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When the Raspberries released "Go All the Way" in 1972, it sounded like the perfect song about chasing your dreams.
With its soaring chorus and infectious power-pop hooks, generations of listeners have embraced it as an uplifting anthem about taking chances and giving life everything you've got. But according to songwriter Eric Carmen, the song was actually written with a very different message in mind.
Carmen was just 19 years old when he came up with the song's central idea.
"I was at Brush High School and I remember seeing guys in the hallway, they're singing The Who's 'Magic Bus' and then pumping their fists in the air," Carmen said in a 2014 interview. "I thought that I wanted to write a song like that."
He knew he needed to find a clever angle to deliver the suggestive track he had in mind.
"Then one day I was in the drugstore and I saw a paperback with the title, 'Go All the Way' by Dan McGraw," Carmen explained. "That's when my antenna went up. I thought I might be able to use that. This was at the time when the Stones were on Ed Sullivan, and they made them change the lyrics from 'Let's Spend the Night Together' to 'Let's Spend Some Time Together.' I noticed that on the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' record they could get away with racy lyrics like that because of how they looked and the melodic way they sang the suggestive stuff. They slid it by the censors. So my idea was to put those words in the mouth of the girl. It was a different approach. That made it more acceptable
That idea eventually evolved into "Go All the Way," which became the Raspberries' breakthrough hit a few years later.
"He heard the whole thing in his head and he relayed what he was hearing to us," drummer Jim Bonfanti told Rolling Stone.
Beneath the song's triumphant melody is a story about sexual desire and youthful passion. The suggestive lyrics were bold enough that some radio stations refused to play the record upon its release, while others edited or banned it altogether. Even so, listeners couldn't resist its unforgettable chorus.
The controversy did little to slow its success.
Released as the lead single from the Raspberries’ debut album, "Go All the Way" climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, introducing the Cleveland band to a national audience. Its blend of British Invasion-inspired guitars, towering harmonies, and big pop hooks helped define the emerging power-pop genre and influenced countless artists who followed.
Over the decades, the song has enjoyed a remarkable second life.
It has appeared in films, television shows, and commercials, introducing new generations to the Raspberries' signature sound. Its driving rhythm and optimistic-sounding chorus have also led many listeners to embrace it as an inspirational rock anthem, even if they never realized the lyrics were about something far more intimate.
More than 50 years after its release, "Go All the Way" remains the song most closely associated with the Raspberries and one of Eric Carmen's greatest songwriting achievements. What began as an idea from a 19 year-old aspiring songwriter ultimately became a timeless rock classic, one whose upbeat spirit continues to inspire listeners, even as its true meaning remains cleverly hidden beneath the surface.
Related: 1971 Rock Song, Lasting Nearly 21 Minutes, Remains a Classic 55 Years Later
