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 β 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."
I Want It All
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 truthHere'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
The lyrics to Queen's "I Want It All" paint a picture of a young, ambitious and driven individual who is determined to make their dreams a reality no matter the odds against them. The use of strong imagery and figurative language is notable throughout the song. "Adventure seeker on an empty street," "alley creeper light on his feet," and "young fighter screaming with no time for doubt" all paint a picture of a person who is strong and focused on success. The repetition of "I want it all, and I want it now" reinforces the idea that this person is not waiting for opportunities to come to them, but actively seeking and pursuing opportunities.
The lyrics also suggest that this individual is looking for support in achieving their goals, as seen in the lines "But just give me, huh, what I know is mine / People do you hear me, just gimme the sign." The use of rhetorical questions and the repeated phrase "People do you hear me" speaks to the urgency and desperation felt by the young fighter.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal desire to achieve success, but also highlights the struggles and sacrifices that come with pursuing one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Adventure seeker on an empty street
A person who seeks an adventure, walking on a deserted street
Just an alley creeper, light on his feet
A person who knows how to walk in alleys, and moves fast
A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt
A young person, being brave, and not having any doubts
With the pain and anger can't see a way out
Feeling hurt and anger, and feeling stuck with no solution
It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
Asking for a little favor
Gotta find me a future move out of my way
Find a way for the future, and asking for the obstacles to be removed
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
Asking for everything to happen now
Listen all you people, come gather round
Asking people to listen
I gotta get me a game plan, gotta shake you to the ground
Making a plan, and getting people's attention
But just give me, huh, what I know is mine
Asking for things that belong to oneself
People do you hear me, just gimme the sign
Confirming with the people before taking action
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Asking for a small favor
Here's to the future for the dreams of youth
Wishing for a better future for the young people's dreams
I'm a man with a one track mind
Having one single goal in mind
So much to do in one lifetime (people do you hear me)
There's a lot to do in one's lifetime, and asking people to confirm again
Not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies
Not willing to compromise and not interested in reasons and lies
So I'm living it all, yes I'm living it all
Living life to its fullest
And I'm giving it all, and I'm giving it all
Giving everything one has
Oh oh yeah yeah ha ha ha ha ha
Exclaiming with joy and laughter
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
It ain't much I'm asking, if you want the truth
Asking for a small favor
Here's to the future
Wishing for a better future
Hear the cry of youth
Listening to the young people's voice
I want it all, I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
Asking for everything now
And I want it (now)
Asking for it now
I want it, I want it
Asking for it
Oh ha
Lyrics Β© TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gianluigicammarata
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
@eduardomontero2901
This band is in a complete different level. Absolutely marvelous.
@Sisolin4e
I ππ
@ngc-fo5te
No
@maggiemccauslin1084
@ngc-fo5te
Why are you here if you don't agree?
@ngc-fo5te
@@maggiemccauslin1084 So you think only an echo chamber is allowed?
@melaniemagdalene1616
Freddie is the only person who can dress up as if he's going for an interview and still be considered as a rock legend.
Case in point: this video.
@johncollins7465
Freddie was the only person who could dress in literally anything he felt like and still be the GOAT. My case in point: his whole career. RIP Freddie
@melaniemagdalene1616
@@johncollins7465 Well, I could say the same for Michael.
@johncollins7465
You know, you are absolutely correct
@melaniemagdalene1616
@@johncollins7465 Thank you. You are too.