In 2006, The Weepies big label debut Say I Am You came out on Nettwerk Records. After an initial hard-scrabble tour in their compact car as a duo, Deb Talan & Steve Tannen’s music appeared in more than a dozen TV shows, as well as several major motion pictures.
Their iTunes sales topped the folk charts in eight countries. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol nominated them for a Short List Music Prize, and Mandy Moore asked them to write with her and sing on her album. They were invited to open for the Indigo Girls and invited onto the Hotel Café Tour; they played the Oxegen Festival in Ireland, the Hurricane Festival in Germany, and T in the Park in Scotland. Their MySpace player hit 2 million plays. JCPenney and Old Navy used their tunes as the theme songs for their major holiday TV campaigns.
When The Weepies returned home in 2007, they were exhausted.
“2006 was amazing. Coming off the road in 2007 should have been this blissed-out time with so much to celebrate, but it was totally depressing. Our rented shack in the California hills was cold, it had a leaky roof and there were mice living in it. Our electric guitar had been destroyed on the last plane flight of the year. We hadn’t seen most of our close friends in months.”
“We were empty,” says Talan. “We both felt dark after being in the bright lights for a year. We were looking to reconnect with what moved us about music in the first place. We needed to hide out and write.”
Hideaway was the result of their year-long struggle to get tapped in again, released in 2008. Another homemade gem, Hideaway is a darker companion to their first album, with 14 new tunes ranging from the upbeat title track to the jangly rock of Not Dead Yet to gorgeously arranged meditations like How You Survived the War and Little Bird.
As with most of The Weepies’ music, there is a happy ending to all the struggle: Deb and Steve were married in 2007, and they had a baby boy, Theo, in October.
The Weepies sound on Hideaway remains rooted in their unique writing and unusual harmonies. Their distinctive production was filled out again by bass player and guitarist Whynot Jansveld, guitarist Meghan Toohey and drummer Frank Lenz. Additional musicians on this album include string player Oliver Kraus, keyboardist John Deley, guitarist Steve Walsh, and horn player/keyboardist Brad Gordon.
The Weepies' fourth full-length album, Be My Thrill, was released in August 2010.
All That I Want
The Weepies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
The kids all holler carols 'cross the water
Stars that shine
All that I want, all that I want
Above the rooftops
I wait on clip-clops, deer might fly
Why not? I met you
All that I want, all that I want
And when the night is falling
Down the sky at midnight
Another year is stalling
Far away a good bye, good night
All that I want., all that I want, all that I want
So small a turning
The world grows older every day
An ache, a yearning
Soften when I hear you say
All that I want, all that I want
And when the cold wind's blowing
Snow drifts through the pine trees
In houses lights are glowing
Likewise in your eyes that find me here
With all that I want.
Out in the harbor
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
It's Christmastime
It's Christmastime.
The Weepies' song "All That I Want" is a contemplative and idyllic Christmas song, painting a picture of a magical winter harbor with ships coming in, children singing carols across the water, and stars shining. The singer expresses their desire for simple yet meaningful things in life, such as someone to share it with and the comfort of hearing them say, "All that I want, all that I want." The full moon dipping its golden spoon above the rooftops, the deer that might fly, and the softening of an ache and yearning when hearing those comforting words all convey a sense of wonder and hope.
The song captures the sentimentality of a place and time, as the singer reflects on the passage of time and growing older in a world that is always changing. Yet the promise of finding comfort and joy in the simple things, particularly in the company of someone else, remains a constant source of hope and solace.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in the harbor
The song begins by setting the scene out in the harbor.
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
During the holiday season, the ships arrive in the harbor.
The kids all holler carols 'cross the water
Children can be heard singing carols across the water.
Stars that shine
The sky is filled with stars shining bright.
All that I want, all that I want
The chorus repeats this line and signifies the artist's greatest desire.
Above the rooftops
The perspective shifts to above the rooftops.
The full moon dips its golden spoon
The moon is full and is slowly setting.
I wait on clip-clops, deer might fly
The artist is waiting for something that may never come, even as unlikely as deer flying.
Why not? I met you
The artist realizes that meeting someone they love seemed impossible as well, and it still happened.
And when the night is falling
The scene shifts again to the night sky.
Down the sky at midnight
The night sky darkens at midnight.
Another year is stalling
The end of another year is near.
Far away a good bye, good night
Someone must say goodbye and good night in the distance.
So small a turning
The world continues to spin, but it seems insignificant.
The world grows older every day
The singer acknowledges that time continues to move forward.
An ache, a yearning
The artist experiences a deep longing and pain.
Soften when I hear you say
The pain subsides when the artist hears the person they love speak.
And when the cold wind's blowing
The scene shifts again to a cold winter wind.
Snow drifts through the pine trees
The wind is blowing snow through pine trees.
In houses lights are glowing
Lights can be seen shining in the windows of houses.
Likewise in your eyes that find me here
The artist finds comfort in the eyes of the person they love.
With all that I want.
The chorus repeats, indicating that the artist's greatest desire is still this person.
It's Christmastime
The song ends with a reminder that it is indeed still the holiday season.
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rara Almira
"All That I Want"
Out in the harbor
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
The kids all holler carols 'cross the water
Stars that shine
All that I want, all that I want
Above the rooftops
The full moon dips its golden spoon
I wait on clip-clops, deer might fly
Why not? I met you
All that I want, all that I want
And when the night is falling
Down the sky at midnight
Another year is stalling
Far away a good bye, good night
All that I want., all that I want, all that I want
So small a turning
The world grows older every day
An ache, a yearning
Soften when I hear you say
All that I want, all that I want
And when the cold wind's blowing
Snow drifts through the pine trees
In houses lights are glowing
Likewise in your eyes that find me here
With all that I want.
Out in the harbor
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
It's Christmastime
It's Christmastime.
yui gong
Every Christmas season since 2008, I always come back here:) Thanks for this lovely and cozy song<3
yui gong
Christmas is coming close. Still love this song in the year 2016!
F F
' * '
yui gong
I forgot to leave a comment here in 2017, but didn’t forget to listen to the song. Merry Christmas
yui gong
It’s been a tough year for me. Good to be back here! Merry Christmas🎄 2019&2018
Breeee L
See you guys in December
Brian Middleton
The world grows older every day...and this song grows more perfect.
Bill Pollack
After playing every holiday song known on (thankfully) many gigs, in different keys in different time signatures, put to different beats, this song is the only one that still warms my heart. Thanks The Weepies.
Peg Aloi
This song makes me want to leap with joy and shudder with tears...and I always want to hear it at the winter holidays...
David Windhorst
As a friend described this song: "No, YOU'RE crying!"
Rara Almira
"All That I Want"
Out in the harbor
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
The kids all holler carols 'cross the water
Stars that shine
All that I want, all that I want
Above the rooftops
The full moon dips its golden spoon
I wait on clip-clops, deer might fly
Why not? I met you
All that I want, all that I want
And when the night is falling
Down the sky at midnight
Another year is stalling
Far away a good bye, good night
All that I want., all that I want, all that I want
So small a turning
The world grows older every day
An ache, a yearning
Soften when I hear you say
All that I want, all that I want
And when the cold wind's blowing
Snow drifts through the pine trees
In houses lights are glowing
Likewise in your eyes that find me here
With all that I want.
Out in the harbor
The ships come in, it's Christmastime
It's Christmastime
It's Christmastime.