Their biggest hit single "King" from their debut album Communion reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in March 2015, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland. Their single "Shine" from the same album reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.
In April 2018 they announced the release of their second studio album Palo Santo which features singles "Sanctify" and "If You're Over Me", the latter of which reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom. The album features a dystopian world consisting of robot-like beings named Androids and humans as the minority, and was released on 6 July 2018.
On 18 March 2021, the band announced a third Years & Years album would be released in 2021. The band also announced the same day that Goldsworthy and Türkmen had stepped down as active members, and that the act would continue as the solo project of Alexander. The album, titled Night Call, was released in January 2022, debuting at number one in the UK albums chart.
All for You
Years & Years Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was it all a different scene in my head?
Ooh
You've got powers
You instructed all the demons instead
Mmm
Ooh, everyone sees a man so tall, so perfect, they said
I thought we would grow in time, I wasn't prepared
And now, am I forgiven?
Oh
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care
You know, you know that our time is through
"It's over when I leave," you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Is it always just a stand in for a man that can't heal?
Ooh
I've got arrows, am I shooting through the sky for us still
Na, na, na
And I have a spent a year, wondering if I had all of the blame
Ah, yeah (ah yeah)
And love's a bitter fruit if you choose to remain in your shame
But you couldn't listen, no
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care
You know, you know that our time is through
"It's over when I leave," you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Kneeling at your temple, love was accidental
Singing bruises, I was foolish
Thinking I was careful, losing every battle
Singing bruises, I was foolish
No hands, no rush
No touch, no drug
No blood, no love
I'm doing it all for you
No hands, no rush
No touch, no drug
No blood, no love
I'm doing it all for you
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care (don't care)
You know, you know that our time is through (you know that our time is)
"It's over when I leave," you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
I said, "so long", it's all for you
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
I said, "so long", it's all for you
The lyrics of Years & Years's song All for You is a reflection of the feelings of the singer towards someone they loved. The singer is struggling with the reality that the relationship has ended and is trying to understand why it happened. They wonder if what they had was all just in their head and if the other person was playing them all along. The other person is described as being powerful, with ambition, and someone who instructed "all the demons instead" which suggests that they were not good for our protagonist.
The chorus suggests that the other person was only interested in themselves and only played the relationship for their advantage. The singer has come to realize that there was love in the relationship but it's now gone and it's all for the other person. The final line gives a sense of closure to the song with the singer accepting that it's over and saying goodbye.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been thinkin'
Reflecting on the past and questioning reality
Was it all a different scene in my head?
Wondering if memories were false or only imagined
You've got powers
Recognizing the control and influence the other person holds
You instructed all the demons instead
Realizing the negative impact the other person had on the situation
Yeah, you've got ambition
Acknowledging the other person's aspirations
I thought we would grow in time, I wasn't prepared
Admitting to feeling unprepared for what happened
And now, am I forgiven?
Questioning if forgiveness is possible
You look like you're so damn scared
Observing fear or anxiety in the other person's behavior
I don't really think you care
Feeling unsure if the other person cares about the situation
You know, you know that our time is through
Realizing the relationship has come to an end
"It's over when I leave," you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
Remembering the words the other person said about the end of the relationship
You played your game, it was all for you
Recognizing the other person's selfish motives
Is it always just a stand in for a man that can't heal?
Questioning if the relationship was only temporary or meant to fill a void
I've got arrows, am I shooting through the sky for us still
Wondering if efforts are still being made to salvage the relationship
And I have a spent a year, wondering if I had all of the blame
Reflecting on past events and questioning personal responsibility
And love's a bitter fruit if you choose to remain in your shame
Recognizing the negative impact of holding onto shame
But you couldn't listen, no
Acknowledging the other person's refusal to listen
Kneeling at your temple, love was accidental
Describing a feeling of subservience or obligation in the relationship
Singing bruises, I was foolish
Reflecting on past actions and feeling regretful
Thinking I was careful, losing every battle
Believing effort was being made, but still losing the fight
No hands, no rush
Rejecting physical intimacy
No touch, no drug
Rejecting addictive behaviors
No blood, no love
Rejecting pain or suffering in the name of love
I'm doing it all for you
Describing a self-sacrificing attitude towards the other person
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
Saying goodbye to the past or the other person
"It's over when I leave," you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
Remembering the words the other person said about the end of the relationship
I said, "so long", it's all for you
Putting the past behind and continuing to do things for the other person
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Olly Alexander, Greg Kurstin, Mark Ralph
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HamzaMushtaq
I've been thinkin'
Was it all a different scene in my head?
