All Night Long
Temple of the Dog Lyrics

The lyrics to Temple of the Dog's song "All Night Thing" describe a situation where the singer meets a woman who motions for him to leave with her and go somewhere warm where they can be alone. The singer is unsure of what is really going on but suspects that it will be an all-night affair. He suggests that if it is, nobody will make it end and if it doesn't begin, he won't take offense. He acknowledges that if it is indeed an all-night thing and they fall like tears on the ground, he will never come back around and she will never hear from him again. The second verse describes the singer walking along feeling at ease and falling like rain into her scheme. He is aware that she won't let on what their end goal is, but he again suspects that it will be an all-night thing.

The lyrics evoke a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the nature of the encounter the singer is about to embark on. The repeated refrain of "it's an all night thing" emphasizes the sense of duration and commitment it will require of both participants. The final line of the song, where the singer asserts that he will never come around and she will never hear from him again if it ends in tears, reinforces the ephemeral and fleeting nature of the encounter. The song's mood is somewhat melancholic and introspective, with hints of cynicism regarding the possibility of long-lasting romantic connections.