THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

84-U2-All I Want Is You.

1989-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 4.08. The songs video tells the tale of a dwarf who falls in love with a trapeze artist while working in a circus, and one of them dies towards the end of the story. There is a disagreement amongst fans as to who actually died, as it leaves the viewer in doubt, although ‘The Edge’ has been quoted as saying it is the trapeze artist who dies.’ Another longstanding mystery was who actually played the part of the dwarf, many think it is the future ‘Game of Thrones’ star Peter Dinklage in an early role, but it isn’t, it was actually an actor of around the same age, named Paolo Risi.

U2 (see also best songs 766-320 and 190) were formed in ‘Mount Temple Comprehensive School,’ in Dublin, Ireland, in 1976, they were originally known as ‘Feedback,’ (1976-1977) then ‘The Hype,’ (1977-1978) before settling on ‘U2.’ Dik Evans who is the older brother of Dave Evans, (The Edge) and Ivan McCormick (a mutual friend) soon left, leaving the classic line up of Bono, (Paul Hewson) (vocals) The Edge, (guitar) Adam Clayton, (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums.) The discography of U2 includes 14 studio Albums released between 1980-2017, and 83 singles issued between 1980-2021. In their native Ireland 50 of their singles have reached the top 40, with a staggering 21 of those making the Number 1 spot. In the UK, they have achieved 43 top 40 singles, with seven of those reaching Number 1, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have had 17 top 40 hits, of which two have made the top spot. U2 are one of the worlds best ever selling groups, with record sales in excess of 175 million.

‘All I Want Is You’ was the fourth and final single released from U2’s sixth studio Album ‘Rattle and Hum’ from 1987. The lyrics are written by Bono, and all four band members are given the credit for composing the music. The song and it’s parent Album was produced by Jimmy Lovine, with the string arrangements on ‘All I Want Is You,’ being the work of the American composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer Van Dyke Parks, who since the 1960’s has worked alongside artists of the calibre of The Beach Boys, Harry Nilsson, and Ringo Starr.

‘All I Want Is You’ was written by Bono about his wife Alison Hewson, who was born Alison Stewart on March 23rd, 1961, the pair first met at ‘Mount Temple Comprehensive School’ at the age of 12, and they married in 1982, and have four children. Often when performing the song live, Bono will dedicate it to his wife. It is said that Alison who is an Irish activist was also a major influence on other U2 songs such as ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday,’ and ‘New Years Day,’ the U2 song ‘Sweetest Thing’ was also written about her. In ‘All I Want Is You,’ the narrator is saying that material things are not important, it is love that really matters.

‘You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold. You say you want your story to remain untold, but all the promises we make from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you.’