words & music by Jimmy Webb • arranged/performed by Doug Howell
© Universal – Polygram International Pub Inc.
Favorite version: Art Garfunkel, Angel Clare, 1973
I bruise you, you bruise me
we both bruise too easily
too easily to let it show
I love you, and that’s all I know
all my plans are falling through
all my plans depend on you
depend on you to help them grow
I love you, and that’s all I know
when the singer’s gone
let the song go on
there’s a fine line
between the darkness and the dawn
they say in the darkest night
there’s a light beyond
but the ending always comes at last
endings always come too fast
they come too fast
but they pass too slow
I love you, and that’s all I know
(instrumental)
but the ending always comes at last
endings always come too fast
they come too fast
but they pass too slow
I love you, and that’s all I know
Notes
This song is the most famous one of the entire Jimmy & Me Revisited collection. Though it’s been recorded quite a few times, I think the original version is still my favorite. Some have called “Wichita Lineman,” another of Jimmy’s more famous works, the “perfect song.” While I agree that one’s hard to beat, for my money, it’s this one. It would be hard to find a more sincere, beautiful, heartbreaking ode to loss. There’ve been so many times in my life when all the wrangling and ranting and raving has all just finally and desperately and drastically come down to this one, glaringly simple truth: I love you, and that’s all I know. It’s like North on the compass. There’s just nothing you can do about it.
On Jimmy’s recent live album, he tells the story about how the person who inspired this song told him she thought it was “silly.” No, no. Not at all. Anything but. And if there are times when it all has to come down to just one thing, let’s face it, there are lots of worse things. After all, love is “the far better way,” remember. Maybe we should all make a point of coming down to this one thing more often.
Many thanks to Mark Kieme on soprano sax and Danny Cox on drums. This photo came to mind as I was wondering what image to use for the video, so I asked David to dig it out of our archives. The whole collection is dedicated to him, after all. I hadn’t seen it in years, but remembered the moment: he had finished plowing the snow off our long Hawkswood (Michigan) driveway, and had just jumped down off the tractor. It captures him to a T. Boundless energy and ready for anything.
Reviews
Just to say how much I am digging Jimmy and Me…I can’t stop playing ‘All I Know.’ —Mike H.
LOVE IT – Yet, so hard to get past the first track. The CD is lovely and simple and tender and well recorded and executed. But the first track slays me. —Brian B.
‘All I Know’ can bring me to tears… I love how you turn the notes and take your time and let it fall so gently. Lovely arrangement! —Grant M.
Jimmy’s wonderful and unique songs paired with Doug Howell’s heartfelt renditions makes for a truly remarkable album. It took me several times to make it through the first song… —David G.
Classic Doug. An old friend at his best. [‘All I Know’ is a] brilliant song, rendered like you wrote it yourself. Bravo! —Brian B.
Love it 😍 —Ron B.-G.
My soul! Thank you. —Tim P.
This song was made for you, Doug – best version I’ve heard. Simply beautiful! —Michael A. E.
Brilliant-as always 
—Jeri P. D.
Doug, your voice is as beautiful as I remember. I have my own playlist of your most beautiful songs. You continue to minister to me and soothe me with your voice. —Wray L.
You know I’ve always been a fan of your stylings. —RJ S.
Stunning work. You should be proud of this. —Kurt S.
Sturring and sensitive rendition. The orchestral bridge is SO YUMMY. Well done, bro. Love it, and you! —Carol L. S.
Absolutely LOVED IT!! —Terry A.
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