Bonnie Pointer and June Pointer first formed a secular singing duo in the late '60s and began performing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area; Anita Pointer and Ruth Pointer later joined them. The Pointer Sisters hooked up with David Rubinson who was a record producer affiliated with Bill Graham. They would perform onstage with the flamboyant Sylvester of The Cockettes, and they'd done some work as background singers on recordings by Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs, Cold Blood and other San Francisco Bay Area groups.
Their big breakthrough was a cover of an Allen Toussaint composition originally recorded in 1970 by Lee Dorsey, the song was "Yes We Can Can" released by The Pointer Sisters in March 1973. The girls' voices were added over funky backing tracks laid down with the help of Rubinson's contacts like Tower of Power guitarist Willie Fulton. They sang live around a single mic, with Anita handling lead, and upon release the record soon hit Number 11 on Billboard's pop chart and Number 12 on the R&B chart. In 1974 the group surprised white audiences when they broke the color barrier in at The Grand Ol' Opry when performing their Country Grammy award winning country song "Fairytale" in Nashville. "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)" was a 1975 #1 R&B hit from their Steppin LP, with classic funky keys of Herbie Hancock on clavinet & wicked guitar stylings of Wah Wah Watson...
Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977 for a solo career, and in 1978, the remaining sisters switched labels to Planet & production duties went to Richard Perry who modernized their sound away from a nostalgia based act into a more contemporary look & sound for the 1980's.
They produced the album Energy, with a classic country flavored updates of Sly Stone's "Everybody Is A Star", and a rendition of another Allen Toussaint song called "Happiness". The Perry streak included 1984's Break Out, which did exactly that going triple platinum and winning two Grammys for the singles Automatic and "Jump (for My Love)". This period in the early 80's ostensibly represents the group's commercial peak as a charting act. Their last big hit was Neutron Dance from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack.
As the '80s wound down, June Pointer recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio by 2001. Anita also did some solo project work, and had a minor hit with a song called, "Overnight Success."
Anita and Ruth still perform concerts under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member. June suffered a stroke on February 27, 2006. While hospitalized, she was diagnosed with cancer, which had metastasized in her breast, colon, liver and bones. She died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California on April 11, 2006 at the age of 52.
All Your Love
The Pointer Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a fire in me to feed
I can't touch you baby
All you've got to do is beam it into me
So won't you hurry
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
That's what I need
Send your kisses here, send them through the air
My heart's ready to receive
Please don't stop no baby don't let up
You got the open line to me
So won't you hurry
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Won't you telegraph your lovin'
Oh, telegraph your lovin'
I just want your love, baby
Won't you telegraph your lovin'
That's what I need
Sweet, sweet kisses here, comin' through the air
Fire raging in me
Feel you coming in so loud and clear
No I don't ever want you to leave
So don't you hurry
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Won't you telegraph your lovin'
Oh, telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Telegraph, telegraph your love to me
Won't you telegraph your lovin'
That's what I need
Move in closer baby
Come to me
Can't you hear me calling baby?
Come to me
Oh, baby baby, sweet baby
Oh my baby
Oh
The Pointer Sisters’ “Telegraph Your Love” is an upbeat disco track, recounting the singer’s longing to feel their lover’s affection. In the first verse, the singer sets the scene of staying up all night, with an insatiable desire for their lover’s love. They yearn for the intimate touch of their partner, but instead, they ask for their love to be “telegraphed” or communicated from far away.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the request for their lover to “telegraph” their love to them. They plead for their partner to send their kisses through the air and for their love to be received by their heart. The singer seems to be deeply in love with their partner, and can’t handle not being around them, physically. The second verse of the song continues the same plea, asking for their lover to keep the affection flowing, without any signs of stopping.
Overall, “Telegraph Your Love” describes a yearning to feel love in any way possible. The imagery of “telegraphing” love indicates a desire for connection from a distance, through any means possible. The love that the singer seeks is passionate and all-consuming. The song captures the essence of what it means to truly long for someone.
Line by Line Meaning
Stayin' up all night my heart won't stop
I'm restless and can't sleep, my heart is racing with anticipation.
There's a fire in me to feed
I have a burning desire that needs to be fulfilled.
I can't touch you baby
I can't physically feel or hold you right now.
All you've got to do is beam it into me
Send me your love and affection in any way possible.
So won't you hurry
Please don't take too long to send your love my way.
Send your kisses here, send them through the air
Send me virtual kisses through any means possible.
My heart's ready to receive
I am emotionally prepared to accept your affection.
Please don't stop no baby don't let up
Don't cease your display of love and stop showering me with affection.
You got the open line to me
You have a direct connection to my heart and emotions.
Sweet, sweet kisses here, comin' through the air
Your virtual kisses are so sweet and satisfying.
Fire raging in me
I am consumed with passion and desire.
Feel you coming in so loud and clear
I sense and experience your love so deeply and clearly.
No I don't ever want you to leave
I never want to be without your love and affection.
Move in closer baby
Come closer to me, physically or emotionally.
Can't you hear me calling baby?
I am call out to you, hoping you'll respond with love and affection.
Oh, baby baby, sweet baby
Expressing fondness and affection for the person being addressed.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDY GOLDMARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind