Broudie and Rogers formed the act as the "perfect pop project", and Lightning Seeds broke through in 1989 with the psychedelic synth pop hit, "Pure", which made the UK Top 20 and was a minor hit on US pop radio and a major success on US alternative radio. In the 1990s Lightning Seeds became one of the most popular and enterprising of the era. The 1995 album Jollification was a critical masterpiece, spawning several successful singles. In 1996, Lightning Seeds provided the music and production for the official England anthem for the Euro '96 football tournament. The lyrics were written and sung by comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel, and the song, "Three Lions", went straight into the charts at number one.
Since the release of 1999's Tilt the act has taken a back seat as Broudie concentrated on producing the works of others. However, in 2006, Broudie reformed the band with a selection of new members, releasing a Very Best Of album, and performing a number of tour dates. In 2009, the band released Four Winds, their first album in 10 years.
All I Want
The Lightning Seeds 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
Is make you listen from now on
Stop what's going on, stop what's going wrong
Confidence, coincidence, call it a sin
It's just like people say
Tomorrow's here so open up you're eyes
Never hesitate
All I want, all I want to do
Is make you listen from now on
Cardboard men are strong, but paper can be torn
Oh, you better listen from now on
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
Is make you listen from now on
Stop what's going on, stop what's going wrong
You better listen from now on
Cardboard men are strong, but paper can be torn
Oh, you better listen from now on
All I want to say, all I want to feel
You better listen from now on
It's all I want to say
The song is about trying to get someone to listen and pay attention. The verses suggest that no matter what someone does, they can't ignore or hide from the things that surround them. The lyrics advise the listener to take control of their circumstances, even if they break them, and to stop what's going on and what's going wrong. It speaks of confidence, coincidence, and the need to stay alert to what's happening, lest we hesitate and miss opportunities.
The chorus reiterates that all the singer wants is for the listener to pay attention and take control of their lives. He wants to make them listen and take responsibility for what's happening around them. He speaks of a desire to protect and nurture the person he's speaking to, and how he wishes he could take them back to a time where everything was simpler.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't ignore or hide away
You cannot disregard or conceal certain obstacles in life.
Can't escape from the things that line our way
You cannot avoid the issues that come in your path.
Take it, leave it, break it
You have the choice to accept, reject or destroy the problems that come your way.
Anyway, you can't get back to yesterday
Irrespective of the option chosen, you cannot revert to the past.
All I want, all I want to do
The only thing I desire is to
Is make you listen from now on
To make you pay attention starting now.
Stop what's going on, stop what's going wrong
Put an end to the things that are happening and that are not right.
You better listen from now on
You should start paying attention from now on.
Confidence, coincidence, call it a sin
Having faith, being lucky or even considered a crime
It's just like people say
It's a common phrase used.
Tomorrow's here so open up you're eyes
The future is already here so stop being oblivious.
Never hesitate
Don't have second thoughts.
Cardboard men are strong, but paper can be torn
People or situations might seem tough, but they can still be weakened or beaten.
It makes me want to give you everything
It makes me want to provide you with everything.
Pick you up and take you home again
Bring you back to the place you belong.
Hold you tight and think that now is then
Hold you dearly while reminiscing about the past.
All I want to say, all I want to feel
I only want to express myself
You better listen from now on
So that you can hear me and comprehend from now on.
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT JAMES SMITH, SIMON GALLUP, PORL THOMPSON, LAURENCE ANDREW TOLHURST, BORIS WILLIAMS, Ian Zachary Broudie, Peter Anthony Coyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alvin Oetama
Pardon my lateness but i just discovered this band and it sounds amazing
Fingers Titan
Welcome to the most underated band of all time..
Enjoy finding classic songs after classic songs..
The life of Riley - was written by Ian for his son Riley.. Google Riley Brodie and you'll know the back story to him and the song.
Diana
Same
Speccy Horace
Haha. Good for you my friend. In 1996 (when I first discovered them) I think I probably played this song on my little Alba hi-fi in my teenage bedroom about 800 times.
Lynette Paulsen
Hey, better late than never. Yay!
MrFlix1983
I had the original 12" version of this on vinyl. Still sounds incredible in 2023!
Fingers Titan
Please don't beg for likes here... The Lightning Seeds are better than the trash who post they are listing to a band in 202X...
Good music is listened to all the time..
These are my No 1 band and I listen to them a ton of times each year, every year and I never need to post to tell others that I'm listing to great music..
My Dad doesn't have the internet so to keep up with this new wave of telling everyone they listen to a certain tune.. My Dad needs to knock on the locals and tell them he is listening to Chas and Dave in 2023..
Come on and be better than the marks who post that and just beg for upvotes. It's sad and Lightning Seeds don't need dragging down to that level.. We as fans listen to them all the time. :)
Electron7
For some reason, the instrumental melody part from @1:23 to @1:38 takes me mentally to another world.
I can't explain it but somehow, I get butterflies in my stomach along with this sad feeling combined with a feeling of excitement. I don't know if anyone here understands what I'm trying to describe.
R W
Just magical. 😊
D TUNES
That section and also 2:05. The album version puts 1:23 and 2:05 together and therefore is the superior version of the song. They made an error by adding stuff when they created this single/video version when the album version was just perfect.