Ooh
You've got powers
You instructed all the demons instead
Mmm
Ooh, everyone sees a man so tall, so perfect, they said
Yeah, you've got ambition
I thought we would grow in time, I wasn't prepared
And now, am I forgiven?
Oh
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care
You know, you know that our time is through
"It's over when I leave, " you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Is it always just a stand in for a man that can't heal?
Ooh
I've got arrows, am I shooting through the sky for us still
Na, na, na
And I have a spent a year, wondering if I had all of the blame
Ah, yeah (ah yeah)
And love's a bitter fruit if you choose to remain in your shame
But you couldn't listen, no
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care
You know, you know that our time is through
"It's over when I leave, " you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Kneeling at your temple, love was accidental
Singing bruises, I was foolish
Thinking I was careful, losing every battle
Singing bruises, I was foolish
No hands, no rush
No touch, no drug
No blood, no love
I'm doing it all for you
No hands, no rush
No touch, no drug
No blood, no love
I'm doing it all for you
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care (don't care)
You know, you know that our time is through (you know that our time is)
"It's over when I leave, " you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
I said, "so long", it's all for you
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
I said, "so long", it's all for you
@jadeharding7823
Lyrics
I've been thinkin'
Was it all a different scene in my head?
Ooh
You've got powers
You instructed all the demons instead
Mmm
Ooh, everyone sees a man so tall, so perfect, they said
Yeah, you've got ambition
I thought we would grow in time, I wasn't prepared
And now, am I forgiven?
Oh
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care
You know, you know that our time is through
"It's over when I leave, " you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Is it always just a stand in for a man that can't heal?
Ooh
I've got arrows, am I shooting through the sky for us still
Na, na, na
And I have a spent a year, wondering if I had all of the blame
Ah, yeah (ah yeah)
And love's a bitter fruit if you choose to remain in your shame
But you couldn't listen, no
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care
You know, you know that our time is through
"It's over when I leave, " you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Ooh, ooh
Ooh
It's all for you
Kneeling at your temple, love was accidental
Singing bruises, I was foolish
Thinking I was careful, losing every battle
Singing bruises, I was foolish
No hands, no rush
No touch, no drug
No blood, no love
I'm doing it all for you
No hands, no rush
No touch, no drug
No blood, no love
I'm doing it all for you
You look like you're so damn scared
I don't really think you care (don't care)
You know, you know that our time is through (you know that our time is)
"It's over when I leave, " you said, "we're never gonna meet again"
You played your game, it was all for you
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
I said, "so long", it's all for you
I said, "so long", I said, "so long"
I said, "so long", it's all for you
@MoNa-si8om
How is it possible that I love EVERY song of them?!
@nasrullahkamil6688
It is possible
@enoeht7353
It's Jesus speaking
@janinewilliams7089
True story! They are all wicked songs!
@nawelelk
it is i do too lol
@keeperofthebeast
That’s what I just thought to myself! I genuinely love every one of them!! ♥️
@Laurelend
Late to the party...but it's still raging. I can't believe how quickly I became obsessed with EVERY song. A true artist, our world is more beautiful with Olly in it! More please!
@OfficialAdamClarke
This is what you call an artist. Everything from the song, the video to the costumes is perfect. This guy is seriously underated. This is a visually stunning piece of art! <3
@alicengeddes2503
Couldn't have said it better.
@veggie42
The keyboard is great on this