Cheatham then signed for MCA Records as a solo singer. He worked with Al Hudson of the band One Way on his first album, The Boss. His first chart success came in 1983 with "Get Down Saturday Night", co-written by Cheatham and One Way's Kevin McCord, which reached no.37 on the Billboard R&B chart, and also reached no.38 on the UK singles chart. The album, Saturday Night, produced by Al Perkins, was released the same year. In 1986, he moved to the Critique label, and had further success in the US with the singles "S.O.S." (R&B chart no.35), and "Celebrate (Our Love)". Other Cheatham singles included "Mama Said," "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," "Things to Make U Happy," and "Wish on a Star." After moving to the New York-based Warlock label, he recorded "Turn Out the Lights" and "Mindbuster" with Jocelyn Brown. He spent much of the 1990s working as a backing singer with artists including Leo Sayer, and released his final album, Stand for Love, in 2002.
He returned to the charts in 2003, when he was featured in Room 5's UK #1 single, "Make Luv", which sampled "Get Down Saturday Night", though Cheatham re-recorded his vocal parts for later releases. The track was featured on a commercial for Lynx deodorant on British TV. Its success in the UK led Cheatham to relocate to Surrey, England, and he recorded in London for the Native Soul record label.
Elements of "Get Down Saturday Night" were also used in Michael Gray's 2004 hit, "The Weekend", and the track was sampled for Daft Punk's song "Voyager." It also featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
Cheatham died on November 29, 2013, at the age of 65, following a heart attack in his sleep.
Through It All
Oliver Cheatham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You
I′ll sing to You, Lord
For Your faithfulness to me
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You′ll never let me go
Through it all
You are forever in my life
You see me through the seasons
Cover me with Your hand
And lead me in Your righteousness
And I look to You
And I wait on You
I'll sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You′ll never let me go
I′ll sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You′ll never let me go
Through it all
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
I'll sing to You, Lord
A hymn of love
For Your faithfulness to me
I′m carried in everlasting arms
You'll never let me go
Through it all
The lyrics of the song “Through It All” by Oliver Cheatham convey a message of trust and faith in God. The singer reflects on his journey through different seasons of life and how God has been a constant presence through it all. The singer acknowledges God's everlasting love, guidance, and righteousness, and how it has helped him overcome difficulties and challenges. He looks forward to the future with optimism and sings a hymn of love to express his gratitude to God for His faithfulness to him.
The phrase “through it all” is used several times in the song, emphasizing that no matter what trials and tribulations the singer faces in life, he believes that God will never leave him and will continue to guide him. It is a statement of unwavering faith despite the challenges of life. The use of “everlasting arms” evokes images of comfort and protection, further emphasizing the security of the singer's faith in God.
Overall, the song expresses a deep and meaningful message of faith and trust in God through life's ups and downs. It encourages listeners to hold onto their faith during trying times and to trust that God has a plan for their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You are forever in my life
You have been present in my life for as long as I can remember.
You see me through the seasons
You guide me and help me get through the different phases of my life.
Cover me with Your hand
You protect me from harm and keep me safe.
And lead me in Your righteousness
You guide me towards good and help me make the right choices.
And I look to You
I depend on You for help and guidance.
And I wait on You
I am patient and trust that You will help me in Your own time.
I'll sing to You, Lord
I will express my gratitude and devotion to You through music.
A hymn of love
My music will be filled with love and appreciation for You.
For Your faithfulness to me
I am grateful for Your constant loyalty and support towards me.
I'm carried in everlasting arms
You always carry me and hold me close to You.
You'll never let me go
You will always be there for me and never abandon me.
Through it all
No matter what challenges I face, You will always be by my side.
Hallelujah, hallelujah
I praise You and celebrate Your greatness.
Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.