Raised in a musical home – her father was a music teacher – Manning took to the form at a young age. Set to self-produce her first album at the age of 16, she was discovered by Honeymoon Suite keyboardist Ray Coburn at a showcase at Lee's Palace in Toronto; after two live performances for EMI executives, the label signed Manning to a record deal.
Volume 1, her debut album, was released by EMI in Canada and Nettwerk in the United States in 1997. Manning and Coburn produced and performed; other featured musicians included Melanie Doane, Sean Lennon, and Manning's parents, Darlene and David Manning, on clarinet and trumpet respectively. Stephen Drake, of Canadian rock band the Odds, mixed the album.
Her first single and video, "Half the Man," was downcast, mournful and heavily folk-inflected; nonetheless it became a strong hit on Canadian radio and MuchMusic, and the follow-up track, the uptempo pop number "My Addiction", matched or exceeded its success. Manning toured for more than two years, performing on the first season of Lilith Fair and with Radiohead, Lisa Loeb, Spirit of the West, Burton Cummings and others. She was nominated for the 1998 Juno Award for Best New Artist.
Shades, her second album with EMI, was released in late 2002. Recorded in Los Angeles with Red Hot Chili Peppers producer Jim Scott, the album was criticized in some reviews for a production-heavy, adult contemporary sound that took away from Manning's own voice and potential. Other reviews were far more favorable, praising the album's aural ambience and Manning's talent for introspective lyrics. A single and a video were released for the song "Miracle".
After eight years, Manning parted ways with EMI. Her third album, Folkyo, was released on August 22, 2006, and saw Manning write, co-produce and perform. She released the album on her own label, LeParc Records, and even raised funds to finish production by working on an oil and gas camp in Northern British Columbia for the Winter of 2006. Her recent collaborators include Gavin Brown and Danny Michel. Folkyo has received positive reviews, praising the album's musical intricacy and Manning's voice and writing, as well as its complex tones and clever lyrics.
I Want
Dayna Manning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want fancy new guitar
I want a house with a big back deck
And I want to come home with a big paycheck
But I can't have everything I want
Cause I can't have you
And I can't have everything I want
I want be a star
I want to be of age to get into bars
I want to ride a Harley Davidson
And I want to live in a great big mansion
But I can't have everything I want
Cause I can't have you
And I can't have everything I want
Cause I can't have you
I want to sleep for hours and hours
I want a garden full of beautiful sunflowers
I want to grow to be seen
And I want to be friends with Tom Petty
But I can't have everything I want
Cause I can't have you
And I can't have everything I want
Cause I can't have you
I want someone to grant my wishes
I want a boy who only kisses
I want a friend that I can care for
And I want to find a love that's not so painful
But I can't have everything I want
Cause I can't have you
And I can't have anything I want
Cause I only want you
Dayna Manning’s song “I Want” is an anthem to longing for things that are often elusive. She describes the things she yearns for, from big red cars, fancy new guitars, houses with big back decks, to coming home with a big paycheck. She then goes on to express her desire to be a star, get into bars, ride a Harley Davidson, live in a great big mansion, and be friends with Tom Petty. Her dreams extend to wanting to sleep for hours and hours, have a garden full of beautiful sunflowers, grow to be seen, have someone to grant her wishes, have a boy who only kisses, a friend that she can care for, and find a love that's not so painful.
But despite her long list of wants, there is a central issue that stands in the way of achieving them all. Dayna Manning reveals that she cannot have everything she wants because she cannot have the person she desires. She repeats this refrain throughout the song, “Cause I can't have you. And I can't have anything I want. Cause I only want you.” The song is a testament to the fact that sometimes, what we want most is the one thing we cannot have, and that is heartbreakingly difficult.
In conclusion, Dayna Manning’s Song “I Want” speaks of the different things that people want in life, from material things to love and fulfilling relationships. However, it highlights that often, what we want most is elusive and unattainable, leaving a sense of longing and dissatisfaction. The song speaks to the human condition of desire and loss, while also acknowledging the value of what we have.
Line by Line Meaning
I want a big red car
I desire to own a big car that is painted red
I want fancy new guitar
I desire to possess a new and luxurious guitar
I want a house with a big back deck
I aspire to own a house with a spacious deck at the back
And I want to come home with a big paycheck
I desire to receive a large sum of money from my job
But I can't have everything I want
I understand that not all my desires can be fulfilled
Cause I can't have you
This longing cannot be satisfied because I am unable to be with someone I desire
I want be a star
I have a desire to become a highly successful, recognized figure
I want to be of age to get into bars
I want to be old enough to legally enter and enjoy establishments that serve alcoholic beverages
I want to ride a Harley Davidson
I have a desire to experience riding a specific brand of motorcycle, Harley Davidson
And I want to live in a great big mansion
I aspire to live in a spacious and luxurious mansion
I want to sleep for hours and hours
I desire to have long, uninterrupted periods of sleep
I want a garden full of beautiful sunflowers
I desire to have a garden containing multiple stunning sunflowers
I want to grow to be seen
I want to grow as an individual in a way that would attract attention and acknowledgement from others
And I want to be friends with Tom Petty
I have a desire to form a friendship with the musician Tom Petty
I want someone to grant my wishes
I wish for someone to fulfill what I desire
I want a boy who only kisses
I want a boy who only engages in kiss-related activities with me
I want a friend that I can care for
I desire to have a friend whom I can provide emotional and physical support for
And I want to find a love that's not so painful
I want to find a romantic love that is free of emotional and physical pain and turmoil
Cause I can't have anything I want
I understand that because I am preoccupied with wanting one particular desire, I am unable to appreciate all of the other things that I already have in my life
Cause I only want you
I am so fixated on wanting to be with someone in particular that it is preventing me from finding contentment in other areas of my life
Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TheRumblingVoice
Great great song with great great delivery. Stumbled upon her first album pretty much by accident and it's a pity that she isn't a bigger name in music now on the strength of that album.
@bleepbleep1961
This was a remarkable album from such a young artist ... Oh Dayna where are you now !!!!???
@deadsitizen
So nice acoustic sound and voice. I like this song.
@joker71172
My friend Dayna.....this lady is my favorite female vocalist & friend.
@AskingTooMuch
Yep. Another favorite song. Another one that just rips me apart and yet I love it just the same. I first heard this one on BTC and it was love at first listen :o) Such true words.
@dannagraves367
I wanted to be friends with Tom Petty since I saw him at Catch a Rising Star at the Paramount in Seattle for a dollar
@dannagraves367
Hope you and Tom we're friends. Love this song so much. Been singing it out loud for years. One of my all time favorites.
@andrewraden1590
This song is pure love, beautiful
@jamespenz4993
remember you gave me this album?
@andrewraden1590
Oh yeah, I remember