All of Me is a 1931 jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons and published by Irving Berlin, Inc. It is a swing-influenced tune in B-flat major, usually played at a medium tempo with an ABAC structure and a 20-bar introductory verse that is often omitted. The lyrics tell a bold story of giving everything to a lover and asking them to take all of me. The song first entered public consciousness when Belle Baker performed it on the radio in 1931, and it quickly became a hit with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (with Mildred Bailey) and Louis Armstrong also reaching the top of the charts. Billie Holiday’s 1941 rendition is widely regarded as definitive, with other famous versions by Frank Sinatra and many others following. All of Me is a staple of the jazz repertoire and was honored with the Songwriters Hall of Fame Towering Song Award in 2000; it has been covered across genres, including Willie Nelson’s 1978 Stardust album which brought a country flavor to the tune.
