Richard Hell and the Voidoids (A.K.A. The Voidoids) were an American punk b… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Hell and the Voidoids (A.K.A. The Voidoids) were an American punk band from the first wave of punk rock, fronted by Richard Hell (born Richard Meyers), a former member of the Neon Boys, Television and the Heartbreakers. Formed in New York City, at various times the band included influential guitarist Robert Quine, Ivan Julian, Naux Maciel, former Contortions and The Raybeats guitarist Jody Harris, Golden Palominos leader Anton Fier, and future Ramones member Marc Bell (Marky Ramone). The group is best known for Hell's nihilistic worldview, reflected in songs like "Who Says?". Their song "Blank Generation" served as an anthem for the punk movement in New York.

The Voidoids were started in 1976 when Richard Hell left The Heartbreakers. The first lineup consisted of Hell, Quine, Julian and Bell. The band released what has been considered their best album, Blank Generation, in 1977. This lineup dissolved around 1979.

A new lineup in 1982, this time with Hell, Quine and new members Naux (Juan Maciel) on guitar and Fred Maher on drums, was featured on The Voidoids second album Destiny Street. According to Hell, Destiny Street suffered due to Hell's being distracted during the recording process, especially by the use of narcotics. This second lineup dissolved around 1985.

1990 saw the release of the live album Funhunt (Live at the CBGB's & Max's), which was compiled from a series of audience tapes recorded between 1978 and 1985. 1990 also featured a reformation for a Japanese tour.

In 2009 Destiny Street Repaired, a remake and "repair" of Destiny Street, was released. Destiny Street Repaired featured guitarists Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell and Ivan Julian playing along to the original rhythm tracks.

Their best known songs were "Blank Generation", "Love Comes in Spurts", "The Kid With the Replaceable Head" and "Time".

All The Way
Richard Hell and the Voidoids Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When somebody loves you
It's no good unless he loves you
All the way
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you
All the way

Taller than the tallest tree is

That's how it's got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue see is
That's how deep it goes, when it's real, when it's real

'Cause when somebody needs you
It's no good unless he needs you
All the way
Through the good or lean years
And for all the, all the in-between years
Come what may

Who know where the road will lead us
Only a fool would say
But if you'll let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you
All the way
All the way

But if you'll let me love you
It's for sure I'm gonna love you

All the way
All the way

Overall Meaning

The song “All the Way” by Richard Hell and the Voidoids is a love song about the depth and intensity of true love. The lyrics suggest that love that isn't complete is not worth having: when somebody loves you it's not enough unless they love you all the way. The song stresses the importance of being there for someone and cheering them up when they are down. The repetition of “all the way” emphasizes the completeness that is necessary in love, and the need for commitment that transcends the mundane and everyday.

The song conveys the idea that love should be all-encompassing and that it should endure through all life's ups and downs, from the good times to the hard times. The similes help to intensify the emotions expressed in the song, with the comparison to a tall tree suggesting that love must reach upward constantly and the mention of the deep blue sea indicating that love must be so deep that it becomes a part of the fabric of life. The repeated phrase “when it's real” reminds the listener that this love exists only when it is authentic and true.

“All the Way” is a tender and poignant love song, with lyrics that capture the essence of what it means to love someone deeply and completely. The song retains its popularity and has been covered by several artists over the years, which attests to its continued resonance with people. The interplay of Richard's unique voice with the guitar and bass that the track is built on make it compelling to listen to.

Line by Line Meaning

When somebody loves you
When someone has romantic feelings for you

It's no good unless he loves you
Those feelings don't matter if they don't love you completely

All the way
To the fullest extent possible

Happy to be near you
They enjoy being physically close to you

When you need someone to cheer you
They are there to provide comfort and support when you're feeling down

All the way
Completely and sincerely

Taller than the tallest tree is
The level of emotion and depth in love is beyond measure

That's how it's got to feel
That's the level of intensity required for true love

Deeper than the deep blue sea is
Love is immeasurable and boundless

That's how deep it goes, when it's real, when it's real
This is the depth of true, genuine love

'Cause when somebody needs you
When someone is reliant on you

It's no good unless he needs you
That reliance must be complete

All the way
Fully and completely

Through the good or lean years
In good times and bad

And for all the, all the in-between years
In all the times in between

Come what may
No matter what happens

Who knows where the road will lead us
The future is uncertain

Only a fool would say
It's foolish to act like you know what's going to happen

But if you'll let me love you
If you give me a chance to love you

It's for sure I'm gonna love you
I will love you completely and sincerely

All the way
With all my heart and soul

All the way
Completely and sincerely

Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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