Song Lyrics

All I Want

by Joni Mitchell

Printer-friendly version of this lyric

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Traveling, traveling, traveling
Looking for something, what can it be
Oh I hate you some, I hate you some, I love you some
Oh I love you when I forget about me

I want to be strong I want to laugh along
I want to belong to the living
Alive, alive, I want to get up and jive
I want to wreck my stockings in some juke box dive
Do you want - do you want - do you want to dance with me baby
Do you want to take a chance
On maybe finding some sweet romance with me baby
Well, come on

All I really really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you too
All I really really want our love to do
Is to bring out the best in me and in you
I want to talk to you, I want to shampoo you
I want to renew you again and again
Applause, applause - Life is our cause
When I think of your kisses my mind see-saws
Do you see - do you see - do you see how you hurt me baby
So I hurt you too
Then we both get so blue

I am on a lonely road and I am traveling
Looking for the key to set me free
Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling
It's the unraveling
And it undoes all the joy that could be
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
I want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
Want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free
I want to make you feel free

© June 28, 1971; Joni Mitchell Pub Corp

Footnotes

As archived in Mojo Magazine's March 2019 issue: “I like the song. It’s got more tooth than most of the other [early] songs. But I don’t know what to say about it. It’s funny how people keep looking between the lines of songs to see what is hidden there. Well, I’m not an evasive writer. You don’t have to dig under the words for the meaning. The meaning is all there. It’s very plain-speak. When someone asks what a song like Sex Kills is about, I want to say, ‘Well, did you listen to the words?’”

