Early life
Hoffs was born in Newport Beach, California to a Jewish family. Her mother was a fan of The Beatles and played their records for Hoffs when she was a child. She began playing the guitar in her teens and hooked up with Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson, who needed a singer for their band, which would later become The Bangles. Susanna attended Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. In 1980, she graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Art.
The Bangles years
The Bangles released their first album All Over The Place in 1984, but their major breakthrough album was Different Light in 1986, with the hit singles "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like an Egyptian." Her fame rising, Susanna starred in the movie The Allnighter in 1987. It was directed by her mother Tamar Simon Hoffs and also featured Joan Cusack and Pam Grier. She also made the covers of many magazines, and the Rickenbacker guitar company issued a Susanna Hoffs model, which she still plays during gigs. Although the Bangles did not have a set lead vocalist, and the girls alternated on singing, Susanna was perceived by many casual fans to be the main vocalist. She also received by far the most media attention, which led to tensions within the band. The Bangles released their very successful third album Everything in 1988, with their biggest selling single "Eternal Flame." But the breakup was inevitable, and they disbanded in 1989.
Solo career and personal life
Susanna released a solo album When You're a Boy in 1991, which didn't sell very well (although it did spawn a US Top 40 hit with "My Side of the Bed"). In 1993, she married Jay Roach, later the director of the Austin Powers movies and Meet the Parents and producer of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. They have two sons, born in 1995 and 1998.
In 1996, Susanna released her second solo album Susanna Hoffs, this time with more personal lyrics and a more mature sound. Although it received some praise in the press (and yielded a minor US hit with the single "All I Want"), it didn't sell well either. Susanna also recorded another album during 1993/1994, prior to leaving Columbia records. So far it remains unreleased, though substandard bootleg copies have been circulating for years. Susanna also records demos prolifically, and these also sometimes surface on the internet. The best known of these is probably the song "Pride," which can be legally downloaded at Bill Bonk's website.
Hoffs appears in the first Austin Powers movie as a member of the fictitious 1960s rock group Ming Tea, fronted by the title character. In real-life, Ming Tea consisted of actor Mike Myers, Hoffs, Canadian musician/producer Christopher Ward, and singer Matthew Sweet. This group made a number of TV performances (with Myers in character as Powers) and had a minor hit with the song "BBC." Hoffs returned with the group in the second and third Austin Powers films.
Bangles reunion
In the late 1990s, Susanna started to contact the other members of the Bangles again. They recorded the single "Get the Girl" for the second Austin Powers movie in 1999. Playing together and enjoying themselves, they announced their decision to reunite in 2000. Their fourth album, called Doll Revolution, was released in 2003, followed by a tour.
Cover of Under the Covers, Vol. 1
Sid 'n' Susie
In 2006, Susanna teamed up with fellow Ming Tea rocker, Matthew Sweet, under the name Sid 'n' Susie to record 15 covers on an album appropriately called Under the Covers, Vol. 1. The Album was released in April of 2006 and they appeared on July 18th on Late Night with Conan O'Brien to promote the album and tour.
All I Want
Susanna Hoffs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't escape from the things that line our way
Take it, leave it, break it
Anyway, you can't get back to yesterday
All I want
All I want to do
You better listen from now on
Stop what's goin' wrong
You better listen from now on
Confidence, coincidence, call it a sin
It's just like people say
Tomorrow's here so open up your eyes
Never hesitate
All I want
All I want to do
Is make you listen from now on
Sleepin' in the dark
Dreamin' of the stars
Keep one to wish on from now on
Oh oh
Oh woh
It makes me want to give you everything
Pick you up and take you home again
Hold you tight and think that now is then
All I want to do
All I want to do
You better listen from now on
Open arms or cryin' eyes
Say hello or wave goodbye
Which one are you thinkin' of
Oh oh
Oh woh
All I want to do
All I want to do
Is make you listen from now on
Stop what's goin' on
Stop what's goin' wrong
From now on
'Cause all I want to do
All I want to say
You better listen from now on
Sleepin' in the dark
And dreamin' of the stars
Keep one to wish on from now on
All I want to do
All I want to say
Is everything I feel from now on
The first verse of "All I Want" talks about the things that we cannot ignore nor hide away from, and how we cannot escape the obstacles that come our way. It suggests that we have the choice to take it, leave it, or even break it, but the one thing that remains is the fact that we cannot go back to yesterday. The repetition of "you better listen from now on" makes it clear that the message being delivered is crucial and needs to be heard.
The chorus of the song is an expression of the singer's desire to make someone listen to what she has to say. She urges this person to stop what's going on and what's going wrong in their life and start to pay attention. The second verse mentions the importance of having confidence and not hesitating to make a move. The song suggests that if we open up our eyes and seize the opportunities presented to us, we can make tomorrow even better.
