband George, and was first to receive a solo contract, with Henry Stone's TK Records. She found success on the R&B charts with "Lead Me On" in 1970, followed by "For Your Love".
George & Gwen were discovered in 1967 by singer Betty Wright, who helped get them signed to Henry Stone's Alston label. Their debut single, "Three Hearts in a Tangle," was released in 1969; the follow-up, "Like Yesterday Our Love Is Gone," marked the first time they worked with the writing team of Clarence Reid (who would later morph into the bawdy comic Blowfly) and Willie Clarke. Both were regional hits, as was third single, "No One Left to Come Home," although none of those records broke nationally; meanwhile, the McCraes and Wright were collectively earning a reputation as stellar session vocalists.
Following husband George’s unexpected solo success with "Rock Your Baby", Gwen went on to have a major hit of her own in 1975 with "Rockin' Chair", a #1 R&B hit which also reached the US Top 10. The follow-up album, Love Insurance, also made the R&B charts. By this time, the separate successes were taking their toll on the McCraes' marriage. Gwen has since alleged that her husband beat her frequently.
After Gwen and George divorced and TK Records collapsed, Gwen moved to New Jersey, and signed with Atlantic Records, having another hit with "Funky Sensation" in 1981. She continued to record, and the success of some of her earlier recordings on the UK’s Northern Soul scene maintained her popularity as a live act in Europe. In 2004, she released her first gospel album.
All This Love That I'm Giving
Gwen McCrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my reason's now, she's gone
Got no one there to talk to and even though I know I ought to
Got no reason now for goin' home
Once I had every reason a man could want
For goin' home and makin' love, but now I don't
So I end up in here each night sittin' and thinkin'
Got no reason now for goin' home
All my reason's now, she's gone
Got no one there to talk to and even though I know I ought to
Got no reason now for goin' home
It's so hard now just knowin' there's another
That she's out with him, knowin' that I love her
So I end up in here each night, sitting' and thinkin'
Missin' her, hatin' him, and drinkin'
Got no reason now for goin' home
All my reason's now, she's gone
Got no one there to talk to and even though I know I ought to
Got no reason now for goin' home
The lyrics of Gwen McCrae's "All This Love That I'm Giving" are a poignant depiction of heartbreak and the aftermath of a relationship. The singer of the song laments the loss of their lover and how they no longer have a reason to go home since she is no longer there. They are trapped in a cycle of sitting at a bar, thinking about her, missing her, and drinking to ease the pain. The repetition of the line "Got no reason now for going home" highlights the hollowness and emptiness that the singer feels with the absence of their loved one.
The lyrics also convey the sense of betrayal and jealousy that the singer is experiencing. They are aware that their ex-lover is with someone else, and the envy of knowing that she is with another man while he is left alone and broken-hearted is tearing him apart. The line "It's so hard now just knowing there's another, That she's out with him, knowing that I love her" highlights this feeling of intense jealousy and the complexity of emotions that come with a broken relationship.
Moreover, the lyrics underscore the importance of having someone to talk to in times of distress. The singer acknowledges that they should talk to someone to help ease the pain, but they find themselves unable to do so, trapping them in a cycle of despair. In conclusion, Gwen McCrae's "All This Love That I'm Giving" is a moving portrayal of the aftermath of a relationship and the complexities of human emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Got no reason now for goin' home
I feel lost and alone without her.
All my reason's now, she's gone
She was my only motivation for going home.
Got no one there to talk to and even though I know I ought to
I have no one to confide in, even though I should seek support.
Once I had every reason a man could want
I used to have a fulfilling life and relationship.
For goin' home and makin' love, but now I don't
The joy of making love to her is not present anymore.
It's so hard now just knowin' there's another
It's painful to accept that she's with someone else now.
That she's out with him, knowin' that I love her
The fact that she's with somebody else while I still love her is unbearable.
So I end up in here each night, sittin' and thinkin'
I'm trapped in my own thoughts without any clear way out.
Missin' her, hurtin' so, and drinkin'
I miss her so much and that pain drives me to drink.
Missin' her, hatin' him, and drinkin'
I miss her and despise the person she's with, which leads me to drink.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JEREMIAH BURDEN, LYNN WILLIAMS, BETTY WRIGHT, BETTY REGINA WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@therealckonmixcloud1733
This song deserves a billion views. It's been influencing musicians for decades
@user-rb8js4sf6j
Travelled from Hounslow to Hammersmith to buy this on a white label as a young teenager...Left that record shop six feet taller with this bad boy in my bag..What a freaking tune..Jeez this touches your soul
@PrinceFluffy
I used to frequent a record shop down a side street off Hounslow High St back in the late 70's - 80's can't remember what it was called, oldish bloke ran it....
@jimmybalantyne5545
Nice one man. Funny how records could do that.
@nikfirehazard
Heard this in town. Used Shazam as I had no idea who it was and been listened frequently since. Absolute banger!
@MrTalltim3
Imagine the impact this track must have had on the dance floor in 79. Wow...They must have been goin nuts..
@stephg4971
My god I’d of love to have been there 💃🏼
@jillsmith5303
We were!
@mickyeowell9765
Yes I was there 😊
@riverstanley5644
Imagine the impact this track had in 1999 when cassius sampled and dropped it! (Cassius - Feeling For You)