All I Want
Herbie Hancock (feat. Sonya Kitchell) Lyrics
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Traveling, traveling, traveling
Looking for something, what can it be
Oh I hate you some, I hate you some
I love you some
Oh I love you when I forget about me
I want to be strong I want to laugh along
I want to belong to the living
I want to wreck my stockings in some juke box dive
Do you want - do you want - do you want
To dance with me baby
Do you want to take a chance
On maybe finding some sweet romance with me baby
Well, come on
All I really really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you too
All I really really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you
I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you
I want to renew you again and again
Applause, applause - life is our cause
When I think of your kisses
My mind see-saws
Do you see - do you see - do you see
How you hurt me baby
So I hurt you too
Then we both get so blue
I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Looking for the key to set me free
Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
It's the unraveling
And it undoes all the joy that could be
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
I want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
Want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free
Hmm, Hmm, Hmm, Hmm,
Want to make you feel free
I want to make you feel free
“All I Want” by Herbie Hancock is a melancholic but upbeat song with a myriad of emotions and yearning within its lyrics. Sonya Kitchell’s voice pairs with the music perfectly, as she sings the lyrics with a mixture of longing and confusion. The song talks about being on a lonely road and not knowing exactly what one is searching for. The lyrics are simple yet poignant, and they convey the message that love can make us both better and worse. Sometimes it makes us forget about ourselves, making us concentrate on the person we love alone, and at other times it brings out the worst in us, leading to misunderstandings and pain. The singer then goes on to talk about their desire to belong to the living and to get up and dance — just have some fun.
The chorus of the song is about love being the key to setting the singer free from their loneliness. She wants the love between her and her partner to bring out the best in both of them. She wants to talk to them, renew them, and take care of them. At the same time, the lyrics also acknowledge that love can make us hurt each other, and sometimes it can lead to jealousy and greed. The song ends on a positive note, with the singer wanting to have fun, shine like the sun, and make her partner feel free.
Line by Line Meaning
I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
I am currently journeying alone on a path
Traveling, traveling, traveling
Continuing to travel on without stopping
Looking for something, what can it be
Searching for an unknown thing
Oh I hate you some, I hate you some
Disliking some parts of you
I love you some
Liking some parts of you
Oh I love you when I forget about me
I love you when I am not focused on myself
I want to be strong I want to laugh along
I desire to be emotionally upright and jovial
I want to belong to the living
I wish to be a part of the world
Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
I want to be enthusiastic and lively
I want to wreck my stockings in some juke box dive
To engage in wild behavior at a rowdy bar
Do you want - do you want - do you want
Are you interested
To dance with me baby
To dance with me, my dear
Do you want to take a chance
Are you willing to take a risk
On maybe finding some sweet romance with me baby
Possibly exploring an enjoyable romantic relationship
Well, come on
Indicating eagerness for the aforementioned interactions
All I really really want our love to do
The only thing I seek is for our love to achieve
Is to bring out the best in me and in you too
To elicit the finest qualities from both of us, as individuals
I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you
I desire to converse with you and wash your hair
I want to renew you again and again
I would like to regularly rejuvenate you
Applause, applause - life is our cause
Cheering and encouragements are necessary in our life's mission
When I think of your kisses
Reflecting upon physical affection given by you
My mind see-saws
Mentally fluctuating between positive and negative emotions
Do you see - do you see - do you see
Are you aware
How you hurt me baby
How your actions have caused me pain, dear
So I hurt you too
I have inflicted the same pain upon you
Then we both get so blue
Resulting in making us both sad
Looking for the key to set me free
Searching for a solution to my problems
Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
Envy and wanting more are destructive behaviors
It's the unraveling
The aforementioned behaviors lead to destruction
And it undoes all the joy that could be
These behaviors erase any potential happiness
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
Wishing to experience joyful moments and radiate positivity
I want to be the one that you want to see
Desiring to be the person you eagerly anticipate seeing
I want to knit you a sweater
I wish to craft a garment to keep you warm
Want to write you a love letter
Desiring to express affection through a written message
I want to make you feel better
Wishing to provide you comfort
I want to make you feel free
Desiring to eliminate any constraints and enable you to feel liberated
Hmm, Hmm, Hmm, Hmm,
Unclear vocalization, potentially to indicate a pleasant feeling
Want to make you feel free
Wishing to eliminate any constraints and enable you to feel liberated
Contributed by Jeremiah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.