I Want It All
Queen Lyrics
Adventure seeker on an empty street
Just an alley creeper, light on his feet
A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt
With the pain and anger can't see a way out
It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
Gotta find me a future move out of my way
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
Listen all you people, come gather round
But just give me, huh, what I know is mine
People do you hear me, just gimme the sign
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Here's to the future for the dreams of youth
I want it all (give it all I want it all)
I want it all (yeah)
I want it all and I want it now
I want it all (yes I want it all)
I want it all hey
I want it all and I want it now
I'm a man with a one track mind
So much to do in one lifetime (people do you hear me)
Not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies
So I'm living it all, yes I'm living it all
And I'm giving it all, and I'm giving it all
Oh oh yeah yeah ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
I want it all
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Here's to the future
Hear the cry of youth (hear the cry of youth) (hear the cry of youth)
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
I want it all yeah yeah yeah
I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
Oh oh oh oh oh
And I want it (now)
I want it, I want it
Oh ha
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music
Written by: Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
"I Want It All" is a song on the album The Miracle and was written by guitarist Brian May (who briefly takes over lead vocals), but credited to all four members of the band. It is one of the band's most well-known and popular songs. The song itself is a hard rock anthem, and lyrically features themes relating to rebellion and social upheaval, although May claims that it is about having ambitions and fighting for one's own goals.
On the Greatest Hits II DVD Read Full Bio"I Want It All" is a song on the album The Miracle and was written by guitarist Brian May (who briefly takes over lead vocals), but credited to all four members of the band. It is one of the band's most well-known and popular songs. The song itself is a hard rock anthem, and lyrically features themes relating to rebellion and social upheaval, although May claims that it is about having ambitions and fighting for one's own goals.
On the Greatest Hits II DVD, Brian May commented that the song was inspired by his 2nd wife, Anita Dobson's favourite motto, "I Want it All, and I Want It Now!" The idea of having intro, verses, choruses and solos over the same chord progression was reused on their next album with another May song, "The Show Must Go On", which was made in 1990. Mercury and May share the lead vocals. Mercury played keyboards, May played acoustic and electric guitars and Taylor used double-kick bass drum for the first time.
In reviewing The Miracle for Allmusic, Greg Prato suggested that the song, like title track "The Miracle", "reflect(s) on [...] the state of the world in the late '80s," summarising the song stylistically as "heavy rock." Melville-based newspaper Newsday mentioned "I Want It All" as one of "The best" of the album, describing it as "colored by May's rocking guitar rolls and Mercury's rough-boys vocals." In reviewing the album, The Dallas Morning News described "I Want It All" in some depth, explaining how it "starts off with a Bowiesque guitar part, picks up a heavy cargo of steel, quickly lays down the hard line implied by the title, then takes flight along Mr. May's greased fretboard."
Brian May spoke of the song in an 1989 interview promoting the album.
"'I Want It All' reestablishes our old image in a way. It's nice to come back with something strong. Something that reminds people we're a live group. I don't think we're a singles band, really. Just before we put the single out I started listening to what's on the radio, and the kind of stuff that becomes a hit these days bears no resemblance to what we do. People only remember the hits, but I suppose we have done okay.""
As part of the commentary on Queen's Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD, May expanded further:
"We were heading into the period where we decided to share the credit for all the songs, and John has said that [the song] was pretty much a finished song when we went into the studios – that's true, it was just this riff that I was obsessed with for months. The actual title was a favorite phrase of Anita's, a very ambitious girl: 'I want it all, and I want it now '... We were never able to perform this song live. It would have become something of the staple core of the Queen show, I'm sure, very participatory. It was designed for the audience to sing along to, very anthemic."
"Interesting, I wrote myself a bit in the middle. I can't remember quite why that was, it's a very sort of Pete Townshend thing to do, isn't it? But it made a nice little kind of duet in the middle, a bit of sparring between me and Freddie, and I know he enjoyed that."
On the Greatest Hits II DVD Read Full Bio"I Want It All" is a song on the album The Miracle and was written by guitarist Brian May (who briefly takes over lead vocals), but credited to all four members of the band. It is one of the band's most well-known and popular songs. The song itself is a hard rock anthem, and lyrically features themes relating to rebellion and social upheaval, although May claims that it is about having ambitions and fighting for one's own goals.
On the Greatest Hits II DVD, Brian May commented that the song was inspired by his 2nd wife, Anita Dobson's favourite motto, "I Want it All, and I Want It Now!" The idea of having intro, verses, choruses and solos over the same chord progression was reused on their next album with another May song, "The Show Must Go On", which was made in 1990. Mercury and May share the lead vocals. Mercury played keyboards, May played acoustic and electric guitars and Taylor used double-kick bass drum for the first time.
