I Concentrate on You
Ray Charles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes when I'm down and all alone
Just like a child without a home
The love you give me keeps me hangin' on
Oh honey, all I ever need is you
You're my first love, you're my last
You're my future, you're my past
And loving you is all I ask, honey
All I ever need is you
Winters come and they go, and we watch the melting snow
Sure as summer follows spring, all the things you do
Give me a reason to build my world around you
Some men follow rainbows, I am told
Some men search for silver some for gold
I have found my treasure in your soul, honey
All I ever need is you
Without love I'd never find the way
Through ups and downs of every single day




I won't sleep at night until you say, my honey
All I ever need is you

Overall Meaning

The song All I Ever Need Is You by Ray Charles is a love song that expresses the deep emotional connection between two people. The lyrics portray a sense of vulnerability and dependence on his partner's love. The opening lines of the song describe the singer's feelings of being lost and alone without his lover. He feels like a child without a home, suggesting that his partner is his emotional support and comfort. However, the love that he receives from his lover keeps him going, symbolized through the line "The love you give me keeps me hangin' on." This line emphasizes the importance of the partner's love in keeping the singer emotionally stable.


The chorus of the song is the most significant part of the lyrics as it sums up the entire meaning of the song. The repeated line "All I ever need is you" emphasizes the singer's reliance on his partner's love. He declares his partner as his first and last love, past, and future. He needs nothing else but his partner's love, and it's all he asks for. The song's theme of love and dependency is prevailing throughout, and the singer's assurance that he has found his treasure in his partner's soul is one of the most poignant lines of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes when I'm down and all alone
During moments of sadness or loneliness


Just like a child without a home
Feeling lost and abandoned


The love you give me keeps me hangin' on
Your love helps me persevere and stay strong


Oh honey, all I ever need is you
I only need your love to feel complete


You're my first love, you're my last
You are my one and only true love


You're my future, you're my past
Our love transcends time and will continue into the future


And loving you is all I ask, honey
All I desire is your love


Winters come and they go, and we watch the melting snow
Seasons change, but our love remains constant


Sure as summer follows spring, all the things you do
I can always count on you to be there for me


Give me a reason to build my world around you
Your love gives me purpose and direction in life


Some men follow rainbows, I am told
Some people pursue elusive dreams


Some men search for silver some for gold
Others seek material wealth


I have found my treasure in your soul, honey
My greatest treasure is your love


Without love I'd never find the way
I need your love to guide me through life


Through ups and downs of every single day
In all the trials and difficulties of life


I won't sleep at night until you say, my honey
I need to hear you say you love me before I can rest


All I ever need is you
I only need your love to be happy and fulfilled




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edward Benton Reeves, Jimmy Holiday

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@SusieSoghoian

Whenever skies look gray to me 
and trouble begins to brew
Whenever the winter winds become too strong
I concentrate on you

When fortune cries "Nay, nay" to me
People declare "You're through"
Whenever the blues become my only songs
I concentrate on you

On your smile, so sweet, so tender
When at first my kiss you do decline
On the light in your eyes when you surrender
And once again our arms intertwine

And so when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true
To prove that even the wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you



@simonepanissetpedreiraferr2957

A CONCENTRATE ON YOU
Cole Porter

Por Tom Jobim e Frank Sinatra

Whenever skies look gray to me
and trouble begins to brew
Whenever the winter winds become too strong
I concentrate on you
When fortune cries "Nay, nay" to me
People declare "You're through"
Whenever the blues become my only songs
I concentrate on you
On your smile, so sweet, so tender
When at first my kiss you do decline
On the light in your eyes when you surrender
And once again our arms intertwine
And so when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true
To prove that even the wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you



@joycecesarpirespires6663

Whenever skies look gray to me
And trouble begins to brew
Whenever the winter winds become too strong
I concentrate on you

When fortune cries "Nay, nay" to me
And people declare "You're through"
Whenever the blues become my only song
I concentrate on you

On your smile, so sweet, so tender
When at first my kiss you decline
On the light in your eyes when you surrender
And once again our arms intertwine
And so when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true
To prove that even wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you

On your smile, so sweet, so tender
When at first, my kiss you decline
On the light in your eyes when you surrender
And once again our arms intertwine
And so when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true
To prove that even wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you



All comments from YouTube:

@vinnywa

The collaboration between Antonio Carlos Jobim and Frank Sinatra produced some of the best, smoothest musical sounds ever.

@johng9393

Excuse me. You overlooked the outstanding arranger Claus Ogerman

@josecarlosferreira5972

Claus Orgman was the main culprit of ALL Bossa Nova arrangements.Simple as that !
Now…the three-Orgman/Sinatra/Jobim together WOW 🤩!!!!!

@assiabenslimane2589

Yesss

@assiabenslimane2589

It's full of romantic nostalgia of whatever the 🌍 was

@giaimo13

This whole album couldn’t be more perfect. It’s like Tom Jobim made a pitcher of caipirinhas for Frank, got him nice & loose, and let him sing. It’s damned near a perfect record.

@edwardpedersen1565

The phrasing, and space..

@krzysztof4607

Intro and outro melody is one of the greatest I've ever heard

@SusieSoghoian

Whenever skies look gray to me 
and trouble begins to brew
Whenever the winter winds become too strong
I concentrate on you

When fortune cries "Nay, nay" to me
People declare "You're through"
Whenever the blues become my only songs
I concentrate on you

On your smile, so sweet, so tender
When at first my kiss you do decline
On the light in your eyes when you surrender
And once again our arms intertwine

And so when wise men say to me
That love's young dream never comes true
To prove that even the wise men can be wrong
I concentrate on you

@ellenmarieodriscoll6045

Beautiful words xx

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