All I Want

## Single by Kodaline

> When the crowd start singing it they sing it for their own reasons and they relate to the song because they've had some sort of experience. When I used to perform it the only thing I'd think about was that relationship and it was just draining. It was like, 'I'm going to stop thinking about that old relationship'. It's a different thing now.
>
> Steve Garrigan to *The Telegraph*

"**All I Want**" is a song by Kodaline, released as the fourth single and second track for their debut studio album, *In a Perfect World*, through B-Unique Records. It debuted at number 15 in the Irish Singles Chart. The song was inspired by Steve Garrigan's heartbreak, where he wrote it alone in the attic. Mark Prendergast shared in an interview, "It's a song about that lonely place after a break-up, feeling lost." The group performed it live on the 13th season of *American Idol* on March 6, 2014.

The song was featured in the film *The Fault in Our Stars*. A live version was released through their *Live & Ready* EP, available to download for free from Google Play on 30 October 2015.

Despite their success, they maintained that they don't only want to be labelled as a group who writes about relationships. Garrigan stated, "People say there are a lot of songs about break-ups, there actually isn't. There are probably only about three, with 'All I Want' being our biggest song and that is about a break-up."

## Music video

### Background

The accompanying music video for the song has two parts, both directed by Stevie Russell, which was nominated in the 2013 UK Music Video Awards for the Best Rock/Indie Video category. Regarding a part two, Russell recalled, "When they first approached me, the immediate reaction was to think 'bad idea'. Sequels have a history of failure! Although, the idea of losing Digby (he's my dog) was a story I really wanted to tell as it is a great fear of mine. It all fit, so myself and Mike (Donnelly, producer) jumped into it. Putting the mask on again was pretty horrible but I love the character so it was worth it in the end. I think the first one had a message and a bigger theme. With this, we just wanted to have a romp and have some fun, so it is a little less serious this time around."

American aggregator and blog *HuffPost* wrote, "We don't usually expect life lessons from music videos, but we certainly got one from newcomer Irish band Kodaline. [...] [it] sends out a message to anyone who has ever felt a little different."

### Synopsis

In Part 1, it introduces Oliver (Russell), who is facially disfigured, and works in a company. He is attracted to his co-worker Mandy (Amy De Bhrún), but she is cautious in developing any sort of relationship with him because of his appearance. Oliver is bullied by his co-workers, the three who later on harass Mandy. However, Oliver stands up for her, pushing them back, and Mandy warms up to him. At the end they exchange phone numbers, and Mandy kisses him on the cheek.

In Part 2, Oliver forgets to wear his tie while going to work. While getting his tie, his Shih Tzu Terrier, Digby, slips through the open door and gets lost. The dog wanders the streets and also passes by a street band (Kodaline) performing. Oliver discovers the loss of his dog when he returns home and immediately goes on a hunt to find Digby. Mandy helps him in printing posters that he distributes all over the locality. He eventually finds his dog in a farmland outside his city.

## Credits and personnel

### Song

* Stephen Harris – producer, engineer, mixing
* James Flannigan – writer
* Mark Prendergast – writer, background vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards
* Steve Garrigan – lead vocals, writer, background vocals, piano
* Vincent "Vinny" May – writer, drums
* Robbie Harris – bodhran
* Philip Magee – engineer
* Simon Francis – mastering

### Video

#### Crew

* Stevie Russell – director (Part 1 and 2)
* Tidal – producer (Part 1)
* Tony Kearns – editor (Part 1)
* Vincent Gallagher – gaffer (Part 1)
* Adam Ozmin – grip (Part 1)
* Cris Ayoub – focus puller (Part 1)
* Jill Beecher – production designer (Part 1 and 2)
* Pauline Rowan – clapper loader (Part 1)

* Michael Donnelly – producer (Part 2)
* Craig Kenny – 1st AD (Part 2)
* Ruairi O'Brien – director of photography (Part 2)
* John O'connor – editor (Part 2)
* Jason Foran – gaffer (Part 2)
* Tommy Fitzgerald – focus puller (Part 2)
* Sarajane Ffrench O'Carroll – wardrobe(Part 2)
* Nadia Macari, Noel Sutton – makeup (Part 2)
* Matt Branton – colourist (Part 2)
* Mark Lewis, Anna Derbyshire – commissioner (Part 2)
* Andrew Wilkinson – production assistant (Part 2)
* Peter Delaney – downloader(Part 2)
* Lyn Allen – dog wrangler (Part 2)
* Claire McKeever – cat wrangler (Part 2)
* John Kennedy – flame artist (Part 2)
* Locky Butler – sound FX mixing (Part 2)
* Lane Post Production – post-production (Part 2)
* Jennifer Connolly – post-production coordinator (Part 2)
* Joey Peakin, Kevin Magee – trainees (Part 2)
* OB Management – director's representation (Part 1 and 2)

#### Cast

* Stevie Russell as Oliver
* Amy De Bhrún as Mandy
* James Cosgrave, Tristan McConnell and Ciaran O'Grady as The Co-Workers

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

All I want is nothing more

To hear you knocking at my door

'Cause if I could see your face once more

I could die a happy man, I'm sure

When you said your last goodbye

I died a little bit inside

I lay in tears in bed all night

Alone without you by my side

[Chorus]

But if you loved me, why'd you leave me?

Take my body, take my body

All I want is, and all I need is

To find somebody, I'll find somebody

Like you, oh, oh, oh

Like you, like you

[Verse 2]

So you brought out the best in me

A part of me I'd never seen

You took my soul and wiped it clean

Our love was made for movie screens

[Chorus]

But if you loved me, why'd you leave me?

Take my body, take my body

All I want is, and all I need is

To find somebody, I'll find somebody

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

[Chorus]

If you loved me, why'd you leave me?

Take my body, take my body

All I want is, and all I need is

To find somebody, I'll find somebody

Like you

## References

1. ↑ Vincent, Alice (7 September 2017). "Kodaline on the making of All I Want: 'It definitely felt special when we wrote it'". *The Telegraph*
2. ↑ "Gimme Your Answers: An Interview w/ Kodaline". 6 November 2012.
3. ↑ "Kodaline (@Kodaline)". *Twitter*. 29 October 2015.
4. ↑ Fox, Kenneth (17 October 2019). "Kodaline - Interview". *GoldenPlec*.
5. ↑ Knight, David (8 October 2013). "Kodaline 'All I Want (Part 2)' by Stevie Russell". *Promonews*.
6. ↑ "Irish Band Kodaline's Music Video 'All I Want' Is A Beautiful Reminder That It's Okay To Be Different (VIDEO)". *HuffPost*. 9 October 2013.