In-depth song review: "All the World" by Kansas (1975, from Masque)

-- My personal favorite tune by Kansas, as promised in my prior Masque album post

No, it is not their best track. It does not have the best virtuosity, the most artistic tunes or lyrics, or the best vocals. It is not the perfect example of a Kansas song (those can be found on side 1 of Leftoverture, to be reviewed on a future post). But I feel it is one of their most beautiful, uplifting tunes and messages.

I feel the progressions through the different melodies, rather than the typical verse-chorus format of many pop/rock songs, helps to convey the message and story of the song, and makes the final minutes of the song (where the first melody finally repeats) much more powerful and meaningful.

I will walk through it with timestamps and lyrics.

Follow along on YouTube with this official YouTube link, or (if for whatever reason that one disappears) this link, and then (after hearing the full studio version) check out this excellent live version (omits the first two minutes), or this mashup of the studio and another [subpar] live recording (mashup required to present the full song, as apparently, they did not perform the entirety live, at least that was recorded and preserved).

The song

0:00 The song begins with Robby's solo violin accompanied by organ

0:16 Melody 'A': Steve on vocal and piano. I feel like the use of the present tense here is not to suggest that the world has achieved this ideal, but rather an eye of faith to encourage us to change our own lives, not to wait for everyone else to change.

All the world's for giving; the change is all around

And people everywhere have seen the light in what they've found

It's a happy place

In the human race

When all our lives are lived for giving

0:45 2nd verse repeats Melody 'A' with addition of organ and a beautiful counterpoint violin to Steve's piano and vocal:

All the world's for living when love is what you find

Despair and loneliness you've got to leave them far behind

Tell the clouds to go

Let the feeling show

It's great when your life is full of living

1:12 Band members vocals form a crescendo of 'aahs,' the bass and drums drop in, and Robby sings lead vocal for Melody 'B.' Further accompaniment features organ & electric guitars, with some pulsating beats from the guitars and strings.

Everyone's aware

They know to change the world we've got to care

And people all should know

Should have happened long ago

Or could it be that I just now found out

1:35 Repeat Melody 'B' with same accompaniment; Steve joins with harmony vocals halfway through at "Living every day."

Life is meant to share

And it means the same thing everywhere

Living every day

Helping people on their way

'Cause sometimes life gives everyone some doubts

1:54 Chorus of 'aahs' leads through some key changes and into a rocking section with dated-sounding synthesized keyboards supported by heavy guitars, bass, and drums.

2:55 Drum solo supported by heavy guitars and bass, then violin solo enters and duels with the drums a bit.

3:30 The 'heaviness' drops out suddenly and we return to the organ and violin as at the intro, except supported by a gentle bass line.

3:44 Piano cascades, synthesized keyboard, and vocal 'oohs' join the organ, bass, and violin, a gentle ethereal sound

4:05 Steve sings Melody 'C' accompanied only by his piano. Simple yet beautiful.

Can I have time? Is it right what I feel?

At times I doubt what I normally know is real

But right now, I don't know what to do

And it's all because of you

I could tell you if I knew that you'd believe

4:31 With a pick-up from the addition of drums, bass, and Robby's violin, Steve repeats Melody 'C' (still with piano),

As slight and elusive as life sometimes is

Right or wrong as we both know we all can be

I could never have denied

That I need you by my side

'Cause without you, life don't seem that much to me

4:56 The intensity continues to build with the addition of electric guitars, and two repeated melodies (Melody 'D'), with rather sad and discouraging lyrics:

I can see an old man cry

It's his time to die

And life no longer gives him any breaks

He hasn't got a home

No one to call his own

Still he tells no one that it is more than he can take

5:22 It goes directly to the next section, with Robbie joining on harmony vocals. It is a very anticipatory-sounding bridge section that builds at the end with 'ooh's and finally a return to some former motifs. The text is still dark, but the solution to the questions is about to be presented in the main theme of the song (which comes back again in message and mood after 6:00).

Till the time is so unkind

An empty future plays in your mind

When the darkness cries out to you

Can you escape it? What can you do?

Oh, what can you do?

6:11 Return to Melody 'A,' but this time clearly the climax, with all instruments and vocals. I especially the love the last phrase of this verse "Let them know you care, by making someone's life worth living."

All the world's forgetting the hate that filled our hearts

The times of selfish reasoning that keeps us all apart

This world was meant to share,

Let them know you care

By making someone's life worth living

6:39 The piece concludes with what I consider one of the most beautiful a cappella endings in all of Rock music. I recommend repeating this part with your sound volume higher so you can hear it clearly.

All the world's believing that this feeling's got to stay

Till all the world is living

Till all the world is giving

Till all the world is loving every day

Final words

My utmost gratitude if you made it that far, and I invite you to give the song a second listen. If at that point you don't love this song.... well, I won't hold it against you. My tastes are, after all, eclectic.....