Song Stories - "All Over Me"

Posted by Kevin Lorance on 12/03/2010
Keywords:
Peach-Pickers-Davidson-Hayslip-Akins
Sometimes song titles have very deep meanings that are based on a significant incident in the songwriter’s past; that’s not exactly the case with "All Over Me," Josh Turner’s latest single that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart in October. As co-writer Rhett Akins puts it, “We knew we had to rhyme with Sycamore tree.”
 
CountryHound recently visited with two of the song's three co-writers – Rhett Akins and Ben HayslipDallas Davidson, the third writer and part of the trio from Georgia that has come to be known as the “Peach Pickers,” was not present.
 
Hayslip said they had already written most of the song but needed a good hook. Since “sycamore tree” was in there he said, “I just threw out ‘save all your kisses up, bring all your sweet love, pour it all over me.’”
 
There is no real deep message to this song, as there isn’t with many of the Peach Picker’s songs, as they’ll tell you. Both Hayslip and Akins did say they spent a lot of time hanging out at rivers when they were growing up. As Hayslip said, “We’ve done all that stuff. You know, rode around in a truck, been at the river, usually there’s a girl or two involved…all that stuff we did growing up in Georgia.”
 
As for how "All Over Me" became a No. 1 hit, both the songwriters give a lot of credit to Josh Turner. They say Josh took the song and made it his own. Hayslip said, “I think the combination of the melody and Josh Turner’s voice is what made it stand out.” Akins added, “It’s just a feel-good song.”
 
Each writer has a favorite line from the song, too. Akins likes “Well the weather man says it’s gonna be a hot one,” which he says he can picture in his mind. Meanwhile, Hayslip has a fondness for “Grab your shades and your string bikini and your Coppertone 45.” 
 
The trio has had several other No. 1 songs, including Joe Nichol’s “Gimme That Girl,” Rodney Atkins’ “Farmer’s Daughter” and Blake Shelton’s “All About Tonight,” among others. When asked how this song stacked up with the other No. 1s they’d written, Hayslip said, “Your personal favorite's always going to be your first one because any No. 1 takes so much luck, and it's not always about the song; there’s a lot of politics and luck involved. So, it’s not as special as the first one, but its just as special as the second one.”
 
What makes "All Over Me" such an interesting Song Story is that it really was the combination of the writers and the artist that made it a hit. As Akins put it, “We probably cut it 3 or 4 keys higher than what Josh Turner ended up singing it in. They changed it up a little bit. Our beat was a little straighter. They jazzed it up a good bit.” 
 
Hayslip added, “They took that song and made it their own. A lot of times when that happens, as a songwriter, it’s not a good thing. But in this case it was a great thing.”
 
"All Over Me" is a great example of songwriters and artists collaborating in the right way. With each adding their unique input, fans will be all over that.

 
"All Over Me" lyrics
 
Well the weather man says, "It's gonna be a hot one."
Heard it on the radio
Load up the boat, get your girl if you've got one
A nice little breeze gonna blow

Baby, I'm on my way to come and get 'cha
Meet me at the end of your drive
Grab your shades and your string bikini
And your Coppertone 45

Bring on the sunshine, bring on the good times
Girl, let me look at you
Jump in the front seat, kick up your bare feet
Honey, let your hair down ,too
I know a spot down on the river
Underneath the sycamore tree
Save all your kisses up, bring on your sweet love
Pour it all over me
All over me

We can build us a fire when we run out of daylight
Let it light up your face
Lay on a blanket, listen to the river
Get a little carried away

Well, I can taste that kiss on your sweet lips
Ain't gonna want it to end
So when the morning comes, we'll roll on out
And do it all over again

Bring on the sunshine, bring on the good times
Girl, let me look at you
Jump in the front seat, kick up your bare feet
Honey, let your hair down, too
I know a spot down on the river
Underneath the sycamore tree
Save all your kisses up, bring on your sweet love
Pour it all over me
All over me

Bring on the sunshine, bring on the good times
Girl, just look at you
Jump in the front seat, kick up your bare feet
Honey, let your hair down, too
I know a spot down on the river
Underneath the sycamore tree
Save all your kisses up, bring on your sweet love
Pour it all over me
All over me