All the Way
Les Mccann Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When somebody loves you
Its 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
Thats how its got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue see is
Thats how deep it goes - if its real

When somebody needs you
Its 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 youll let me love you
Its for sure Im gonna love you - all the way, all the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Les McCann's "All The Way" are a testament to the depth and breadth of love. The song's opening line, "When somebody loves you, it's no good unless he loves you all the way," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer goes on to describe the various ways in which love is not enough if it is not all-encompassing. Being near someone isn't enough; you need to be there to cheer them up. And it's not just about being there during the good times, but also the "lean" years and everything in between.


The most poignant line in the song may be, "Who knows where the road will lead us, only a fool would say." This line acknowledges the uncertainty that comes with any relationship, but still asserts that love is worth pursuing even with that knowledge. The singer then offers to love the object of their affection "all the way," promising to be there through whatever life may bring. The final repetition of the song's title is both a declaration of that promise and an affirmation of the importance of wholehearted love.


Line by Line Meaning

When somebody loves you
When another person loves you


Its no good unless he loves you - all the way
Their love must be full and complete for it to be worthwhile


Happy to be near you
Content to be in your presence


When you need someone to cheer you - all the way
I will support and encourage you fully when you require it


Taller than the tallest tree is
The extent to which I love you will surpass any height


Thats how its got to feel
That is how it must be perceived


Deeper than the deep blue sea is
The degree to which I love you will surpass any depth


Thats how deep it goes - if its real
This level of affection is only attainable if the love is genuine


When somebody needs you
When another person requires you


Its no good unless he needs you - all the way
Their need must be complete for it to be of any worth


Through the good or lean years
In prosperous or challenging times


And for all the in between years - come what may
And during every other period of time, regardless of what happens


Who know where the road will lead us
The outcome of the journey is unknown


Only a fool would say
It would be unwise to make predictions


But if youll let me love you
However, if you permit me to love you


Its for sure Im gonna love you - all the way, all the way
I will certainly love you fully, completely, and without exception.




Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

monsterjazzlicks

Superb arrangement!

Donald Holloway

This jam is for players and real gangsters who love good music.

P. Blaylock

64 years young and still listening in 2023. The Man Les MaCann

Miguel Angel Duque

Maravillosa version Soulfull y ritmica al maximo

Bryan Barnes

This is undoubtedly the BEST song - EVER!

amir antar

les really swings with a whole lot of soul, I love it. thanks again.

Voltage335

You would not believe how long I have been looking for this track. Thanks a million.

Bernard Delire

Merveilleux. Splendide. C'est de la musique.

Jorge Molina

I heard this song for the first time in a radio show that played a dozen different versions of Just the way you are in the late 70s and it took me like 7 years to find the original récord - yes, vinyl - in a store that used to sell second hand records in bloomington, indiana

Jorge Molina

The show was in a now defunct radio station called JazzFM in Mexico. The station closed when the original dj died. He was a walking & talking encyclopedia

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