In reviewing The Miracle for Allmusic, Greg Prato suggested that the song, like title track "The Miracle", "reflect(s) on [...] the state of the world in the late '80s," summarising the song stylistically as "heavy rock." Melville-based newspaper Newsday mentioned "I Want It All" as one of "The best" of the album, describing it as "colored by May's rocking guitar rolls and Mercury's rough-boys vocals." In reviewing the album, The Dallas Morning News described "I Want It All" in some depth, explaining how it "starts off with a Bowiesque guitar part, picks up a heavy cargo of steel, quickly lays down the hard line implied by the title, then takes flight along Mr. May's greased fretboard."
Brian May spoke of the song in an 1989 interview promoting the album.
"'I Want It All' reestablishes our old image in a way. It's nice to come back with something strong. Something that reminds people we're a live group. I don't think we're a singles band, really. Just before we put the single out I started listening to what's on the radio, and the kind of stuff that becomes a hit these days bears no resemblance to what we do. People only remember the hits, but I suppose we have done okay.""
As part of the commentary on Queen's Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD, May expanded further:
"We were heading into the period where we decided to share the credit for all the songs, and John has said that [the song] was pretty much a finished song when we went into the studios – that's true, it was just this riff that I was obsessed with for months. The actual title was a favorite phrase of Anita's, a very ambitious girl: 'I want it all, and I want it now '... We were never able to perform this song live. It would have become something of the staple core of the Queen show, I'm sure, very participatory. It was designed for the audience to sing along to, very anthemic."
"Interesting, I wrote myself a bit in the middle. I can't remember quite why that was, it's a very sort of Pete Townshend thing to do, isn't it? But it made a nice little kind of duet in the middle, a bit of sparring between me and Freddie, and I know he enjoyed that."
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EightiesForever
Adventure seeker on an empty street
Just an alley creeper, light on his feet
A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt
With the pain and anger can't see a way out
It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
Gotta find me a future move out of my way
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
Listen all you people, come gather round
I gotta get me a game plan, gotta shake you to the ground
But just give me, huh, what I know is mine
People do you hear me, just gimme the sign
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Here's to the future for the dreams of youth
I want it all (give it all I want it all)
I want it all (yeah)
I want it all and I want it now
I want it all (yes I want it all)
I want it all hey
I want it all and I want it now
I'm a man with a one track mind
So much to do in one lifetime (people do you hear me)
Not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies
So I'm living it all, yes I'm living it all
And I'm giving it all, and I'm giving it all
Oh oh yeah yeah ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
I want it all
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Here's to the future
Hear the cry of youth (hear the cry of youth) (hear the cry of youth)
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
I want it all yeah yeah yeah
I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
Oh oh oh oh oh
And I want it (now)
I want it, I want it
Oh ha
Mahibul Bhuiyan
All the solos in this song are legendary. But the intro solo just blew me away when I first heard it. It's the definition of rock for me.
Claudia Paiva
O rock é o melhor ritmo musical que existe!
Андрей Мельников
🤟💪
Danni
This is one of the best songs ever written, listen to the lyrics they are as true today as when written, so many people can relate to this. Amazing QUEEN the top band in the last century I have ever found so diverse so clever and so amazing only with Freddie for me. Not the same since he is not around but I respect Brian and Roger very much awesome musicians. Deaky was too but I guess he had had enough, don’t blame him after Freddie died but good luck to you John wherever you are, loved you in the band too.
Danni
@John Roche Hi John did you receive my reply? I was thinking as I haven’t written a comment here I was probably pressing the wrong keys! Sorry if you think I was ignoring your interesting take on our loved band QUEEN. Let me know if you have time OK. I see Brian was Knighted in the NY Honours list, very awesome. I hope Roger wasn’t upset. He made as much of a contribution to music as did Deaks. I have a feeling there was more to it than that though. Brian is a Patron of the RSPCA and probably other caring charities also he does a lot of lobbying in Parliament for causes close to his heart in Astrophysics I read. Let me know your take on this. I am sure everyone here is happy about Dr Sir Brian May!
Linda Lines
@Ethan Hobbs Brian wrote the whole song, not just the lyrics.
Danni
@Ethan Hobbs True Ethan and so good the title was inspired by Anita Dobson his wife who used to say those words to him. I WANT IT ALL I WANT IT NOW I totally adore the lyrics. So good on Brians wife top class for even saying that but even more so to Brian who turned it into a world class song.
