All Or Nothing At All
The Rat Pack Lyrics


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All or nothing at all
Half a love, never appealed to me
If your heart, never could yield to me
Then I'd rather have nothing at all

All or nothing at all
If it's love, there is no in between
Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
No I'd rather have nothing at all

Oh please don't bring your lips so close to my cheek
Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall
The kiss in your eyes and the touch of your hand makes me weak
And my heart may go dizzy and fall

And if I fell under the spell of your call
I would be, caught in the undertow
And so you see, I've got to say no, no
All or nothing at all





All or nothing at all

Overall Meaning

The song "All Or Nothing At All" by The Rat Pack expresses the theme of wanting and expecting a complete and wholehearted love. The lyrics convey a sense of determination and unwillingness to settle for anything less than a deep and committed love. The singer declares that they do not desire a half-hearted love or a love that cannot fully give in to their heart's desires. They would rather have no love at all than settle for something less than what they truly desire.


The lyrics also emphasize the idea that love cannot exist in a state of uncertainty or indecisiveness. The singer argues that love is an all-or-nothing proposition, with no room for halfway measures. They question why one would even bother to begin a relationship or invest emotionally if there is a possibility of later regretting what could have been. Their preference is to have no love at all rather than being caught in a state of ambiguity.


The song also explores the vulnerability and temptation that can arise in the face of a tantalizing love interest. The singer warns against the nearness of physical and emotional intimacy, recognizing that it could lead to vulnerability and the potential loss of control. They fear that succumbing to the allure of the other person may lead to falling under their spell and getting swept away by their call. To protect themselves, they conclude that they must say no and choose to have all or nothing at all.


Overall, "All Or Nothing At All" delivers a powerful message about the desire for genuine, wholehearted love and the unwillingness to settle for anything less.


Line by Line Meaning

All or nothing at all
I require total commitment and dedication in a relationship, without any compromises or halfway measures.


Half a love, never appealed to me
I have no interest in a relationship where love is only given partially or incompletely.


If your heart, never could yield to me
If you are unable or unwilling to fully open your heart to me and give me your love,


Then I'd rather have nothing at all
I would prefer to have no relationship at all rather than settling for something that lacks true emotional investment.


If it's love, there is no in between
Love is an all-encompassing emotion, and there is no middle ground or half-heartedness when it comes to experiencing true love.


Why begin then cry, for something that might have been
It is senseless to start a relationship and later regret it, mourning over what could have potentially happened.


No I'd rather have nothing at all
I would prefer to have no relationship at all than to be haunted by the regrets and unfulfilled possibilities of a failed relationship.


Oh please don't bring your lips so close to my cheek
I plea for you to refrain from tempting me with your affectionate gestures that may mislead me into desiring a deeper connection.


Don't smile or I'll be lost beyond recall
Your smile has the power to enthrall me completely, to the point where I may lose control and forget myself.


The kiss in your eyes and the touch of your hand makes me weak
The intense passion and tenderness I see in your eyes, and the gentle touch of your hand have the ability to overwhelm me with emotional vulnerability.


And my heart may go dizzy and fall
The overwhelming emotions I experience in your presence can make my heart feel dizzy and may even cause it to figuratively stumble and fall.


And if I fell under the spell of your call
If I succumbed to the allure and enchantment of your beckoning, persuasive words or actions,


I would be, caught in the undertow
I would find myself trapped and swept away by the powerful force of my emotions, unable to resist their overwhelming influence.


And so you see, I've got to say no, no
Consequently, you must understand that I have no choice but to decline and reject any advances, as it is necessary to protect myself from being consumed by love's intensity.


All or nothing at all
Reiterating the need for an all-in commitment in a relationship, without any compromises or halfway measures.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Arthur Altman, Jack Lawrence

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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