Transcriptions of All I Want

All I Want has been recorded by 172 other artists

  • 2nd Grade (from "Trans Musicians & Allies For Change" - 2021)
  • A Celebration of Joni Mitchell (from "Live at The Lobero" - )
  • Agata Pisko & Werner Radzik (from "Polish Touch" - 2015)
  • AKODA (from "December 2021: Joni Mitchell" - 2021)
  • Alanna & Alicia Egan (from "Festival Folk Sing Joni Mitchell" - 2010)
  • Aleksandra Popovska & Zoli Soos (from "Dandelions (Tribute to Joni Mitchell)" - 2024)
  • Alexis, Xanthe  (from "Joni Mitchell Cover Comp" - 2020)
  • Allyson, Karrin (from "Wild For You" - 2004)
  • Anna, Vashti (- 2019)
  • Anne, Emely  (from "Covers" - 2006)
  • Arc Iris (from "Foggy Lullaby" - 2018)
  • Ashton, Taylor (from "Pizza Tickets" - 2023)
  • Awad, Mira (from "All My Faces" - 2011)
  • Babylon Quartet (- 2019)
  • Bennett Black Swans (from "Show Us The Way" - 1972)
  • Big Yellow Taxi (from "Unknown And Famous Songs Of Joni Mitchell" - 2006)
  • Bilušić, Jasna  (from "Ring 18th Anniversary / Willkommen" - 2007)
  • Black Crow (- 2019)
  • Blechinger, Kate  (from "Under A Dancing Sky" - 2018)
  • Bonney, Mary Faith  (from "songs by heart covers" - 2024)
  • Brannan, Jay (from "In Living Cover" - 2009)
  • Brook, Holly (from "Connect Sets" - 2006)
  • Budgetless Covers (- 2017)
  • Butterfield, Judy (from "How Long Has This Been Going On?" - 2008)
  • Canoura, Laura (from "Puedes Oirme" - 1991)
  • Century Musical Industries (from "Digital Single" - 2020)
  • Chappell Kingsland (from "this 'n' that" - )
  • Clark, Merideth Kaye (from "Blue" - 2016)
  • Cleverley, Chris (- 2016)
  • Cold War Kids (from "The Interface Performance" - )
  • Colman, Sara (from "What We're Made Of" - 2018)
  • Complexblue (from "Knot The Thought That Counts" - 2000)
  • Corrigan, Tricia (from "A Different Kind Of Beautiful" - 2004)
  • Curry, Tim (from "Read My Lips" - 1978)
  • Cybèle Castoriadis, Orestis Kalampalikis (from "Songs For A Blue Cloud" - 2017)
  • Dame, Elaine (from "You're My Thrill" - 2014)
  • DeCaro,Nick  (from "Italian Graffiti" - 1974)
  • Dworsky, Sally (from "Start It All Over Again" - 2006)
  • D’Agostino & Oxley  (from "Double Singular " - 2006)
  • Elly May Quintet (from "Laughing at life " - 2007)
  • Emborg/Larsen Quintet (from "Heart of the Matter " - 1990)
  • Emma Frank Quartet (from "For Being Apart" - 2014)
  • Epp, Amber (from "Inside Outside" - 2013)
  • Erika Lloyd & Cameron Mizell (from "Pour a Little Everything Else" - 2009)
  • Eugene Van Beethoven (from "Sin Funny" - 1989)
  • Faulkner, Lisa (- 2001)
  • Finegold, Amanda & Chad Preston (from "The White Coat Album" - 2000)
  • Finnegan, Honor  (from "Joni Mitchell's Blue: a 40th Anniversary Celebration" - 2012)
  • Ford, Dorian (from "Songs" - 2002)
  • Ford, Dorian (from "Songs Trio Live" - )
  • Fox, Lauren (from "Love, Lust, Fear & Freedom: The Songs of Joni Mitchell & Leonard Cohen" - 2013)
  • Frankhouse (from "Thought versus emotion" - 2009)
  • Fridhems Folkhögskolas Musiklinje 08-09 (from "Fridhems Folkhögskolas" - 2008)
  • Generations (from "Millenial Child/Waiting For You" - 2002)
  • Gibbons, Polly (from "My Own Company" - 2014)
  • Giulia Firpo 4tet (- 2011)
  • Giulia Galliani MAG Collective (from "Song For Joni" - 2018)
  • Glassman, Rita  (from "All The Way Home" - 2017)
  • Goldings, Larry (from "In My Room" - 2011)
  • Grey, Skylar (- 2013)
  • Håkansson, Liliane  (from "Desillusioner" - 1992)
  • Hancock, Herbie (from "River - The Joni Letters" - 2007)
  • Hanvey, Sal  (from "Nostalgia Queen" - 2014)
  • Hartfield, Irene  (from "Play Me" - 2016)
  • Hawley, Sarah Jay  (- 2017)
  • Heffernan, Honor (from "The Other Side" - 2006)
  • Henderson, Jane (from "It Might Be Spring" - 1994)
  • Hersch, Fred (from "Songs From Home" - 2020)
  • Howard & The Urban Foxes (- )
  • Identical Cousins (- 2020)
  • Inis Fail (from "Rebound" - 2006)
  • Iris Koch - Werner Tharandt (from "Lieder von Joni Mitchell, Cheryl Wheeler, Iris Koch u.a." - 1980)
  • Isaacs, Haim (from "Joni Mitchell in Jerusalem" - 2024)
  • Jais, Laura (from "Despertar" - )
  • Jakubowicz, Martyna (from "Burzliwy błękit Joanny" - 2013)
  • Jameison, Reid  (- 2018)
  • James, Morgan (from "Blue" - 2016)
  • Jang, Jon (from "Self-Portrait" - 1999)
  • Jarrett, Keith  (from "The Mourning Of A Star" - 1971)
  • Karin Krog, Staffan William-Olsson, Terje Gewelt (from "Live" - 2024)
  • Kaye, Charlene (- )
  • Killbossa  (from "UnderCover, Faultline Studios and Kalx Present: Joni Mitchell's Blue" - 2012)
  • Kovács Linda Quartet  (from "Teach Me Silence" - 2009)
  • Kovacs, Kamilla  (- 2009)
  • Krog, Karin (from "We Could Be Flying" - 1974)
  • Kuhn, Judy (- 2007)
  • Lagan, Mandy (from "The Joni Book" - 2018)
