He was born in Nottingham to musical parents who separated when he was young. His father, David Bugg, was a nurse and his mother worked in sales, both parents having previously made recordings. He grew up in the Clifton council estate of Nottingham and started playing guitar at the age of 12 after being introduced to the instrument by his uncle Mark. He attended Farnborough School Technology College in Clifton. He has described a formative musical moment when, aged 12, he heard Don McLean's "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" on an episode of The Simpsons. He was enrolled in a music technology course but, by the age of 16, he had dropped out and was writing and performing his own songs.
All That
Jake Bugg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who lifted his head
When times of heartache
Were holding him back from all that
When I was in New York
I met a girl
Left all her friends and she's running away from all that
She ain't got worries
She lives by the ocean
And she's got all that
The one who is all that
Yeah, she's got all that
When I was in L.A.
She drifted away
She spoke of freedom, fame and all that
She ain't got worries
She lives by the ocean
And she's got all that
The one who is all that
Yeah, she's got all that
Yeah, she's got all that
The lyrics to Jake Bugg's song "All That" seem to be describing the contrast between two people's lives. The first person, who is likely the singer, is someone who lets heartache hold them back from pursuing what they want in life. The second person is a woman who the singer met in New York and then separately in L.A, who lives by the ocean and seemingly has a carefree life where she doesn't let anything hold her back, including worries or societal expectations.
The first verse exemplifies the notion that the man, who could conquer his heartache, could also achieve great things in life as he would not be limited by his emotions. The second verse tells the story of the girl, who abandoned her friends and left her comfort zone to free herself from the things that were holding her back. She seems to have everything that the man wants and the imagery of the ocean symbolizes her freedom.
The chorus then emphasizes that the woman has everything that the man desires, stating that she "has all that" and "is all that." It is important to note that "all that" could be used as slang, meaning that the woman has everything that is desirable or fashionable. It could also symbolize that the woman has achieved her definition of success and has found true happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was a man
The singer imagines what it would mean to be a mature and confident individual.
Who lifted his head
Someone who is not bogged down by the struggles of life or the weight of their problems.
When times of heartache
During moments of emotional difficulty and sadness.
Were holding him back from all that
Someone who is being prevented from achieving their goals or living the life they want due to their emotional distress.
When I was in New York
The singer refers to a time and place in their past.
I met a girl
The singer discovers someone new and intriguing.
Left all her friends and she's running away from all that
This girl has recently left her old life behind to embark on a new journey or adventure.
She ain't got worries
The girl doesn't have any concerns or fears holding her back.
She lives by the ocean
The girl resides near the sea or another body of water.
And she's got all that
She is content with her current situation and doesn't feel like she is missing out on anything important.
The one who is all that
This girl is the epitome of what the singer sees as an ideal life.
Yeah, she's got all that
The singer repeats that the girl he met possesses everything he believes is important in life.
When I was in L.A.
The singer is referring to another specific time and place from his past.
She drifted away
The girl has moved on from their previous encounter and left the singer behind.
She spoke of freedom, fame and all that
The girl desires the opportunity to experience liberation and stardom.
Yeah, she's got all that
The singer reiterates that the girl's aspirations embody a life of ensuring happiness.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: JAKE KENNEDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind