All I Want
The Offspring Lyrics
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Day after day (your home life's a wreck)
The powers that be just breathe down your neck
You get no respect (you get no relief)
You gotta speak up and yell out your piece
So back off your rules, back off your jive
Leave me alone, asking a lot
I don't wanna be controlled
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!
How many times (is it gonna take)
'Til someone around you hears what you say?
You've tried being cool (you feel like a lie)
You've played by their rules, now it's their turn to try
So back off your rules, back off your jive
'Cause I'm sick of not living to stay alive
Leave me alone, not asking a lot
Just don't want to be controlled
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
I said it before
I'll say it again
If you could just listen then it might make sense
So back off your rules, back off your jive
'Cause I'm sick of not living to stay alive
Leave me alone, not asking a lot
Just don't want to be controlled
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!
The Offspring’s “All I Want” speaks about feeling controlled by the powers that be and expressing the need for personal freedom. The song opens with the line “Day after day (your home life's a wreck) / The powers that be just breathe down your neck” which clearly illustrates the sense of intrusion that the singer feels in their life. The chorus expresses the central theme of the song: “It's all I want / It's all I want / It's all I want / It's all I want”. The singer’s desire for autonomy is repeatedly emphasized through the line "back off your rules, back off your jive”, which suggests that they want the person(s) in control to give them space and stop meddling in their life.
The lyrics note different approaches that the singer might have tried in order to fit in and avoid conflict, such as “You’ve tried being cool (you feel like a lie) / You’ve played by their rules, now it’s their time to try”. With these lines, listeners can see that the main character has attempted to conform to the expectations of those in control, even at a cost of feeling “like a lie”. However, as they suggest in the chorus, what they truly seek is the freedom to live their own life, “It’s all I want”. The repetition of the chant “ya-ya-ya-ya-ya” reinforces this message.
In summary, The Offspring's “All I Want” is an anthem for personal freedom and control over one's life. The song paints a picture of frustration and the desire to break free from the expectations of controlling people in one's life. The lyrics hit hardest on the repetition of the central message, that “It’s all I want”.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day (your home life's a wreck)
Every day, your life at home is falling apart and causing you stress.
The powers that be just breathe down your neck
The people in charge are constantly watching and controlling you.
You get no respect (you get no relief)
You are not given any respect or break from your difficult situation.
You gotta speak up and yell out your piece
You need to make your voice heard and express your feelings.
So back off your rules, back off your jive
Stop imposing your rigid rules and controlling behavior on me.
'Cause I'm sick of not living to stay alive
I am tired of living just to survive, without true enjoyment or freedom.
Leave me alone, asking a lot
I am simply asking to be left alone and not controlled.
I don't wanna be controlled
I want to be able to make my own choices and not be under someone else's power.
How many times (is it gonna take)
How many times do I need to speak up before someone listens?
Til someone around you hears what you say?
Until someone close to you takes the time to truly understand and acknowledge your feelings.
You've tried being cool (you feel like a lie)
You have tried to conform and be cool, but it doesn't feel genuine.
You've played by their rules, now it's their turn to try
You have followed others' rules and expectations, now it's their turn to try to understand and respect yours.
I said it before
I have expressed my feelings before.
I'll say it again
I will continue to express my feelings.
If you could just listen then it might make sense
If you would simply listen to me, perhaps you would understand where I am coming from.
It's all I want
All I want is to be free from control and to be able to live my own life.
Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya!
An exclamation of frustration and desire for freedom.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bryan Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charly345mstl
Day after day your home life's a wreck
The powers that be just
Breathe down your neck
You get no respect
You get no relief
You gotta speak up
And yell out your piece
So back off your rules
Back off your jive
Cause I'm sick of not living
To stay alive
Leave me alone
I'm not asking a lot
I just don't want to be controlled
That's all I want
All I want
How many times is it gonna take
Till someone around you hears what you say
You've tried being cool
You feel like a lie
You've played by their rules
Now it's their turn to try
So back off your rules
Back off your jive
Cause I'm sick of not living
To stay alive
Leave me alone
I'm not asking a lot
I just don't want to be controlled
That's all I want
All I want
I said it before
I'll say it again
If you could just listen
Then it might make sense
So back off your rules
Back off your jive
Cause I'm sick of not living
To stay alive
Leave me alone
I'm not asking a lot
I just don't want to be controlled
That's all I want
All I want
@dsmithimages
You always did better in "Crazy Taxi" if this was the first song that played when you started the game.
@benjaminjoseph4403
BD Joe
@yuraek
@@benjaminjoseph4403 ohhhh yes
@TeriSneky
So true.
@tigrederd
For sure!
@squesh2059
What a good times !
@AussieManny
This song NEEDS to be in the new Crazy Taxi!
@backup368
Could you imagine it being paid DLC? All the YouTubers would say how it would cost less to buy just the song itself.
@LuckyPunkProd
@@backup368The fact of the matter is, you CANNOT have Crazy Taxi without The Offspring. Especially this song, which I consider the official Crazy Taxi anthem.
@MiguelGarayStarty
SEGAAAAAA!