All I Want

"All I Want" is a raw and intimate exploration of heartbreak, denial, and the bargaining stage of grief. At its core, the song addresses the devastation of a relationship ending abruptly and the lingering inability to let go.

The central theme revolves around the paradox of moving on. While the narrator admits the need to "find somebody," the caveat "like you" reveals that they are not actually seeking a new connection, but rather a replication of what was lost. The lyrics oscillate between deep depression—symbolized by lying in bed in tears—and a frantic, almost sacrificial willingness to give up one's own autonomy ("Take my body") just to bridge the gap left by the partner.

The song also touches on identity within a relationship. The line "You brought out the best of me, a part of me I'd never seen" suggests that the narrator's self-worth was intrinsically tied to the partner. The breakup, therefore, is not just the loss of a person, but the loss of the narrator's "best" self. The reference to their love being made for "movie screens" highlights the disillusionment that occurs when a seemingly perfect, storybook romance crashes into the harsh reality of rejection.

The narrative begins in a state of profound vulnerability and isolation. The protagonist expresses a singular, consuming desire: for the return of a former lover. This wish is simple yet impossible—just to hear the sound of them arriving at the door. There is a sense that seeing their face one last time would bring a sense of closure or peace so complete that life itself would feel fulfilled. The recounting of their final separation is visceral; the moment the partner said goodbye, the protagonist felt a spiritual death, a hollowing out of their inner self.

As the story unfolds, we see the physical toll of this heartbreak. Sleepless nights are spent in tears, emphasizing the stark reality of the empty space beside them in bed. A desperate, rhetorical questioning arises: if the love was genuine, why did the abandonment happen? This confusion spirals into a plea of total surrender. The protagonist offers up their physical form—'take my body'—suggesting that without the emotional connection, their physical vessel is meaningless or perhaps all they have left to give.

The narrative then reflects on the transformative power of the relationship. The lost partner is credited with unearthing the best version of the protagonist, revealing depths they hadn't known existed. Their romance is compared to something cinematic, perfect and larger than life, which makes the current reality of loss even harder to reconcile. Ultimately, the story resolves into a cyclical confession of need: the acknowledgment that moving on means finding someone else, yet the terrifying admission that they are looking for someone exactly 'like you,' trapping them in the shadow of the past.

"All I Want" was born from a deeply personal experience of lead singer Steve Garrigan. The song was written in 2012 in Garrigan's attic at his parents' house in Swords, Dublin. He was going through a painful breakup; his girlfriend had gone on holiday and returned with a new boyfriend, leaving Garrigan devastated. He has described the writing process as a form of therapy, stating that he wrote the song essentially as a letter to her.

Garrigan's bandmates—Mark Prendergast, Vinny May, and Jason Boland—were close to the situation and witnessed his struggle, which allowed them to channel that shared empathy into the musical arrangement. The song was first released on The Kodaline EP in September 2012 and later became a centerpiece of their debut album, In a Perfect World (2013).

The song's legacy was significantly cemented by its music video, directed by Stevie Russell. The video features a character named Oliver (played by the director), who has a facial deformity and is seeking love and acceptance. The touching narrative of the "monster" and his dog adds a layer of meaning about inner beauty that resonated globally, contrasting with the specific romantic heartbreak of the lyrics.

The lyrics employ several poignant metaphors to convey the weight of loss:

• "Knocking at my door": While literal, this acts as a powerful symbol for opportunity and reconciliation. It represents the barrier between the narrator's isolated world of grief and the external hope of the partner's return.
• "Take my body": This phrase can be interpreted as a metaphor for hollowness and surrender. It suggests that since the partner took the "soul" (the emotional core), the physical body is left as an empty shell, available for the taking. It implies a total loss of agency.
• "Movie screens": A metaphor for idealism. By comparing their love to a film, the narrator highlights its surreal perfection, acknowledging that it felt scripted or too good to be true, which perhaps foreshadowed its end in the "real world."
• "Died a little bit inside": A common metaphor for emotional numbness, equating the pain of heartbreak with a partial cessation of life itself.

