Take It All (song)

“Take It All”
Song by Adele from the album 21
Released	January 19, 2011
Recorded	Sphere Studios (London)
Genre	Soul
Length	3:48
Label	XL Recordings
Writer(s)	Adele Adkins, Eg White
Producer(s)	Jim Abbiss
21 track listing
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“He Won't Go”	“I'll Be Waiting”
Audio

“Take It All” is the seventh track from Adele’s second studio album, 21. “Take It All,” which incorporates a more soulful, gospel-influenced sound, is accompanied by a choir and piano. Written with Francis “Eg” White, who worked with Adele on “Chasing Pavements,” the song’s lyrics focus on the protagonist’s devotion to an unappreciative lover.

Background

“Take It All” was the first song written for 21. Despite Adele’s doubts, she and Eg White intended to write a song similar to “Chasing Pavements,” which they wrote together for 19. Their initial idea was eventually scrapped, while “Take It All,” a ballad consisting solely of piano and vocals, was conceived instead.

In regards to the song, Adele told The Sun that, “It turned out to be about the early stages of a relationship falling apart.”

She said that the music for the song simply came to her one day. She wrote “Take It All” about the man who inspired 21. A few days after writing it, she performed it for him, and he broke up with her two weeks later, sparking the inspiration for the record.

Live performances

Adele debuted “Take It All” at her show at the Hollywood Bowl on June 28, 2009, during her first headlining tour, An Evening with Adele. This was one of two songs written for 21 to be debuted during the tour, the other being “I Found a Boy,” a bonus track from various deluxe editions of the album.

Adele performed “Take It All” with “Rolling in the Deep,” “Don’t You Remember,” and “Set Fire to the Rain” at Later… with Jools Holland on May 3, 2011. She appeared on The Today Show in 2011 to perform “Take It All” and “Rolling in the Deep” as part of their Toyota Summer Concert Series.

“Take It All” was further included in the setlists for both the Adele Live tour and the Adele Live 2016 tour. Although it was not present for the majority of the latter tour’s dates, it was performed during its 2017 dates, presumably as a replacement for “All I Ask,” which was cut from the setlist during the North American leg.

Cover versions

Television star Jennette McCurdy performed a cover of the song on her YouTube channel.

Credits

Personnel

• Adele – songwriting, vocals
• Francis “Eg” White – songwriting
• Neil Cowley – piano
• Jim Abbiss, Ian Dowling – mixer

Lyrics

Didn’t I give it all? Tried my best Gave you everything I had Everything and no less Didn’t I do it right? Did I let you down? Maybe you got too used to Having me around Still, how can you walk away From all my tears? It’s gonna be an empty road Without me right here But go on and take it Take it all with you Don’t look back At this crumbling fool Just take it all With my love Take it all With my love Maybe I should leave To help you see Nothing is better than this And this is everything we need So is it over? Is this really it? You’re giving up so easily I thought you loved me more than this But go on and take it Take it all with you Don’t look back At this crumbling fool Just take it all With my love Take it all With my love I will change if I must Slow it down and bring it home I adjust Oh, if only If only you knew Everything I do is for you But go on, go on and take it Take it all with you Don’t look back At this crumbling fool Just take it Take it all with you Don’t look back At this crumbling fool Just take it all With my love Take it all With my love Take it all With my love