All I Really Want to Do

"All I Really Want to Do"
Song

"All I Really Want to Do"
Song
B-side	"I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better"

"All I Really Want to Do"
Song
B-side	"I'm Gonna Love You"

"All I Really Want to Do" is a song written by Bob Dylan.

Song information

"All I Really Want to Do" was first released on Dylan's 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. The studio version was also included on Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II in 1971, and live versions were released on Bob Dylan at Budokan in 1979 and on The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall in 2004.

Musically simple though playful, "All I Really Want to Do" is essentially a list of all the things Dylan does not want to do or be to the listener (perhaps a woman, but just as likely his audience as a whole). This song has also been interpreted as a parody of the way men were beginning to respond to the growing feminist movement, by assuming that platonic friendship is the only truly equal relationship.

History

One hit rendition of the song was by Cher. "All I Really Want to Do" was Cher's debut single, it went on to chart in several countries in 1965. She continued to perform the song in concerts, through her 2000s Living Proof: The Farewell Tour.

The version by The Byrds, also released in 1965 from the albun Mr. Tambourine Man, garnered popularity and became a hit as well, making Billboard's Top 40 (albeit at #40). Their version set one of Dylan's verses to an original, minor-key bridge.

Other covers

• Hugues Aufray: Hugues Aufray Chante Dylan (1965)
• Duane Eddy: Duane Does Dylan (1965)
• The McCoys: Hang on Sloopy (1965)
• Billy Strange: Folk Rock Hits (1965)
• The Surfaris: It Ain't Me Babe (1965)
• Baroque Inevitable: Baroque Inevitable (1966)
• Sebastian Cabot: Sebastian Cabot, Actor - Bob Dylan, Poet (1967); Golden Throats, Volume 2: More Celebity (1991)
• The Hollies: Hollies Sing Dylan (1969)
• Bold: Bold (1970)
• World Party: Private Revolution (1986)
• The Four Seasons: Four Seasons Sing Big Hits (1988)
• Flower Power: Flower Power (1990)
• The Hooters on The Hooters Live (1994)
• Julian Coryell: Duality (1997)
• Gerald Quintana and Jordi Batiste: Els Miralls de Dylan (1999)
• Barb Jungr: Every Grain of Sand (2002); Waterloo Sunset (2003); Love Me Tender (2005); Walking in the Sun (2006); Just Like A Woman - A Hymn to Nina (2008)
• Bryan Ferry: Dylanesque (2007)
• Tim Fagan: Moving Fast (2008)

Charts

Cher

Chart (1965)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	15
Canadian Singles Chart	26
Dutch Top 40 Singles Chart	15
Swedish Singles Chart	13
UK Singles Chart	9