Danni
@John Roche Hi John Many thanks for your considered reply, most of. all I totally agree with you as regards other musicians standing in for Freddie. As a die hard fan forever of Freddie with Queen ( let’s be honest QUEEN WERE QUEEN WITH FREDDIE } and I also agree that when he died the band should have stopped. Having said that as a musician I can understand the extreme longing to get back on stage for especially Brian and Roger, who were there at the beginning with Smile. I have no problems with Paul Rogers as a singer but again HE IS NO FREDDIE! Secondly Adam Lambert might appeal to some young people like age 13 or 14 etc but for so many of QUEENS long time fans I cannot cope with him standing in for Fred; sure he is a talented guy he is a good singer so why then if he so talented why not try to start his own band in the shape he likes. It is a relief to know your thoughts, so many I have read online are all about No-ONE can ever replace Freddie Mercury. I very much respected Deaky alias John Deacon for retiring as he couldn’t stand it without their lead singer in the form of the Legend Freddie Mercury. Total respect to him especially as he wrote their greatest hit ever 'Another One Bites the Dust'. How nice he is, how unassuming and modest but so loyal to Queen. I really do trust in all I have read that he had a special relationship with Freddie, they understood each other because in their hearts they were both sensitive clever guys. I was happy to know Freddie went to his wedding and kept up to date on his children etc. I was into Free myself and ZZTop plus Van Halen and Joe Satrian,i Rammstein. I totally adore brilliant guitarists I love Brian May and Roger both world class in their own field. I cannot get any enthusiasm to hear Queen in 2023 with Adam, just can’t watch it. Maybe 30 years since the untimely death of a sheer genius , I just cannot return to it. I watch videos on Youtube whenever a moment presents itself. It is as if Freddie never died. My favourite albums are the same as yours the last two. Isn’t it so moving the last song Freddie recorded Mother Love and Brian had to sing the last verse as Fred did it in short intervals as he not far from dying then. He said to the rest of the band I will be back to finish it, but sadly not to be. He died before he could sing the last verse, so Brian sang it. Brian said there is a note in that which is incredible almost impossible to reach, Plus Freddie was very ill indeed but typical of his determination he carried on and he sang his heart out, sadly as all the band have said he was too ill to return to finish it. Brian is a good singer but who in Rock history has Fred’s vocal range? NO ONE I have ever heard not in my lifetime.
In total there will never be another Freddie Mercury he was a one off a totally magnectic personality as so many have said there wasn’t a crowd he couldn’t capture. He did love them and they loved him in return. Brain is 75 now and Roger 74 I might be a year out on Roger but time to spend life with family and I bet they have had to make plenty of sacrifices (their families) but there is a time to carry on and a time to quit. They could both help youngsters who cannot afford lessons to play, why not. Good idea for such accomplished musicians. I also think Brians wife Anita Dobson is a brilliant force for good, she would be also good at supporting Brian to do something for youth. He does not want another heart attack for sure. Most amazingly she was the Inspiration for ‘I WANT IT ALL’ because apparently she used to say that to Brian and he turned into my all time top Queen song, so hard to say isn’t it which is one’s favourite. I LOVE THEM ALL Goodnight John. I hope this year brings you happiness and good health. No doubt something to do with the best band of the entire history of the Universe will connect us somehow.Best wishes - Danni x
John Roche
@Danni Hi Danni. Hope you had a great Christmas. Obviously being in an orchestra as a flute player you are a real musician. Would James Galway the iconic flute player be an influence? Anyway just to let you know that from 9 p.m.(January 1st) on the channel "Sky Arts" there will be a couple of programmes dedicated to Queen including their unbelievable concert from Rio. Last Friday night "Sky Arts" showed Queen live from the Rainbow theatre 1974. Obviously we were not even a twinkle in our parents eyes at that stage. Great concert and they do great covers of Shirley Bassey's "Big Spender" and "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis. To be honest once Freddie went to the great concert in the sky I could not look at the new versions of Queen. I was a huge fan of both Free and Bad Company as my older brother got me into them. However Paul Rogers and Queen were not a perfect fit. When we have a favourite band it is awful when we lose an original member. Even replacing a guitarist,bassist, and drummer will make the band different but it is manageable. However in my humble opinion you cant replace a vocalist or singer as this is literally the voice of the band. I respect John Deacon for leaving the band. I admire Lambert but he is no Freddie. John had such an unassuming character. Brilliant bass player and great song writer(You're My Best Friend,Spread My Wings,Another One Bites The Dust,I Want To Break Free and Friends Will Be Friends") to name a few. I thought it was really cringy when Queen did "We Will Rock You" with the boy band "5". My favourite Queen albums are "The Miracle" and "Innuendo". When I first heard "Innuendo" I thought it was Queens masterpiece. Hand on heart I always thought "I Cant Live With You" would be a single. For example I think it is superior to "I'm Going Slightly Mad". By the way the You Tube channel "Freddie Mercury" lately had demos from Freddie which some of them I never heard before. Wishing you and yours a happy,peaceful New Year.
Dion Share
How could someone not like Queen? One of the greatest bands in the history of rock.