All or nothing
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics


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I'll come back to you as
A strong will tower to devour, any
Sense you make but since you don't

You'll arrive and you
You think you're clever
While it's severed, you just
Fill the air with words you know

I got all this
And nothing too
I'd carry you anywhere you want me to go

You'd think I'd notice, but I
I never do
Sometimes you're just too tired to make it home

Too much time spent alone
Trying to pull yourself under
Is that thunder or the
Sense that someone calls your name

I want back from you
All the hours that I cowered, while you
Corrected everything I'd say

You really found me out
So you used to think
Too much pain and doubt
In one little space

I got all this
And nothing too
I'd carry you anywhere you want me to go

You think I'd notice, but I
I never do
Sometimes you're just too tired to make it home

Don't come back and please don't lie to me
Don't say it's all or nothing, baby
Don't come back and please don't lie to me
Don't say it's all or nothing, baby





Don't come back and please don't lie to me
Please don't say it's all or nothing, baby, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nathaniel Rateliff's "All or Nothing" are about a relationship that is on the brink of falling apart. The singer is pleading with his partner not to come back and lie to him or insist that it's "all or nothing." He feels like his partner has been trying to correct everything he says and make all the decisions in their relationship, despite the fact that the singer is capable and strong-willed. However, despite the anger and frustration he feels towards his partner, he would still "carry [them] anywhere [they] want [him] to go." The chorus repeats this idea that the singer has "all this and nothing too," which could mean that he has everything he needs (himself and his own strength), but also nothing because of the lack of trust and mutual respect in his relationship.


The second verse portrays the singer feeling lost and alone while his partner is off trying to "correct" him. He feels like he's been trying to pull himself up from this feeling of being "under" and hearing "thunder" or voices that call out his name. Although his partner used to think that he was "found out" and could be controlled because of his past pain, the singer has realized that he has more strength and resilience than originally met the eye. Finally, the ending repeats the same plea not to come back and lie or insist that it's "all or nothing."


Line by Line Meaning

I'll come back to you as
I will return to you as


A strong will tower to devour, any
A powerful presence that can consume anything


Sense you make but since you don't
Even though you don't make sense


You'll arrive and you
You will come and


You think you're clever
You believe you are smart


While it's severed, you just
But it's cut off, you just


Fill the air with words you know
Speak meaningless words


I got all this
I have everything


And nothing too
But at the same time, I have nothing


I'd carry you anywhere you want me to go
I will be there to take you wherever you want to go


You'd think I'd notice, but I
You would expect me to see, but I


I never do
I don't


Sometimes you're just too tired to make it home
Sometimes you are too exhausted to return


Too much time spent alone
Too much time spent in solitude


Trying to pull yourself under
Trying to sink yourself


Is that thunder or the
Is it noise of a storm or is it


Sense that someone calls your name
Your feeling that someone is calling your name


I want back from you
I want to receive from you


All the hours that I cowered, while you
All the time that I was afraid and submissive, while you


Corrected everything I'd say
Corrected everything I said


You really found me out
You really discovered the truth about me


So you used to think
So you previously believed


Too much pain and doubt
Too much suffering and uncertainty


In one little space
In such a small area


Don't come back and please don't lie to me
Don't return and please don't deceive me


Don't say it's all or nothing, baby
Don't say it's completely one way or the other, darling


Please don't say it's all or nothing, baby, yeah
Please don't say it's absolutely this or that, darling, yes




Lyrics ยฉ Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nathaniel David Rateliff

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Dr. Bob

This is an amazing band. Dig everything about them.

William Monroe

Nathaniel, your voice is easily one of my top 5 this year. Thank you so much for continuing to make music.

Tina Rollins

A wonder and a delight to the senses. Magic to the ears and eyes! โค

nicole corcoran

This song is perfection. All of the songs I've heard from them are astoundingly beautiful. Stunning musicians.

steve

Hi Nicole.

ChinoTorres3675

So glad I have this record to listen to during quarantine.

Elizabeth Vergara

same

Thom D

An important artist. This means a lot to me.

Brandon Johnson

Love this song

Kelly_kamy Kelly kamiya

Amo de paixรฃo

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