The group was formed in late 1966 in San Francisco. Frontman and rhythm guitarist Alexander "Skip" Spence (the original drummer for the Jefferson Airplane), lead guitarist Jerry Miller and drummer Don Stevenson (both formerly of the Frantics), rhythm guitarist (and son of actress Loretta Young) Peter Lewis (of the Cornells), and bassist Bob Mosley all wrote songs for their debut album Moby Grape (1967). In a marketing stunt, Columbia Records immediately released five singles at once, and the band was perceived as being over-hyped. Nonetheless, the record was critically acclaimed, and fairly successful commercially, with The Move covering its sardonic ode to hippiedom, "Hey Grandma". Spence's "Omaha" reached the lower rungs of the American singles charts in 1967, and Miller-Stevenson's "8:05" became a country rock standard (covered by The Grateful Dead, Robert Plant, Guy Burlage, and others). Moby Grape has today achieved the status of a highly respected rock album.
In addition to the marketing backlash, band members found themselves in legal trouble for charges (later dropped) of consorting with underage females, and the band's relationship with their manager rapidly deteriorated. The second album, Wow, was a critical and commercial failure. During its recording, Spence came to the studio with an axe, intending to kill Stevenson; he was committed, and after being released from Bellevue Hospital traveled to Nashville to record his only solo album, Oar. The band released three more albums: Moby Grape '69, Truly Fine Citizen, and 20 Granite Creek. In 1972 bob mosley released his only solo album, after which he left the group. The remainder soldiered on for two decades, recording and performing to a small but devoted audience.
Moby Grape was an example of a talented band who, through a combination of mismanagement and inexperience, never fully realized their potential. Along with the Flamin' Groovies, they were somewhat of an anomaly in the San Francisco rock scene; their concision and their strong roots in country music and early rock and roll seemed to work against them. In addition, perhaps because they were so versatile, their image was somewhat nebulous; as writer Robert Christgau put it, "All they really lacked was a boss, and what could be more American than that?"
All My Life
Moby Grape Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my life I love you
Place no one above you
All my life I really love you
Yeah, yeah
For you, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
For you, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
The lyrics of Moby Grape's song "All My Life" express deep and pure love for someone who holds an incomparable place in the singer's life. The repetition of "All my life I love you" emphasizes the consistency and permanence of this adoration. The line "Place no one above you" reinforces the idea that this love is exclusive and unparalleled, indicating that the singer's beloved is the most important person in their life. The use of "la la la" in the second half of the song conveys the singer's inability to put their emotions into words, resorting to expression through melody instead.
The sentiment conveyed in the song is one of unconditional love, where the singer's affection knows no bounds and lasts a lifetime. The idea of loving someone for one's entire life and placing them above all else is a compelling and powerful message, reminding the listener of the enduring nature of true love.
Overall, "All My Life" is a beautiful and heartfelt love song that resonates with anyone who has experienced deep and truly unconditional love.
Line by Line Meaning
All my life I love you
Throughout my entire existence, I have had love for you
All my life I love you
Throughout my entire existence, I have had love for you
Place no one above you
I hold you in the highest regard and value you above all others
All my life I really love you
The love I have for you is sincere and genuine, and has been for my entire life
Yeah, yeah
An exclamation of agreement or affirmation
For you, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
I express my love and devotion to you using the sounds 'la la la'
For you, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
I express my love and devotion to you using the sounds 'la la la'
For you, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
I express my love and devotion to you using the sounds 'la la la'
Contributed by London F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.