The Meaning of All of Me by John Legend

This is one of the most beautiful love songs ever composed. It’s filled with brutal honesty, not just that fluffy fairy tale shit. The song is an admission that every relationship can have its issues and you can overcome them as long as you accept each other and give it your all.

Make someone your priority, make them your everything, and discover your happily ever after together.

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out

This a reference to sarcasm and minor annoyances. Drawing me in and kicking me out can refer to kissing and then pushing someone away but in this reference it refers to verbal compliments and verbal insults, both an attraction and a repellent.

You’ve got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down
What’s going on in that beautiful mind
I’m on your magical mystery ride
And I’m so dizzy, don’t know what hit me, but I’ll be alright

This segment has multiple lines that literally mean the same thing. He just can’t figure her out, she’s spontaneous, random, and unpredictable. Even though this may be the case he accepts that and knows it will all work out as planned.

My head’s under water
But I’m breathing fine
You’re crazy and I’m out of my mind

This screams invulnerability, immortality, immunity, or whatever word you want to use. His love is so strong that he’s able to face things head on without harm.

Imagine being immersed in water and having an oxygen tank with so you can breathe — she’s his oxygen tank, the one that keeps him safe and sound.

The acknowledgement that theres probably something nutty about the both of them is smileworthy.

‘Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections

I accept you for who you are and love every piece of you with all of my heart.

Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh

As long as we give ourselves to each other nothing can come between us. Time stops and this is it. You are my soulmate. Losing is impossible because anytime he loses she wins and when she wins she’s happy and that makes him happy. All egos are set aside for perfection.

How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you’re crying you’re beautiful too

No matter how bad you feel, no matter what you’re going through, I will be there for you always. I will support you and nothing can change how I feel about you. You are beautiful in my eyes in every single way.

The world is beating you down, I’m around through every mood
You’re my downfall, you’re my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can’t stop singing, it’s ringing, in my head for you

I don’t know if this was intentional or not to keep the metaphors of this song rooted in the water realm but muses are also known as water nymphs. They are the goddesses of inspiration and much more. So here we have another polar opposite of perfection, a ying and a yang.

She brings him down but also inspires him at the same time. They rise and fall together. He can’t stop thinking about her.

Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we’re both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it’s hard

A reference to card playing. When someone puts their cards on the table it reveals them to their opponents. What he’s saying is they’re putting everything out there for each other to see and holding nothing back.

The hearts showing is two-fold, they are showing their hearts which is the very depths of their souls but at the same time the reference to hearts is a symbol of love.

Risking it all clarifies that they are “all-in” and there’s no turning back.

Summary

So what we have here in only a few minutes is a crazy romantic love story. Two people that know things are a little strange and unusual. They know things are hard at times and don’t make sense. But they also know that as long as they have each other they are unstoppable. They know that it takes giving it their all in exchange in exchange for a deep love and eternal happiness with each other.

If you haven’t watched the video yet check it out.  I prefer the Lindsey Stirling version but both are below.  Watch the original if you’re seeking a greater understanding of this song.

32 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for your explanations! I’m french and it seems really clear for me now! You have understood the depth and all the meaning of this song. It’s really about true love and inconditional love, the kind of love that everyone deserve.

  2. This song epitomises what it means to be in love. The entire song points out that no matter what, he’ll never see flaws with the girl that she loves – that is, her ‘perfect imperfections’ – as to him, he knows that he’ll be in love with her no matter what.

    That no matter what happens, how she’s feeling or what she’s doing, that he’ll always be there and always see her in the best possible light.

    ‘All of me loves all of you’ – he highlights that he loves everything about her and that it’ll never change.

    ‘You’re my end and my beginning’ – he can’t see or imagine his life without her in any way, shape or form.

    Brilliant song!

  3. Very beautiful explanation. But i just wanted a brief meaning of those words ” all your perfect imperfections “. Because what result i got from these words, that these are quite insulting. Otherwise i love this song so very much <3
    Y

    • Nothing like that. Nobody’s perfect, we all make a mistake bt nomatter what he likes he just the way she is. He is actually telling her not to change. Hope you got it

  4. She suffers from bipolar effective disorder maybe? The highs and lows of a relationship affected by this horrible illness? I’m in one myself and could have written this song.
    Just a thought……. 🙂

    • I totally agree but I think its probably Borderline Personality Disorder. There are a number of great songs written about this. Check out “so unsexy” by alannis morrisette.

  5. I really love this song….this is our relationship with my love of my life jorge daan …it inspire me a lot and help to build up good and forever love..

  6. I really love the song….but i dont belive in true love because love without finance is nonsense….true love existed in the past not now cus girls of dis age can never love a guy dat has notting

  7. I’m pretty sure its about trying to love a woman with Borderline Personality Disorder…in which case I would not call it a love song.

  8. God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right ones.let me just say that you the best bro i love ur song hope one day wegonna sing together love the song.

  9. im one of the fans of this beautiful song. Beautiful explanation…but how about when they back mask it (playing the song backwards) …it has different lyrics played. Please explain also.

  10. Indeed one of the best love songs. It gives exactly what love relationships are. Yours is a very good explanation. Thank you.

  11. My husband and I were married for 24 years. He was diagnosed with ALS. We moved into my son’s house and I cared for him 24/7. Before he lost his voice he asked me to marry him again. As the tears rolled down my face I agreed. My son and grandson managed to get him into his wheelchair. Just our immediate family was there. I borrowed a dress and as I walked down the winding staircase with my beloved waiting below, my granddaughter sang this song. I held back the tears of pride knowing this was the only thing he had asked for…and it was me! We were “All in”.

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