All I Want Is You
B.B. King; U2 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbor in the tempest

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold

All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

You all I want is
You all I want is




You all I want is
You

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of U2's song "All I Want is You" convey a message of simplicity, sincerity, and devotion. The subject of this piece is begging for their lover's love and affection, without the need for material possessions or grand gestures. The verses allude to the extensive offers the subject's partner has made, of diamonds on a ring of gold, a highway with no one on it, treasure to gaze at, riches in the night, eyes in a moon of blindness, a river in a time of dryness, and a harbor in the tempest. However, through the repetitive chorus, the subject makes it clear that they need none of those things. All they are looking for is love, devotion, and companionship.


The lyrics suggest that love is all-encompassing and that it can make us fulfill any aspect of our lives that might be lacking. By acknowledging the promises they've made, they highlight the fact that the simplest and most sincere things are often the most meaningful. The line "All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you" emphasizes that love is the one promise that matters the most, throughout our entire lives, from the moment we are born until the moment we die.


Overall, "All I Want is You" is a poetic and quintessentially romantic ballad that speaks to the universal longing for love and companionship that we all share, regardless of material wealth or stature.


Line by Line Meaning

You say you want Diamonds on a ring of gold
You desire grand gestures of love and wealth


You say you want Your story to remain untold
You seek privacy and a veil of mystery around your relationship


But all the promises we make From the cradle to the grave When all I want is you
Despite all the extravagant promises, all I need and desire is you


You say you'll give me A highway with no one on it Treasure just to look upon it All the riches in the night
You promise to provide lavish things and experiences for me


You say you'll give me Eyes in a moon of blindness A river in a time of dryness A harbor in the tempest
You vow to support and guide me through difficult times


You say you want Your love to work out right To last with me through the night
You hope for a lasting, fulfilling relationship


Your love not to grow cold
You desire a love that remains passionate and warm


All the promises we break From the cradle to the grave When all I want is you
Despite all the grandiose promises, all I truly want and need is you


You all I want is You all I want is You all I want is You
I love and desire only you




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam Clayton, Dave Evans, Larry Mullen, Paul David Hewson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@tspot816

1:40 When she looks at him and knows;
1:46, when the Strongman looks at his friend and immediately knows how lost his friend is in love and knows it will only bring pain to his friend;
I always was so grateful to the strong man for being his friend;
3:16 with the ring and that smile;
3:24 hopping in the Strongman's sidecar, meaning his buddy had his back on the trip;
3:47 That heartbreaking smile he shoots her;
4:01 Dashed;
4:50 ending the only way it could ever end.
6:00 Tossing the ring into the grave because his love died (or did he die);
6:03 The Strongman sees the ring and shares the pain with his friend and knows what a loss this is for his friend.

Amazing video. One of the all time greats.



@lucianolovito7283

You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want
Your story to remain untold
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbor in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You say you want
Your love to work out right
To last with me through the night
You say you want
Diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
You all I want is
You all I want is
You all I want is
You

Rattle and Hum album.



All comments from YouTube:

@damianjackson6835

I sang this song to my new wife at our wedding reception. Later that night on the way back to our hotel, as we were driving across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this song came onto the radio. It was such a surreal moment!

@davejmanning544

No such thing as coincidence Damien.

@brandinickole7161

Perfect Wedding Song. 💖

@DeuceBiggerHo

Yeah I think it’s a great choice for a song at a wedding. First dance or whatever. The other one I thought of was U2’s ‘love rescue me’. However I think playing it on a first date like the guy above said is putting the poor girl under too much pressure! 😯It’s a very emotional song.

@alibrown5917

Amazing your a top guy

@redrobin7868

It's my fantasy proposal. We are someplace special and he steps out and I hear this song outside. He is holding something that is playing this like in the John Hughes movie or has musicians playing the string instalment like the song while he sings to me

35 More Replies...

@deanetteknight4565

This song takes me to my late husband. I lost him to pancreatic cancer March 1st, 2006. He's visited me 3 times in my dreams since 2012 warning of the times we're in now in the world. I cry everytime I hear it now. I miss him.

@fernandeaux1631

Beautiful.

@ericac.brooks1851

Im sooo sorry for your loss i loss my very deer friend we were secteatly inlove and i did not knnow that the last time i saw him would be the it rip chris a.k.a crispy i will always love u

@stevemeyer6308

So sorry for your loss

More Comments

More Versions