  • Latterell, Matt (from "Companion: Phase & Field Demos​/​Extras (2012 - 2015) " - 2016)
  • Leora Cashe & The Ross Taggart Trio  (from "Another Side Now - The Songs of Joni Mitchell" - 2007)
  • Lifted Bells (from "Don't stop now: a collection of covers" - 2017)
  • London, Amy (from "Let's Fly" - 2011)
  • Loren, Halie (from "Dreams Lost And Found" - 2024)
  • Lua Hadar with Twist (from "Lua Hadar with Twist" - 2008)
  • Lucia, Elaine (from "Elaine Lucia Sings Jazz & Other Things" - 2001)
  • Lydia Van Dam Group (from "Both Sides Now" - 1999)
  • Maggie Hollinbeck & Graham Sobelman (from "Another Shade Of Blue" - 2014)
  • Marchesini, Paula (- 2007)
  • Marcovicci, Andrea  (from "Here, There & Everywhere" - 2000)
  • Maria Pia De Vito, Danilo Rea,Enzo Pietropaoli, Aldo Romano (from "So Right" - 2005)
  • Martel, Kristi (from "unreleased live recording" - 2001)
  • Martone, Fabiana (from "Flowers" - 2009)
  • Max Zentawer & réka (from "Longing" - 2018)
  • Mbombastic (from "December 2021: Joni Mitchell" - 2022)
  • McCarron Brothers (from "Way Down in Brooklyn" - 2009)
  • Mendis, Melody (from "Wanderlust" - 2010)
  • Merchant, Natalie (from "Wonder (CD-Single)" - 1996)
  • Mirja Mäkelä Trio (from "My Hidden Joys" - 2015)
  • Molaskey, Jessica (from "Portraits of Joni" - 2017)
  • Monti, Roberto (- )
  • Mortensen, Malene  (from "Date With a Dream" - 2005)
  • Mortensen, Malene  (from "Chante Noël/Live in Paris " - 2008)
  • Naissoo , Tõnu  (from "Alone" - 2009)
  • Napkin Trio (from "Napkin Trio Plays Joni" - 2017)
  • New West Guitar Group (from "Big City" - 2013)
  • Niemack, Judy (from "Heart's Desire" - 1992)
  • Noonan, Katie (from "Joni Mitchell's Blue" - 2023)
  • Nothing But Treble (from "Trebutantes" - 1995)
  • Oliver, Delfina (from "Camino" - 2010)
  • Paolo Fresu & Uri Caine (from "Two Minuettos" - 2016)
  • Paul Anquez & Isabel Sörling (from "Rivers" - 2015)
  • Pequeno, Diana (from "Mistérios" - 1989)
  • Peters, Kate (from "Sojourn Ver. 3.1" - 2000)
  • Pettersson, Linda (from "Who Are You" - 2004)
  • Porteus, Barbara (from "Barbara Porteus" - 2009)
  • Puglia, Lara (from "Heart and Mind: Tribute to Joni Mitchell " - 2014)
  • Rachel Z Trio (from "Moon At The Window" - 2002)
  • Raknes, Steiner (from "Tangos, Ballads & More" - 2008)
  • Raya, Susana  (from "Wind Rose" - 2016)
  • Red, Connie (from "Reflections" - 2010)
  • Reeves, Jessie  (from "Cover Versions Album" - 2014)
  • Robin Adler & Mutts of the Planet (from "Joni Mitchell's Blue & Court And Spark - Live At Dizzy's" - 2011)
  • Ros, Laura (from "Descubriendo A Joni Mitchell" - 2022)
  • Ruiz, Ela (from " Ábreme La Puerta" - 2004)
  • Saggioro, Manu  (- 2012)
  • Sally, Ann (from "Voyage" - 2001)
  • Sandbloom, Kevin (from "Sandbloom Still Blue" - 2011)
  • Sax, Johnny (from "International Hits - Collection Nr. 1" - 1972)
  • Scott, Berenice  (from "A Joni Kind Of Mood" - 2023)
  • Scott, Dorothy (from "Pass It On" - 2007)
  • Scott, Elaine (- 2011)
  • Scott, Sherie Rene  (from "All Will Be Well" - 2014)
  • Skinner, Lynn (from "Lynnie Sings Joni: Snapshots from the Stage" - 2012)
  • Slean, Sarah (- 2007)
  • Stevens, Suzanne (from "Crystal Carriage" - 1977)
  • Stubbert, Sandy (from "Driftwood" - 2020)
  • Sunaga t experience and J.Lamotta Suzume (from "(45 single version)" - 2021)
  • Super Optimistic (- 2014)
  • Sutton, Tierney  (from "After Blue" - 2013)
  • Suzanne (from "Friends With You" - 1973)
  • Tenderly Jazz Piano (- )
  • The Big Jump Band (- 1973)
  • The Bryan Thomas Band (from "PazFest - The New Orleans Tribute to Joni Mitchell at the Howlin' Wolf" - 2002)
  • The Chorallaries (from "Pokerface" - 2001)
  • The Homemade Orchestra (from "Inside Covers" - 2004)
  • The Joint Chiefs (from "It Matches Your Juice" - 2001)
  • The Joni Mitchell Project (from "Shades of Blue" - 2023)
  • The Masters School Jazz Band (from "Joni Mitchell Blue" - 2020)
  • The Practicers (from "Smooth & Raw" - 2000)
  • The Skot Veroczi Quartet (from "Out Of The Blue" - 2001)
  • The Supremes (from "The Supremes" - 1972)
  • Thomson, Dawn (from "Imagine That" - 2000)
  • Tincher, Jeff (from "All I Want" - 2015)
  • Traut/Rodby (from "The Great Lawn" - 1989)
  • Trio Bert Lochs & Lydia van Dam  (from "Live" - 2010)
  • Upper Left Trio (from "Sell Your Soul Side" - 2006)
  • van Wely, Rob (from "ELSA" - 2008)
  • Volker Niehusmann & Christiane Weber (from "Another Blue" - 1997)
  • Wainwright, Rufus (from "Northern Stars" - 2018)
  • Wainwright, Rufus (from "Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration" - 2019)
  • Wallfisch, Joanna (from "Gardens In My Mind" - 2016)
  • Wheeler, Debi (from "Dreamscape " - 2012)
  • Wolf, Patrick (- 2009)
  • [more information on recordings by other artists]

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