All I Want

Album: Ixnay On The Hombre (1996)
Charted: 31
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Offspring guitarist Noodles explained this song's meaning in an interview with Lollipop Magazine: "Rather than getting all bummed out about how screwed up life is ... you can write a song about how people are always keeping you down and making you live by their rules, or you can say, 'Leave me the f--k alone' and go do your own thing."
  • This evolved from a song called "Protocol" that frontman Dexter Holland wrote as part of a Bad Religion songwriting contest held by Epitaph Records, The Offspring's label at the time. It was dismissed by Epitaph owner (and Bad Religion guitarist) Brett Gurewitz, so Holland reworked the song to suit his own band. By the time they released it, The Offspring had moved to a major label, Columbia Records.
  • This is featured in the video game Crazy Taxi and is also featured in the computer game Jugular Street Luge Racing.
  • The Offspring didn't make their singles available for sale in America at this time so fans would have to buy the albums, but "All I Want" was issued as the first promotional single from Ixnay On The Hombre, their fourth album. It was ineligible for the Hot 100 but peaked at #18 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #13 on the Alternative Songs chart. The album didn't sell nearly as well as its predecessor, Smash (the one with "Come Out And Play"), but their next album, Americana, delivered more hits, including "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get a Job?."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.