Give It All We Got Tonight

Album: Love Is Everything (2012)
Charted: 43
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first single from George Strait's 28th studio album is a romantic ballad penned by Nashville songwriters Tim James, Phil O'Donnell and Mark Bright. "The song has a very unusual melody and very cool phrasing, which I've always been drawn to," shared Strait, who once again collaborated with longtime producer, Tony Brown, on the music. It was released on October 29, 2012.
  • George was initially unsure if he'd be able to capture the song. "I hadn't done any recording in quite a while, and so I really didn't have anything to put out, but I was trying to find a few songs just to go in and cut," he said. "So, I was listening to stuff constantly, every day. The first time I heard it I thought, 'Hmm, that's a great song. [It's] a little different for me, you know, a little risqué kinda.' I'm thinking, 'I don't know if I can pull this off or not.' But, I talked with [UMG's] Brian [Wright] a little bit about it, and he said, 'Sure you can. You can do it.' I said, 'Alright. We'll try it.' So, we did, and I just love it. I mean, it's, like I said, it's a little different, the melody's a little different, great lyrics. It's kinda about parking, [laughs] which I've done a few times back in the early days. [laughs]"
  • The song reached the top of the Mediabase charts as the most played song on Country radio. Fans and fellow artists alike had joined the 'Sixty For Sixty' campaign to help accomplish the historic milestone of giving George his 60th #1 single while he was 60 years old. It came down to the last minute as it finally reached #1 a few days before the Nashville legend's 61st birthday. In doing so, George became the first artist in any genre of music to place 60 songs at the top of the charts.

Comments: 1

  • Nancy Barcott from San Antonio TexasThis song is about two different times one very young and one in late teen years. The begining says "july moonlight shines" was because it was 3-4 in the morning walking to town. Then "your pretty little head on my shoulders" was the next day when "Tony" took me to pick him up at his dads and the truck ride back i was in the half seat in the back holding him with my head on his shoulder. Then "pull over on the side of the road" was to listen to "Ok'95" i deemed our song to be "Hold on" by "Wilson Phillips" and i was dancing on the dirt road. "Baby fall into my kiss" was practicing on a mirror then the real kiss. There's more but no more room. Second half coming up.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Incongruent Opening Acts

Incongruent Opening ActsSong Writing

Here's what happens when an opening act is really out of place with the headliner, like when Beastie Boys opened for Madonna.

Tanita Tikaram

Tanita TikaramSongwriter Interviews

When she released her first album in 1988, Tanita became a UK singing sensation at age 19. She talks about her darkly sensual voice and quirky songwriting style.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.