All I Want
Jay Brannan Lyrics


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Music and Lyrics by Joni Mitchell

I am on a lonely road and I am 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
Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
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 - 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
And so I hurt you too
Then we both feel 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
And it undoes all the joy that could be
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
Oh I want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
I want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free
I want to make you feel free




Oh I want to make you feel free
Oh I want to make you feel free

Overall Meaning

The song 'All I Want' by Jay Brannan is a cover of Joni Mitchell's 1971 classic, which is a song about a journey of self-discovery, love, and relationships. The lyrics are personal and relatable, with themes of wanting liberation from loneliness, wanting love and belonging, wanting to be strong and free, to have fun, and to feel loved and appreciated.


The opening line "I am on a lonely road and I am traveling, looking for something, what can it be?" sets the tone for the rest of the song. Jay Brannan's rendition of the song adds a layer of emotional depth, with the rawness of his voice and acoustic arrangement making the lyrics even more poignant. The repeated use of "I love you when I forget about me" sums up the complex nature of love and relationships - a never-ending dance between loving oneself and loving another.


The song encourages the listener to let go of jealousy and greed as these emotions can unravel the joy of love. It also celebrates the act of nurturing and showing love to one another through various actions such as knitting a sweater, writing a love letter, making someone feel better, and making them feel free.


Overall, the song is a beautiful representation of the human experience of seeking love, acceptance, and joy, and the difficulties that come with it.


Line by Line Meaning

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
I feel alone and lost on this journey I'm on


Looking for something, what can it be
I'm searching for whatever it is that will make me happy and fulfilled


Oh I hate you some, I hate you some, I love you some
My feelings for you are a mix of anger and love


Oh I love you when I forget about me
I love you when I can put aside my own insecurities and focus on our relationship


I want to be strong I want to laugh along
I want to feel confident and happy in my own skin


I want to belong to the living
I want to be a part of something bigger than myself


Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
I want to feel alive and full of energy


I want to wreck my stockings in some juke box dive
I want to be carefree and have fun without worrying about what others think of me


Do you want - do you want - do you want to dance with me baby
Do you want to have fun with me and enjoy this moment?


Do you want to take a chance
Are you willing to take a risk and see where this goes?


On maybe finding some sweet romance with me baby
We could potentially have a loving relationship together


All I really really want our love to do
My main hope for our love is


Is to bring out the best in me and in you too
for it to help us both become the best versions of ourselves


I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you
I want to connect with you intellectually and take care of you physically


I want to renew you again and again
I want to keep our love fresh and vibrant


Applause, applause - Life is our cause
We should celebrate our love because it's what matters most


When I think of your kisses my mind see-saws
Your kisses make me feel a range of emotions


Do you see - do you see - do you see how you hurt me baby
Are you aware of how your actions sometimes cause me pain?


And so I hurt you too
And I know I sometimes hurt you as well


Then we both feel so blue.
And our relationship suffers as a result


Looking for the key to set me free
I hope to find whatever it is that will liberate me from my negative emotions


Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
But my tendency towards jealousy and greed is causing everything to fall apart


And it undoes all the joy that could be
It's ruining any potential for happiness that we could experience


I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
I want to enjoy life and be a source of light and positivity


Oh I want to be the one that you want to see
I want you to desire and appreciate me


I want to knit you a sweater
I want to do something sweet and thoughtful for you


I want to write you a love letter
I want to express my feelings for you in writing


I want to make you feel better
I want to comfort and support you


I want to make you feel free
I want to help you experience the freedom that comes with a happy and healthy relationship


Oh I want to make you feel free
And I want to feel that freedom myself


Oh I want to make you feel free
And I want to feel that freedom myself




Contributed by Kylie V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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