All I Want Is You

Album: Coming Around Again (1987)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Simon has found the man of her dreams and no one else interests her. We have it to thank for the phrase "sexy hurricane," which she uses to describe their passion.

    The song paints a pretty clear picture of what Simon wants in a man. He can't be the kind of guy who tiptoes up the stairs or says "good morning, dear." No, she's looking for a freight train to whistle over her track.

    At this point, Simon had been divorced from James Taylor - a sensitive but rugged Martha's Vineyard man - for several years. After the Coming Around Again album was released in 1987, she met an insurance broker named James Hart, whom she married later that year. They divorced in 2006.
  • "All I Want Is You" was the fourth single from Simon's 13th album, Coming Around Again, following the title track, "Give Me All Night," and "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of." It marked a resurgence for Simon, her first Platinum album since Boys In The Trees in 1978. Simon was on the leading edge of the singer-songwriter movement in the early '70s, but the '80s were a tough decade for this genre - you didn't see the likes of Simon, James Taylor and Carole King on MTV. Simon was also at a disadvantage because her debilitating stage fright kept her from touring. She promoted the album by recording an HBO special called Carly Simon – Coming Around Again.
  • Simon wrote the lyrics with Jacob Brackman, who is among the ranks of journalists who worked on popular songs (Patti Smith is another - she contributed to some Blue Öyster Cult songs when she was a music writer). Brackman also co-wrote Simon's "That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" and "Haven't Got Time For the Pain."

    The music was written by Andy Goldmark, who also played keyboards and programmed the drums on the track. He's the only guy we know of who's written chart hits for both Michael Bolton ("Soul Provider") and Alice Cooper ("Only My Heart Talkin'").
  • That's Roberta Flack on backing vocals. Like Simon, Flack was a star in the early '70s, landing a huge hit with "Killing Me Softly With His Song."

Comments: 3

  • Torque from StockholmI like Carly's sassy and charismatic lyrics. The last line of the song eludes my understanding tho. The one with "your Mack truck jumping...". Can anyone explain this line for me? Thanks in advance.
  • Robbie from Elizabethtown, KyI've always imagined this to be about an older couple who have been together for quite a while that bicker and argue but have developed a very strong bond and are still very passionate and romantic.
  • Martyn from Preston, Englandone of my favourite carly simon songs
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.