What makes a song stick with you? Is it the melody, the lyrics, or the raw emotion it manages to capture? For me, LCD Soundsystem’s All I Want does all of the above—and then some. The fourth track off This Is Happening (2010), this song is a masterclass in musical contradiction: a driving, Bowie-esque sound that tricks you into expecting something triumphant, only to unravel into a gut-punch of longing, regret, and emotional desperation. It’s a song that lingers, not just because of its hypnotic guitar and pulsing rhythm, but because of the way James Murphy tells a story of love slipping through the cracks—one that feels both deeply personal and universally familiar.
James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem’s front man, has acknowledged that All I Want was heavily influenced by David Bowie’s “Heroes”. Like Bowie’s classic, All I Want captures a longing desire fueled by constant love that is just barely out of reach. Murphy yearnfully begins to sing exactly one minute into the song, and his lyrics immediately remove any feelings of hope, as he sings– “Wait, for the day/ You come home/ From the lonely park/ And look, for the girl/ Who has put/ Up with all of your shit/ You've never needed anyone for so long.” From the jump, Murphy’s lyrics juxtapose the upbeat backing track, and bring forward feelings of loneliness, regret, and a strong desire for connection. The first verse establishes both the narrative of the song and provides insight into the characters involved. We can gather that the protagonist has a strong connection with this girl, and that he relies on her heavily–hence him “never need[ing] anyone for so long.” Moreover, she has a strong connection and a lot of love for him because she “has put up with all of [his] shit.” I think the thing that draws me to this song so much is the complexity of it all. The contrast between the music and the lyrics, and the efficient yet beautiful storytelling, is so intriguing to me, and I think it is incredible that Murphy is able to say so much with so little.
The second verse is where the story starts to fall apart. Our protagonist learns that he has “been gone/ For too long/ To put, in the time/ But it's too late/ To make it strong.” Whether the protagonist being “gone for too long” represents a literal distance between him and his love, or if it is a figurative representation of the ways that time has changed them–exposing fractures in their relationship–it has ultimately resulted in an irreparable relationship. Which leads us to the chorus.
The chorus of the song repeats four times, split in two by an enthralling synth solo, and Murphy cries out, beggingly stating – “All I want is your pity/ All I want are your bitter tears.” This plea adds even more complexity to narrative the song, as the chorus is the first time that the use of a first-person point of view appears in the song. This sudden shift to first-person makes the pain even more immediate, as if Murphy can no longer keep his own feelings at arm’s length. The song starts as an observation but transforms into an anguished confession and it bridges the gap between the speaker and the rest of the narrative. What was once you, is now I. Additionally, crying out for pity and bitter tears highlights the pure desperation and desire for connection with his lover as he realizes that it is too late for him to hope for pleasant interactions–and he will settle for pity and negativity as long as it provides him with another interaction.
After the chorus, the finality of the relationship is expressed in the third verse: “Wake, with a start/ And the dog/ And the girl are gone/ So you pack, up your things/ And then head in/ To the lame unknown/ You never had needed anything for so long.” At this point, his world is upended. The girl and the dog are gone, and much like the beginning of the song, the sense of loneliness has once again crept back in–but his need for love and connection is still there, and as intense as ever.
The song closes out with an outro filled with empty promises as Murphy claims that– “From now on/ I'm someone different/ 'Cause it's no fun/ To be predictably lame” and he hopefully implores “From now on/ Let's do it different/ 'Cause I just want/ What I want”. Finally, the song ends with an emotional cry of “Take me home” which repeats four times, expressing the speakers desire to take everything back and go back to the ways that things were once before.
Maybe that’s why this song lingers with me—it’s not just the melody, the lyrics, or the emotion, but the way they intertwine in perfect contradiction. All I Want by LCD Soundsystem is, to me, a perfect song. Its intricate composition and the contrast between poetic yet raw lyrics compel the listener to truly feel and empathize with the emotions that Murphy lays bare. It’s both deeply personal and universally resonant, inviting listeners into Murphy’s world while simultaneously reflecting their own experiences.
That, to me, is the true magic of music. The best songs don’t just entertain; they connect us, allowing us to feel, remember, and empathize, and All I Want does just that.
Thanks for reading—I hope you give All I Want and LCD Soundsystem a listen. You just might find something in it that lingers with you, too.
— The Sonic Scribe
All I Want is more sonic scribe content
Your words inspired me to download the song and you nailed it Cam. Amazing interpretation.