Everything That You Want
Reba McEntire Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the beginning
The nights were long
Under the moonlight
I could do no wrong
You told me
I was everything you wanted me to be

Then summer was over
And the nights grew cold
You got restless
And hard to hold
I tried to be
Everything you wanted me to be

Now you keep staring
At that open door
You got what you wanted
And you still want more
Well look at me
I'm everything you wanted me to be

[Chorus]
Well if I don't keep you satisfied
You can't say that I haven't tried
And if I'm not what you want by now
For the life of me I can't see how
I'll ever be
Everything that you want me to be

In the beginning
The nights were long
Under the moonlight
I could do no wrong




Remember me?
I was everything you wanted me to be

Overall Meaning

The song "Everything That You Want" by Reba McEntire explores the theme of a relationship that starts off strong and passionate, but eventually loses its spark as one partner becomes increasingly demanding and unsatisfied. The verses repeat the phrase "I was everything you wanted me to be," emphasizing the singer's effort to please their partner and meet their expectations. However, despite their efforts, the partner remains restless and discontented, always wanting more. The chorus expresses the singer's frustration and resignation, as she acknowledges that she has given her all but still cannot meet her partner's needs.


The opening lines of the song set the scene for a promising beginning, with long romantic nights under the moonlight. However, as the seasons change, so does the relationship. The nights grow cold and the partner becomes hard to hold, suggesting a distancing and deterioration of intimacy. The final verse brings the song full circle, returning to the beginning when the singer felt desired and successful in meeting their partner's needs. However, this time there is a sense of irony and resignation, as the singer knows that they can never aspire to be "everything" their partner wants.


Overall, "Everything That You Want" presents a poignant and relatable portrait of a struggle to maintain a relationship, even as one partner's demands become overwhelming and impossible to fulfill.


Line by Line Meaning

In the beginning
At the start of our relationship


The nights were long
Our evenings together felt endless


Under the moonlight
In the romantic glow of the moon


I could do no wrong
You always saw the best in me, even when I made mistakes


You told me
You expressed to me


I was everything you wanted me to be
That I met your expectations and desires in a partner


Then summer was over
As the relationship progressed and time passed


And the nights grew cold
Your feelings towards me started to cool


You got restless
You became dissatisfied


And hard to hold
It became difficult to keep your attention


I tried to be
I attempted to become


Everything you wanted me to be
Exactly what you hoped for in a partner


Now you keep staring
Lately, you've been looking at


At that open door
The possibility of leaving our relationship


You got what you wanted
I gave you what you desired


And you still want more
But you're still wanting more from me that I may not be able to give


Well look at me
Take a good look at who I am


I'm everything you wanted me to be
I have become everything you desired in a partner


[Chorus]
This is the repetitive part of the song that acts as a bridge between verses


Well if I don't keep you satisfied
If I can't continue to please and meet your needs


You can't say that I haven't tried
It's not because I didn't make an effort to make this relationship work


And if I'm not what you want by now
If after our time together I still don't fulfill your desires


For the life of me I can't see how
It's impossible for me to understand


I'll ever be
To become


Everything that you want me to be
The exact partner you desire


Remember me?
Do you recall


I was everything you wanted me to be
I once met all of your expectations and desires in a partner




Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JACK WESLEY ROUTH, RANDY L SHARP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions