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Tracy Chapman — All That You Have Is Your Soul
Album: Crossroads
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1383









Released: 1989
Length: 5:12
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Oh my mama told me
'Cause she say she learned the hard way
Say she wanna spare the children
She say don't give or sell your soul away
'Cause all that you have is your soul

Don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul

I was a pretty young girl once
I had dreams I had high hopes
I married a man he stole my heart away
He gave his love but what a high price I paid
And all that you have is your soul

Why was I such a young fool
Thought I'd make history
Making babies was the best I could do
Thought I'd made something that could be mine forever
Found out the hard way one can't possess another
And all that you have is your soul

I thought thought that I could find a way
To beat the system
To make a deal and have no debts to pay
I'd take it all take it all I'd run away
Me for myself first class and first rate
But all that you have is your soul

Here I am waiting for a better day
A second chance
A little luck to come my way
A hope to dream a hope that I can sleep again
And wake in the world with a clear conscience and clean hands
'Cause all that you have is your soul

All that you have
All that you have
All that you have Is your soul
Comments (50)add comment
moving my rating up simply for that voice
Posted 5 months ago by ai63    [ Reply ]
Zeitloser, schöner Song
Posted 5 months ago by Majoran    [ Reply ]
 bhromo1 wrote:

When YOU GO WOKE you go WROKE! Repetitive nauseating 



So are you with your hatefull repetitive comments. Quit your dramaqueening and simply skip the song, that's what the button is there for
Posted 6 months ago by Exebeche    [ Reply ]
This is so good it’s having a physiological effect, like butterflies in my gut.

(That is a good thing)
Posted 8 months ago by vaiodon    [ Reply ]
 That_SOB wrote:

I was dreaming and it was : "Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading" opening for Mr. Robert Zimmerman.



I almost lived that dream. Went to see Dylan at The Saddledome many many many years ago, (young enough to still be sneaking out on parents and not letting them know we were driving to Calgary in a snow storm to see this show - a show THEY actually wanted to attend) ... and yeah Tracy Chapman was opening.

She should have been the Headliner.
Mr Zimmerman ~ was not at his best that evening.
Posted 9 months ago by pyrateparadox988    [ Reply ]
What a beautiful song with heartfelt relatable lyrics.
Posted 9 months ago by bluecshells    [ Reply ]
 musikalia wrote:

She's right. In the end, all you have is your soul. Don't forget it.


But I like shiny apples 
Posted 9 months ago by NoisyMiner    [ Reply ]
She's right up there...................with Hootie and the Blowfish
Posted 1 year ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
You are soul!
Posted 1 year ago by NoisyMiner    [ Reply ]
Please don’t comment if your life is a breeze. You’ve no idea about the depth she speaks!!!!!
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Give Tracy a go now and evermore! She’s got Soul, Beauty, Apples, Hunger, and pure Joy of a deliberate Freedom in each Song. 8/10.
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Dear God, please stop playing Tracy Chapman..... I don't even think I'd mind that much if she weren't in the loop as much as she is. Also, Spoon.
Posted 3 years ago by Stuff_n_Nonsense    [ Reply ]
 tichy wrote:
So that's where Passenger got that affected singing style from.
 

Tracy Chapman does not own her fashion of vocal stylings. Far from affected, I find it relaxed and laid back IMHO.
Posted 4 years ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
Back many years when I was babysitting as a teenager. I used to discover the records of the couple I babysat for in the North of the Netherlands and had never really heard of Tracy.  Thanks Jos for letting me listen to your records - GEMS!
Posted 4 years ago by Kafuepilot    [ Reply ]
 tichy wrote:
So that's where Passenger got that affected singing style from.
 
Affected? I don't get your meaning.
Posted 4 years ago by TLynneHenry    [ Reply ]
So that's where Passenger got that affected singing style from.
Posted 4 years ago by tichy    [ Reply ]
Quite captivating
Posted 10 years ago by Mark75402    [ Reply ]
"Hunger only for the taste adjusters" - wtf? Nurse! My ear drops, please!
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
 jagdriver wrote:
Boy, am I glad I stepped out to the food co-op when this was on! I might have had to enter yet another derogatory comment about TC.
 

but apparently stepping out to the co-op actually didn't prevent you from sharing your negativity. Imagine that.
Posted 15 years ago by arandomvandal    [ Reply ]
Boy, am I glad I stepped out to the food co-op when this was on! I might have had to enter yet another derogatory comment about TC.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 fluffybum wrote:
where's my bucket.
 
agreed. freaking enunciate!

