All I Want

Album: Blue (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Joni Mitchell was dating James Taylor during the making of Blue. This song contains specific references to her relationship with the singer-songwriter.

    I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
    Want to be the one that you want to see
    I want to knit you a sweater
    Want to write you a love letter


    Mitchell had shown Taylor her homemaker side by knitting him a sweater vest, which he wore with pride.
  • Mitchell (from a 1996 interview with the Los Angeles Times): "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?'"
  • Speaking to Uncut magazine in a 2018 interview, James Taylor denied the song was written about him. He said: "I don't think that song was written about me. Joni already had that song when we met. I did back her up on guitar when she recorded it. I thought it was a beautiful song... I wished it was about me!"

Comments: 1

  • Slug from CaliforniaUhhhm he really wanted this song to be about him..? Whoever this song was about clearly hurt her in a way that caused insecurities and jealousy so deep that it made her hate herself, hate him, and completely destroyed what was a perfect idealized relationship. She was basically saying "I want so bad to love you, be happy together and have a perfect relationship, and you make me happy until i think about myself. you hurt me, now its causing us to fight and I hurt you in return and we're both miserable, and now jealousy and the insecurities and overall misery you've created is ruining our relationship."

    seems like whoever this song is about cheated on her, or expressed feelings about other women and justified them by making her feel unworthy of being his sole receiver of affection, and caused her to feel like crap about herself and hate him for it, and now despite her immense undying love for him it cant work anymore because of what he did to her.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.