Knopfler played rhythm guitar and appeared on Dire Straits' first two albums: 1978's Dire Straits and 1979's Communiqué. The stress of composing, arranging songs, recording the then-requisite two albums and tours to support them took its toll on the brothers, and Knopfler left the band during the recording of their third album, Making Movies, leaving him uncredited on the album.
Knopfler has been fortunate enough to reach a wide audience without compromising his art and while he's enjoyed the respect and admiration of his musical peers, widespread critical acclaim, international awards and worldwide chart successes, has managed, in his own country, Britain, to keep a profile so low as to be nearly invisible. He lives quietly in the English countryside, notching up an impressive list of writing credits.
A regular panelist at music conventions, a once-married family man and lifelong member of organizations like Amnesty International and Adopt a Minefield, David has always made uncompromising life choices: "I don't regard what I do as remotely glamorous. I write, record and perform my music because I completely love doing it and despite any so called celebrity status that sometimes comes with the job."
Ship of Dreams, released in 2004 and co-produced with Harry Bogdanovs (Westerhagen) features guest appearances by Chris Rea and Alan Clark (Dire Straits) amongst others. The album's cover features a painting generously supplied by Scotland's most successful living artist, Jack Vettriano.
As well as having produced a clutch of underscores for film and TV projects, David's first book of poetry was entitled Blood Stones and Rhythmic Beasts.
All I Want Is You
David Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told you I love you
And how my heart goes wild every time you smile
'Cause you I want is you
All I want is you Babe
All I want is you
My heart goes boom when you cross the room
I know there's no easy way
When you've got it all to prove
And I know love's no easy play
When all you got are wounds
All I want is you sweet Darling
You'd best believe it's true
My heart goes boom when you cross the room
'Cause all I want is you
I have trusted you with my secret heart
And you know that it's true
And I have loved you from the start
And all I want is you
Yes I know love's no easy play
When all you got were wounds
But my heart goes wild very time you smile
'cause all I want is you
All I want is you sweet darling
You and only you
My heart goes boom when you cross the room
Cause all I want is you
All I want is you sweet Darling
You'd best believe it too
My heart goes boom when you cross the room
'Cause all I want is you
The lyrics of David Knopfler’s “All I Want Is You” express the singer’s intense yearning and love for someone. The singer shares his most intimate feeling with this person, expressing love and passion. The song is driven by the idea that “all he wants is you”. The lyrics convey that the person is the only one that the singer desires, and their mere presence in the room makes his heart go “boom”. The singer acknowledges the difficulty of love, perhaps alluding to past wounds that one or both of them have experienced. Despite this, the lyrics convey unwavering admiration and love for the person.
With these lines, the song not only communicates love but also vulnerability. By trusting the listener with his “secret heart,” the singer also reveals his emotional fragility. He acknowledges that love can be a difficult game, and wounds are inevitable. However, despite this vulnerability, the song’s protagonist remains steadfast in his desire for this person. The song’s structure, building with each verse and united by the simple and catchy chorus, creates an emotional and intense feeling for the listener. The rhythm of the chorus builds with each line, culminating in the confession of the singer’s heart completely beating for this person.
Line by Line Meaning
I shared with you my secret heart
I opened up and confided in you about my deepest feelings and emotions
I told you I love you
I expressed my love and affection for you
And how my heart goes wild every time you smile
Your smile has a powerful effect on me, stirring deep emotions and desires within my heart
'Cause you I want is you
I desire and long for you above all else
All I want is you Babe
My sole desire and wish is to have you in my life
My heart goes boom when you cross the room
My heart beats wildly with excitement and anticipation when I see you
'Cause all I want is you
My intense desire and passion is completely focused on you
I know there's no easy way
I am aware that this is not a simple or easy situation
When you've got it all to prove
When you have to demonstrate your worth or your commitment to something or someone
And I know love's no easy play
I understand that love is a complex and challenging experience
When all you got are wounds
When you have been hurt or damaged by past experiences
All I want is you sweet Darling
My heart and my soul are dedicated to you, my dear
You'd best believe it's true
You can trust and rely on my genuine feelings and intentions towards you
I have trusted you with my secret heart
I have placed my trust in you to handle and care for my deepest emotions and vulnerabilities
And you know that it's true
You are aware and convinced of the sincerity and truthfulness of my feelings
And I have loved you from the start
My love for you has been present and strong since the beginning of our relationship
Yes I know love's no easy play
I acknowledge that love can be difficult to navigate
But my heart goes wild very time you smile
Your smile continues to stir intense emotions and feelings of love within me
'cause all I want is you
My singular and intense desire is for you, and only you
You and only you
There is only you who holds my heart and my desire
You'd best believe it too
You can rest assured and trust in the truth and depth of my feelings for you
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.