Posted 15 years ago by bmeador    [ Reply ]
where's my bucket.
Posted 15 years ago by fluffybum    [ Reply ]
wonderful song and wonderful station! I am soooo glad to have you back in my life! I have a new computer and I can listen again!
YEAH i am in radio paradise!!
maria in Chicago!
best realtor of all time{#Notworthy}
Posted 16 years ago by mlsabatini    [ Reply ]
 Papernapkin wrote:
All her songs sound the same. The crying sound like Katherine Hepburn.
 

Many folk singers do sound the same from song to song. The idea is listen to the words! amazing lyrics are complemented beautifully with simplicity.
Posted 16 years ago by songbirdfemme    [ Reply ]
Beautiful song title... love all her songs. {#Good-vibes}
Posted 16 years ago by lalalisa25    [ Reply ]
That_SOB wrote:
I was dreaming and it was : "Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading" opening for Mr. Robert Zimmerman.
that would be wonderful, the encore...
Posted 16 years ago by typecast    [ Reply ]
All her songs sound the same. The crying sound like Katherine Hepburn.
Posted 16 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
I was dreaming and it was : "Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading" opening for Mr. Robert Zimmerman.
Posted 16 years ago by That_SOB    [ Reply ]
Interesting comparison between Elizabeth Cotten and Chapman. Cotten gave a performance at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC in 1966 which had the same kind of soulful and moving slow-tempo ballads. I was sitting in the front row and her presence was awe-inspiring. Never mind Chapman's narrow vocal range; Chapman's music is heartfelt.
Posted 16 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
This is the spirit of Woody Guthrie, his son Arlo, the Weavers, Pete Seeger, Elizabeth Cotton and Mahalia Jackson. She's got it!
Posted 17 years ago by rbigelo    [ Reply ]
luckywhitegirl wrote:
Her voice and words give me chills. For a very political artist, she's so unpretentious, so simple, not preachy, just real.
So true.
Posted 17 years ago by starfishNcoffee    [ Reply ]
a_genuine_find wrote:
don't get it feels like this song should come with cheap tap beers on a specials night in some C+ college town
Posted 17 years ago by AphidA    [ Reply ]
don't get it feels like this song should come with cheap tap beers on a specials night in some C+ college town
Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
Looks kinda like that girl on the Abraxas cover. NOT!!
Posted 17 years ago by drtjdel    [ Reply ]
Sorry. This blows.
Posted 17 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
Her voice and words give me chills. For a very political artist, she's so unpretentious, so simple, not preachy, just real.
Posted 17 years ago by luckywhitegirl    [ Reply ]
Based on the comments, I suppose Tracy Chapman is an aquired taste. I like her, because I can relate to alot of her songs...but I cannot listen to her all the time, just on occasion. And like said below, Joan Armatrading is another favorite of mine I'd like to hear more of.
Posted 17 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
She's right. In the end, all you have is your soul. Don't forget it.
Posted 17 years ago by musikalia    [ Reply ]
Chapman has never done it for me at all - it's an issue of personal taste, I know, but I find her music dull and her lyrics trite.
Posted 17 years ago by Professor_C    [ Reply ]
When I started law school, a friend sent me this song in a mix. Don't think it was a coincidence.

Posted 17 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
ladybinnath wrote:
Tracy Chapman has certainly done some nice songs - whoever mentioned "Baby Can I Hold You" gets a second from me - but somehow, every time she comes on I think to myself how much I'd rather hear Joan Armatrading, her obvious influence.
More Joan!
Posted 18 years ago by dianneluna    [ Reply ]
Frankly, I have had just about enough of this album. Did the Sound Engineer listen to the finished product? 8-<
Posted 20 years ago by ad4tise    [ Reply ]
Boring. :-s
Posted 21 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
this song makes me weary.
Posted 21 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
Nice message. But she sounds a bit like a bleating goat. :-( Within three hours of playing this song, you played another Tracy Chapman song, "Heaven's Here on Earth." "Heaven's Here on Earth" doesn't have the same bleating sound. So if you're thinking of dropping one, please drop this one.
Posted 21 years ago by robinesque    [ Reply ]
Tracy Chapman has certainly done some nice songs - whoever mentioned "Baby Can I Hold You" gets a second from me - but somehow, every time she comes on I think to myself how much I'd rather hear Joan Armatrading, her obvious influence.
Posted 21 years ago by ladybinnath    [ Reply ]
All it takes is a guitar, a voice, and a soul.
Posted 21 years ago by Patrick    [ Reply ]
Its true, her vocal range doesn\'t go very high (it does go low). But for this song, it doesn\'t need to. Her voice is still strong. Its distinctive and perfect for this song. Another great song from her is \"Baby Can I Hold You\".
Posted 22 years ago by rpfan    [ Reply ]
Sparse and beautiful
Posted 22 years ago by rmurray248    [ Reply ]
I know she\'s a poet a thinker and all but she bores me and depresses me. I think it\'s her limited vocal range.
Posted 22 years ago by random    [ Reply ]