The bridge of the song further reinforces the singer's willingness to do anything for the person she's addressing. She wants to give them everything, take them home, hold them tight and make them feel like now is then. The song ends with the repeated chorus, declaring the singer's intent to say everything she feels from now on. Overall, the song is a plea to someone to pay attention, embrace the present, and move towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't ignore or hide away
We can't pretend that obstacles don't exist or escape from them completely.
Can't escape from the things that line our way
Problems and challenges will always be a part of life, no matter how much we try to avoid them.
Take it, leave it, break it
We have choices to make when faced with difficult situations, we can either accept them, reject them, or try to change them.
Anyway, you can't get back to yesterday
No matter what decisions we make, we cannot go back and change the past.
All I want
The artist's central desire.
All I want to do
The singer's intention or goal.
You better listen from now on
The singer wants someone to pay attention and take action.
Stop what's goin' on
There are negative events or behaviors that need to be halted or corrected.
Stop what's goin' wrong
There are problems that need to be addressed and resolved.
Confidence, coincidence, call it a sin
There's an element of chance or fate involved in life's events, and sometimes decisions that seem confident or right can have negative consequences.
It's just like people say
The singer is acknowledging a common adage or wisdom.
Tomorrow's here so open up your eyes
We need to be aware and prepared for the future that's ahead of us.
Never hesitate
We should take action and make decisions without fear or delay.
Sleepin' in the dark
Metaphorically, the singer is in a state of ignorance or unawareness.
Dreamin' of the stars
Metaphorically, the singer has high hopes and aspirations for the future.
Keep one to wish on from now on
The artist is suggesting to keep hope alive and hold onto dreams.
It makes me want to give you everything
The artist is inspired or motivated to give their all.
Pick you up and take you home again
The singer wants to make someone feel safe and comfortable.
Hold you tight and think that now is then
The singer wants to feel deeply connected and nostalgic with someone.
Open arms or cryin' eyes
Metaphorically, the artist is either ready to embrace someone or is pleading for help.
Say hello or wave goodbye
There's a choice to either start something new or end something significant.
Which one are you thinkin' of
The artist wants someone to make a decision or choice.
All I want to say
The singer's message that they want to convey.
Is everything I feel from now on
The artist wants to express their emotions honestly and transparently going forward.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOOTS OTTESTAD, MARTIN ROBERT COYLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@humbertosilvabezerra9699
Can't ignore or hide away
Can't escape from the things that line our way
Take it, leave it, break it
Anyway, you can't get back to yesterday.
All I want
All I wanna do
You better listen from now on
Stop what's goin' on
Stop what's goin' wrong
You better listen from now on.
Confidence, coincidence, call it a sin
It's just like people say
Tomorrow's here so open up your eyes
Never hesitate.
All I want
All I wanna do
Is make you listen from now on
Sleepin' in the dark
Dreamin' of the stars
Keep one to wish on from now on.
Oh oh
Oh woh.
It makes me want to give you everything
Pick you up and take you home again
Hold you tight and think that now is then.
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
You better listen from now on
Open arms or cryin' eyes
Say hello or wave goodbye
Which one are you thinkin' of.
Oh oh
Oh woh.
All I wanna do
All I wanna do
Is make you listen from now on
Stop what's goin' on
Stop what's goin' wrong
From now on.
'Cause all I wanna do
All I want to say
You better listen from now on
Sleepin' in the dark
And dreamin' of the stars
Keep one to wish on from now on.
All I wanna do
All I wanna say
Is everything I feel from now on.
@will89687
I saw her in concert at the time this came out - sat in the first row. Most beautiful woman I've ever seen or will ever see. The whole album is criminally underrated.
@AmurTiger-vm5dy
The woman more beautiful of the planet
@OliverFlossdorf
First I hear her was 1986 with "Manic Monday". I fell in love with her instantly. I was sweet 14 years old 🙂
Now I'm 51 and I feel the deepest respect, and I am very thankful, that her voice has accompanied me over the years.
Thank you Susanna, you have a big impact in my heart.
@michaelkurkowaski1718
Amen brother. I'm 50. Now feel all the way about ultimate beautiful susanna.
@leandy8349
wish music was like this again
@steveturpin2153
Really lovely version of one of my favourite songs. Susannah’s obviously stunning and her voice is gorgeous on this. I love both versions.
@Qkfreakshow
Im from Argentina and this was in heavy rotation on music channels, mtv, muchmusic, music21, Back in 96, I love her.
@HeyLila78
Those were the days. Remembering my youth thanks to this song.. this lockdown is giving us too much time for both introspection and nostalgia.
@keith6032
I love her voice!!! it's very unique. like no other.
@davidortiz10
I love you Susanna!