The song's atmosphere is initially fragile, intimate, and melancholic. The opening whispers convey a sense of privacy, as if the listener is eavesdropping on someone crying in their room. However, the emotional landscape shifts drastically towards desperation and catharsis. As the instrumentation thickens with percussion and strings, the sadness transforms into a powerful, almost angry plea. It captures the chaotic mix of emotions after a breakup: the quiet depression of the night and the loud, screaming frustration of the day.

"All I Want" has achieved a massive cultural footprint, arguably becoming more famous than the band itself. It gained widespread popularity through its inclusion in high-profile media:

• The Fault in Our Stars (2014): Its inclusion in this blockbuster teen romance film cemented it as an anthem for tragic, young love.
• Grey's Anatomy: Featured in Season 9, Episode 2 ("Remember the Time"), exposing it to a massive US audience.
• The Vampire Diaries: Used in Season 5, Episode 10, associating it with supernatural romance and longing.

Despite being a breakup song, it has ironically become a popular wedding song, likely due to the line "I could die a happy man I'm sure." The song has joined Spotify's Billions Club, a testament to its enduring relatability. The music video is also a viral phenomenon, often shared independently of the band as a short film about kindness and judging by appearances.

Rhyme Scheme: The song uses a mix of perfect and slant rhymes. The chorus features a strong monorhyme pattern (AAAA) with the words "more," "door," "more," and "sure," creating a repetitive, hypnotic effect that emphasizes the narrator's fixation. The verses utilize couplets with slant rhymes, such as "goodbye" and "inside," or "night" and "side," contributing to a softer, less rigid feel.

Rhythm and Meter: The song is notable for its rhythmic feel, often debated as being in 6/8 or a complex 9/8 + 12/8 compound meter in the verses. This gives the track a distinct waltz-like sway (ONE-two-three, TWO-two-three), creating a sensation of rocking back and forth, self-soothing in the midst of grief. The tempo is slow and deliberate, allowing the listener to digest every word, before the rhythm section drives the energy up in the final third.

Musical Techniques: The song is a masterclass in dynamic build-up. It begins as a stripped-back, acoustic folk ballad, focusing entirely on Garrigan's vulnerable falsetto and simple guitar strumming. As the emotion intensifies, the arrangement swells into an anthemic alternative rock climax, utilizing thundering drums, layered backing vocals, and sweeping strings. This crescendo mirrors the transition from lonely introspection to an outpouring of overwhelming grief.

Literary Techniques: The lyrics utilize rhetorical questions ("But if you loved me, why'd you leave me?") to express confusion and the lack of closure. The repetition of "Ooh" and vocal vocalizations acts as a non-verbal expression of pain that transcends language. The narrative voice is strictly first-person, maintaining a confessional and intimate tone throughout.

What is the meaning behind the 'All I Want' music video?

The music video features a character named Oliver who has a facial deformity. It tells a touching story of him being bullied at work, falling in love with a colleague, and his search for his lost dog. The video explores themes of inner beauty, judgment, and kindness, contrasting the song's romantic heartbreak with a story about self-acceptance.

Who did Steve Garrigan write 'All I Want' about?

Steve Garrigan wrote the song about his ex-girlfriend. She had gone away on a holiday and returned with a new boyfriend, leaving Steve heartbroken. He wrote the song in his attic as a way to process the shock and grief of the sudden breakup.

What movie is Kodaline's 'All I Want' in?

The song is most famously featured in the soundtrack for the 2014 film 'The Fault in Our Stars'. It has also appeared in the film 'Grimsby' and in TV shows like 'Grey's Anatomy', 'The Vampire Diaries', and 'The Royals'.

What is the time signature of 'All I Want' by Kodaline?

The song has a compound meter feel, often interpreted as 6/8 or varying between bars of 9/8 and 12/8. This gives the song its distinctive waltz-like, swaying rhythm that distinguishes it from standard 4/4 pop ballads.

What does the line 'Take my body' mean?

This line expresses deep desperation and emptiness. It suggests that without the emotional connection ('You took my soul'), the narrator feels their physical body is meaningless. It represents a willingness to surrender everything or a feeling that they are just a shell left behind.