All I Ever Wanted
BoDeans Lyrics


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Her people didn't have much going
She was 15 years old
And her eyes were on fire
Burning straight from her soul
Her boots and her movies
Man, she was into her bong
And no one really knew her
She felt confused and alone
If anyone would have asked her
She would have liked to have said
"All I ever wanted was to be on your side
All I ever wanted was to be with you
All I ever wanted was to be on your side
All I ever wanted was to feel"
Since those times with her stepdad
She's been a victim of sex
Her family was gone now
It was all she had left
"Wasn't I good enough for you?
Wasn't I sweet enough
Wasn't I pretty enough
Why didn't you ever want me?"
Now those eyes once so hungry
Are just holes she can't seem to fill
And what she learned from her mama
Has long lost it's thrill
And in the distance there's thunder
Running over the sky




Man, she'd like to feel that
If she wasn't so down and tired

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of BoDeans’s song All I Ever Wanted tell the story of a young girl who has been through a lot of hardships and struggles in her life. The song starts by describing her background - her family was poor and she felt lonely and misunderstood despite her efforts to fit in. The girl’s dream was to be on the same side as the people around her, to feel a sense of belonging and be with the ones she loves. However, her innocence was destroyed when she became a victim of sexual assault by a stepfather. This traumatic experience left her with many questions - why wasn’t she good enough, sweet enough, or pretty enough? She couldn’t understand why someone who was supposed to care for her would hurt her like this.


The girl’s life was further complicated by the loss of her family. She was left alone with her pain and confusion, unable to fill the void within. The song describes how she is now struggling to find purpose and meaning in her life. She had lost her once burning passion, everything she learned from her mother, and felt tired and down all the time. The only thing that gives her hope is the thunder, which symbolizes a release of her past and a renewal of her spirit.


BoDeans’s song All I Ever Wanted is about the struggle for love, acceptance, and healing. It paints a vivid picture of a young girl who has been through unimaginable trauma but still hopes for a better future. It highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and kindness towards everyone, especially those who have gone through tough times. The song reminds us that no matter how difficult life is, there is always an opportunity for growth and renewal.


Line by Line Meaning

Her people didn't have much going
Her family wasn't very wealthy


She was 15 years old
At the time, she was fifteen years old


And her eyes were on fire
Her eyes displayed a passionate intensity


Burning straight from her soul
The intensity in her eyes came from the depths of her being


Her boots and her movies
She enjoyed wearing boots and watching movies


Man, she was into her bong
She frequently used a bong to smoke marijuana


And no one really knew her
She felt misunderstood and unknown by others


She felt confused and alone
She experienced feelings of confusion and loneliness


If anyone would have asked her
If someone had asked her


She would have liked to have said
She would have wanted to express


"All I ever wanted was to be on your side
Her desire was to be supportive of someone else


All I ever wanted was to be with you
She wanted to be close to someone else


All I ever wanted was to be on your side
She wanted to be supportive of someone else


All I ever wanted was to feel"
What she craved was an emotional connection


Since those times with her stepdad
After experiencing difficult situations with her stepfather


She's been a victim of sex
Someone has sexually assaulted her


Her family was gone now
Her family was no longer present in her life


It was all she had left
Her past experiences were the only things still with her


"Wasn't I good enough for you?
She asks why someone didn't see her as worthy enough


Wasn't I sweet enough
She wonders if she was kind enough


Wasn't I pretty enough
She questions if she was attractive enough


Why didn't you ever want me?"
She is asking for an explanation for why she was not desired


Now those eyes once so hungry
Her once passionate eyes


Are just holes she can't seem to fill
Now feel like empty voids that can't be satisfied


And what she learned from her mama
The lessons her mother taught her


Has long lost it's thrill
No longer excite her


And in the distance there’s thunder
Thunder can be heard in the distance


Running over the sky
Lightning is flashing in the sky


Man, she'd like to feel that
She desires to experience the natural occurrence


If she wasn't so down and tired
If she wasn't feeling so low and fatigued




Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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