In November 2004, the first annual UK Music Hall Of Fame induction ceremony… Read Full Bio ↴In November 2004, the first annual UK Music Hall Of Fame induction ceremony took place and as "Queen" was inducted, surviving active members Brian May and Roger Taylor (without bassist John Deacon who retired from the music business in 1997) play the band's double A-side hits, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions", complete with former "Free" and "Bad Company" frontman Paul Rodgers. They closed the show with Free's classic, "All Right Now", with help from the group "the Polyphonic Spree". This performance hinted at the possibility of the return of rock's regal performers after an 18 year hiatus.

By January of 2005, Roger Taylor admitted to German television that they would be touring Europe in the spring and summer of that year, under the name of "Queen + Paul Rodgers". The full line up included original "Queen" members May (guitar, vocals) and Taylor (drums, vocals) as well as former "The Pretenders" and "Brian May Band" member Jamie Moses (guitar, vocals), former "Blue Oyster Cult" bassist Danny Miranda (bass, vocals), Queen's 1986 tour keyboard player Spike Edney (keyboards, vocals) and Paul Rodgers (vocals, occasional guitar). Over the course of 2005, the band played in over a dozen European countries as well as the Aruba Festival, 4 dates in Japan, 2 shows in the U.S.A., and 1 show in South Africa The band embarked upon a large scale tour of Northern America during Spring 2006, hitting 22 venues in the U.S.A. and 2 in Canada.

Some controversy was caused within the "Queen" fan base over the use of the name. There was concern over the fact that Queen's legendary front man, Freddie Mercury, was seemingly being replaced. However, each band member has said this is not the case: Rodgers could never replace Freddie Mercury but brought his own talents to the band. Furthermore, the fact that retired former "Queen" bassist John Deacon was also missing caused some discontent. Yet despite this, by and large "Queen" fans were won over by the band's blues-tinted renditions of "Queen" classics. Additionally, Paul Rodgers' fans were happy with the inclusion of several Free and Bad Company anthems on the set list, providing super-powered versions of tunes such as "All Right Now" and "Can't Get Enough".

After the end of the Return of the Champions Tour, the band set out to and completed their first and heretofore only album The Cosmos Rocks which debuted to warm reviews by fans in September 2008. Consequently the band toured again in late 2008 throughout Europe, Asia, and South America to promote the album. The Rock the Cosmos Tour in all was seen by nearly 1 million people in almost two dozen nations. The tour was highlighted by its first performance, recorded for DVD and CD, where the band played before over 350,000 fans in Freedom Square, Kharkiv, Ukraine. Said show was in fact put together at the last moment to benefit HIV/AIDS awareness.

On 14th May 2009, Paul Rodgers announced that his collaboration with the surviving active members of "Queen" was at and end, and that the "Queen + Paul Rodgers" project was being placed on indefinite hiatus. While, the band members did not rule out working together again, each sought to pursue solo projects, or in the case of Paul Rodgers, a reunion with Bad Company. The band has not gotten back together since, but Rodgers has stated that he's open to the idea of doing more, specially for charity.

I Want It All
Queen + Paul Rodgers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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
Oooh oh yeah yeah - ha ha ha ha ha
Yeah yeah yeah yeaaah
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 yeaaaah
I want it all, I want it all and I want it now
Oh oh oh oh oooh

And I want it - now

I want it, I want it
Ooooh ha

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Want It All" by Queen + Paul Rodgers depict a person who is a fighter and an adventurer seeking their place in the world. The song begins with an image of an alley creeper, someone who is always on the move and light on their feet. The person is screaming with pain and anger, unable to see a way out. They ask for a future and demand that everyone should get out of their way. The person wants it all, and they want it now.

The second verse is the person addressing the people around them. They state that they need to get a game plan and shake everyone to the ground. They know what they want, and they want people to give them what they know is theirs. They are not asking for much, and they want people to hear them. They are a man with a one-track mind who is not willing to compromise. They are living it all and giving it all. They want everything in life, and they want it now.

Overall, the message of the song is about following your dreams and never settling for less. The lyrics call for the listener to recognize their potential and demand what they want from the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Adventure seeker on an empty street
An individual seeking an exciting life, wandering through an abandoned street.

Just an alley creeper, light on his feet
A person who moves cautiously through narrow paths, very agile and light-footed.

A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt
A young fighter who is shouting loudly, not willing to waste time on hesitation or second thoughts.

With the pain and anger can't see a way out
With the agony and frustration, the fighter cannot see a possible resolution to the situation.

It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
The fighter is requesting a minimal amount, as per his statements.

Gotta find me a future move out of my way
I need to explore a better future, therefore move aside or let me through.

I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now
The fighter wants every opportunity, chance, or materialistic thing that life has to offer, without further delay.

Listen all you people, come gather round
Everybody is requested to pay attention to what's happening.

I gotta get me a game plan, gotta shake you to the ground
I need to have a plan to accomplish my goals and I intend to surprise/humble you by doing so.

But just give me, huh, what I know is mine
Just hand over what I've earned, without any objections.

People do you hear me, just gimme the sign
Tell me you heard my message, by giving me a clear indication.

Here's to the future for the dreams of youth
Cheers to the future, where the aspirations and visions of the next generation lie.

I'm a man with a one track mind
The individual has a singular focus, very narrow thinking/attitude.

So much to do in one lifetime (people do you hear me)
There are countless activities/goals to achieve in one's life, everybody is requested to comprehend this fact.

Not a man for compromise and where's and why's and living lies
The individual is not ready to settle for less or for deceptive/scheming behaviors from others.

So I'm living it all, yes I'm living it all
I am enjoying everything life has to offer, experiencing everything to the fullest.

And I'm giving it all, and I'm giving it all
I'm putting my best efforts, giving my all to everything I am doing.

Hear the cry of youth (hear the cry of youth) (hear the cry of youth)
Listen to the plea and yearning of the younger generation.

And I want it - now
I crave something, and I want it without any unnecessary delay.

I want it, I want it
The individual expressing a strong desire to acquire something.

Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 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

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