http://www.nathanielrateliff.com/
Members:
Nathaniel Rateliff
Patrick Meese
Julie Davis
Joseph Pope III
James Han
All or nothing
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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! โค
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