All The Man That I Need – English Lyrics

• By: Whitney Houston

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the vocal brilliance of Whitney Houston's "All The Man That I Need." This iconic ballad offers a rich opportunity for English language learners to explore emotive vocabulary and narrative songwriting. Houston's crystal-clear enunciation and masterful delivery make the lyrics easily understandable, providing a perfect example of how English can convey deep feelings of love and contentment through song. The song's clear narrative of finding profound happiness after past struggles also makes it an engaging piece for language acquisition and cultural understanding.

[English]

(lively music)

♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ I used to cry myself to sleep at night ♪

♪ But that was all before he came ♪

♪ I thought love had to hurt to turn out right ♪

♪ But now he's here, it's not the same ♪

♪ It's not the same ♪

♪ He fills me up, he gives me love ♪

♪ More love than I've ever seen ♪

♪ He's all I got, he's all I got in this world ♪

♪ But he's all the man that I need ♪

♪ And in the morning when I kiss his eyes ♪

♪ He takes me down and rocks me slow ♪

♪ And in the evening when the moon is high ♪

♪ He holds me close and won't let go ♪

♪ He won't let go ♪

♪ He fills me up, he gives me love ♪

♪ More love than I've ever seen ♪

♪ He's all I got, he's all I got in this world ♪

♪ But he's all the man that I need ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ He fills me up, he fills me up ♪

♪ He gives me love ♪

♪ More love than I've ever seen ♪

♪ Than I've ever seen ♪

♪ He's all I got, he's all I've got ♪

♪ He's all I got in this world ♪

♪ But he's all the man that I need ♪

♪ All the man, all the man I need ♪

♪ He fills me up, he fills me up ♪

♪ He gives me love ♪

♪ More, more love, more love, more love, ♪

♪ More love, more love, than I've ever seen ♪

♪ He's all I've got, he's all I've got ♪

♪ He's all I got in this world ♪

♪ But he's all the man, all the man ♪

♪ All the man, all the man I need ♪

♪ He fills me up, woo ♪

♪ More love than I've ever seen ♪

♪ He's all I've got ♪

(upbeat music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - to produce tears from eyes
sleep /sliːp/ A2	verb - to rest with eyes closed during which the body is inactive
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection or attachment verb - to feel affection for someone
need /niːd/ A2	verb - to require something
fill /fɪl/ B1	verb - to make something full
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to transfer to someone else
man /mæn/ A1	noun - adult male human
world /wɜːrld/ B1	noun - the planet Earth and all life on it
hold /hoʊld/ B2	verb - to grasp or carry with your hands
close /kloʊs/ B2	adjective - near in space or time
ever /ˈɛv.ər/ B2	adverb - at any time
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with eyes

Key Grammar Structures

• I used to cry myself to sleep at night

  ➔ Used to + infinitive

  ➔ "Used to" expresses a past habit or state that is no longer true. It indicates something you regularly did in the past but don't do anymore. Here, the speaker is saying they "used to cry" before finding love.

• But that was all before he came

  ➔ Past Simple with 'before' indicating a change in time

  ➔ The use of the past simple tense "came" with the preposition "before" highlights a specific point in the past where a significant change occurred. Everything the speaker previously experienced is now different because of his arrival.

• I thought love had to hurt to turn out right

  ➔ Past Perfect + 'to' infinitive expressing a belief about a past condition

  ➔ The past perfect "had to hurt" indicates a belief held in the past about love. The "to turn out right" is an infinitive phrase that describes the perceived purpose or outcome. It conveys that the speaker used to believe pain was a necessary component for love to be successful.

• But now he's here, it's not the same

  ➔ Present Simple 'is' and 'is not' expressing a current state in contrast to a past belief

  ➔ The use of the present simple "is" and "is not" indicates the current reality and contrasts sharply with the previously held belief. The arrival of the person has created a different present circumstance.

• He fills me up, he gives me love

  ➔ Present Simple used to describe actions that regularly occur

  ➔ The present simple ("fills", "gives") describes habitual actions, implying the man consistently provides the speaker with emotional and physical fulfillment.

• More love than I've ever seen

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'ever' emphasizing an experience throughout the speaker's life.

  ➔ The present perfect "I've ever seen" signifies an experience that spans the speaker's lifetime up to the present moment. The inclusion of "ever" amplifies the superlative nature of the love they are receiving.

• He's all I got, he's all I got in this world

  ➔ Emphatic statement using 'all' to express the totality of what the speaker possesses

  ➔ The repetition of "He's all I got" emphasizes the speaker's complete reliance and dependence on the man. The use of "all" conveys that he is the most important and only thing they have.

• But he's all the man that I need

  ➔ Relative clause with 'that' defining the type of man the speaker requires

  ➔ The relative clause "that I need" modifies "all the man", specifying the type of man who fulfills the speaker's needs. It emphasizes that this particular man is perfectly sufficient.