All Or Nothing At All
John Coltrane Lyrics


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All or nothing at all
Half a love, never appealed to me
If your heart, never could yield to me
Then I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all

All or nothing at all
If it's love, there is no in between
Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
No I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all

But please don't bring your lips so close to my cheek
Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall
The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
And my heart may go dizzy and fall

And if I fell (I fell) under the spell of your call
I would be, caught in the undertow




So you see, I've got to say no, no
All or nothing at all

Overall Meaning

The song "All or Nothing at All" by the John Coltrane Quartet is a heart-wrenching ballad that explores the dichotomy between love and self-preservation. The lyrics of the song express a deep-seated fear of putting oneself at risk emotionally, which is reflected in the repeated refrain of "rather have nothing at all." The singer is grappling with the idea of pursuing a love interest, but is hesitant to let down their guard because they fear getting hurt. The lines "If it's love, there is no in between/Why begin then cry, for something that might have been" encapsulate this sentiment perfectly.


However, the singer also acknowledges the pull of romantic attraction. The lines "Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall/The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak" reveal the internal battle between their rational mind and their heart. They know that they should resist the temptation of falling in love, but the physical sensations of being with the object of their desire are too powerful to ignore. Ultimately, they decide that it's better to stay in control of their emotions and avoid the risk of heartbreak.


Overall, "All or Nothing at All" is a poignant exploration of the complex emotions that come with falling in love. It's a reminder that even when we try to guard ourselves against heartbreak, the human heart is a complex and unpredictable thing that can be difficult to control.


Line by Line Meaning

All or nothing at all
I want the entirety of your love, not just a portion.


Half a love, never appealed to me
I refuse to accept an incomplete and inadequate love.


If your heart, never could yield to me
If your heart cannot fully open up to me and give its all, then I do not want it.


Then I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all
I prefer to have no love at all than to have love that is not whole.


If it's love, there is no in between
Love is not something that can be halfway; it is an all-or-nothing proposition.


Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
It is pointless to start a relationship if it is not built on the foundation of complete and reciprocal love.


No I'd rather (rather) have nothing at all
I would rather be single and without love than to settle for anything less than everything.


But please don't bring your lips so close to my cheek
I am strongly attracted to you, but I do not want to risk falling under your spell and getting hurt.


Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall
Even your slightest gesture towards me could make me fall for you completely.


The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
Your mere physical presence and touch have a powerful effect on me.


And my heart may go dizzy and fall
My emotions are so strong that I may lose control and fall in love with you despite my determination not to.


And if I fell (I fell) under the spell of your call
If I succumbed to your charms and fell in love with you, I would be helpless to resist you.


I would be, caught in the undertow
I would be unable to control my feelings and would drown in my love for you.


So you see, I've got to say no, no
Therefore, I have to refuse your advances and protect myself by avoiding falling into this dangerous love.


All or nothing at all
Reinforcing the idea that he is not interested in anything other than complete and total love.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Arthur Altman, Jack Lawrence

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@AljoniMusiCo

Gives us goosebumps every time--the whole group is masterful; Elvin's poly-rhythmic push is fantastic!...............major props here!!

@goonaa6924

It's true man !!! I also got the goosebump thing ...ha ! Was crate digging in a record store in Berne, Switzerland back in the 80s and then they played this !! Had only heard Trane's avant-garde work up to that point (which isn't my bag) so hadn't pursued his work. Glad I was able to see the light in the end !

@JazzizCafeLoveJazz

Love it! Thanks!
🙌 John Coltrane, y su cuarteto formado junto a McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison y Elvin Jones grabaron su álbum "Ballads" con Impulse Records entre 1961 y 1962: ocho canciones que incluían esta versión del "All or Nothing at All" compuesta en 1939 por Arthur Altman y Jack Lawrence.

🎷 John William Coltrane y su grupo grabaron cada pieza del álbum en una única toma, excepto justamente "All or Nothing at All", un trabajo que consiguio entrar a formar parte del 'Salón de la Fama de los GRAMMYs.

#classicmonday #jazz

@DaveVelo1

Ah yes, Elvin is right in there with John as usual. Jones' marvelously complex, throbbing rhythms are in sync with Coltrane's lovely meanderings. This is of my favorite Classic Quartet tunes and never tire of hearing it.

@ethanhill9460

Should release this right now as a single. Sure to rise to number 1 on all Billboard charts save Country.

@skingrowth

I get emotional when I listen to this record. Its like a sacred text.

@porterhall27

great drums from elvin jones, totally unpredictable....

@orionsbeltjazz6601

L'album est exceptionnel, avec une préférence pour ''All or Nothing at All''

@richardfeynman4315

Coltrane is the master of the sax.

@brucescott4261

Richard Feynman ...'Trane was one of the best.

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