Allison Moorer (born June 21, 1972 in Monroeville, Alabama) is an American … Read Full Bio ↴Allison Moorer (born June 21, 1972 in Monroeville, Alabama) is an American alternative country singer, songwriter and musician. She is also the younger sister of Shelby Lynne. She has released 7 studio albums and 1 live album on 5 different record labels, beginning in 1998 with "Alabama Song" through to her most recent "Crows" in 2010.

Raised on George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris, she sang harmonies as a toddler, eventually thinking she'd make a career of it. Following the murder-suicide of her parents (perpetrated by her father) in 1986, she moved into her aunt and uncle's home.

Not long afterwards, sister Shelby Lynne moved to Nashville for a career in music, and after her high school graduation, Moorer followed. She sang harmonies with her sister for a while but returned to Alabama to earn a degree in public relations. She skipped the graduation ceremony to move back to Nashville.

Her song "A Soft Place to Fall" was tapped for Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer in 1998, and she also appeared in the movie. Because the ballad earned her an Academy Award nomination, she performed it on the 1999 Oscars ceremony. However, none of her singles from her debut "Alabama Song" or its follow-up "The Hardest Part" received much radio airplay, nor achieving chart success though both projects were highly praised by critics.

When Brown moved from MCA to sister label Universal South, Moorer followed. Her 2002 album "Miss Fortune" earned more raves, but didn't meet sales expectations. She almost got another big break by recording the duet "Picture" with Kid Rock after Sheryl Crow had bowed out. However, Crow changed her mind, and the Rock/Crow-version became a huge radio hit. Yet, the song was credited on the charts to both Crow and Moorer. In addition, the CD single featuring Moorer sold 500,000 copies and is certified Gold by the RIAA. Her ballad "Tumbling Down" (from Miss Fortune) was featured on the soundtrack of the popular 2002 film The Rookie.

Her live album album "Show"(2003) was recorded in one night (two performances) at the 12th and Porter in Nashville and despite popular belief, it features the first recorded collaboration by both Moorer sisters.

After releasing Show and a DVD on Universal South, Moorer moved to independent label Sugar Hill Records. With a slightly rougher edge than past efforts, The Duel was released in April 2004.

After a divorce between Moorer and Primm, she eventually married Steve Earle, after serving as his opening act on a European tour. Earle produced her 2006 album, "Getting Somewhere". Moorer wrote all the songs, with the exception of one co-written with Earle. She and Earle were nominated for a Grammy award in the category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, for the song "Days Aren't Long Enough" from Earle's "Washington Square Serenade".

Moorer released the Buddy Miller-produced "Mockingbird" in February 2008; an album mainly of covers of songs by female singer/songwriters including her sister, Shelby Lynne.

Her latest studio album "Crows" (2010), features her first departure from the Contemporary Country style of her earlier albums, instead changing to a Pop and Contemporary Singer/Songwriter style.

http://allisonmoorer.com

Wish I
Allison Moorer Lyrics

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Wish I was really going
Wish I was a blacktop road
Wish I was a steamwheel
Wish I was a radio
Wish I was in your pocket
Wish I was on your mind
Wish I was a boot you're wearing
Wish I was your valentine

But I guess I ain't your Cinderella
And if you don't want me then I don't want you back
Can't stop the rain better hold an umbrella
I don't know much but I knew that

Wish I was your whiskey baby
Wish I was on your breath
Wish you would hold me like you hold your cigarette
Wish I had a song for you to make you love me
Wish I could sing for you
Wish I could make us right

But I guess I ain't your Cinderella
And if you don't want me then I don't want you back
Can't stop the rain better hold an umbrella
I don't know much but I knew that

Wish I was your California
Wish I was a shooting star

Wish I was your one and only
Wish I could break your heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wish I" by Allison Moorer express an intense longing for someone who is not reciprocating the same love and affection. Moorer takes the listener on a journey of various scenarios where she wishes to be an object or a feeling that is close to the person she desires. She mentions wishing to be a blacktop road, a steamwheel, a radio, in the pocket or on the mind of the person she yearns for, and even a boot or a valentine. Through these aspects, Moorer depicts her desire to be close and connected with the person, even if it's not in a physical or romantic manner.

However, in the chorus, Moorer accepts the fact that the feeling is not mutual as she states, "But I guess I ain't your Cinderella, and if you don't want me then I don't want you back, Can't stop the rain better hold an umbrella, I don't know much but I knew that." She acknowledges that the person is not her fairytale ending, and if they don't want her, then she doesn't harbor the same feelings for them. She also advises the person to prepare for the worst, which is the rain, as they might need an umbrella.

In the second verse, Moorer continues to illustrate her deep longing, as she wishes to be like whiskey on the person's breath, held like a cigarette, and to have a song that would make them love her. At this point, it's clear that the person is not returning the same love, and Moorer is left to wishful thinking. She expresses how music and singing could bring them together, but deep down, she knows it's impossible.

In the last part of the song, Moorer mentions wishing to be the person's California, a shooting star, their one and only, and also wishing to break their heart. These scenarios express how much she desires to be close to them, and even if it means hurting them, the feeling of being close to them is enough.

Overall, the lyrics of "Wish I" are a beautiful and emotional portrayal of unrequited love. Through the different scenarios, Moorer expresses the various aspects of being in love with someone who doesn't reciprocate the same feelings. The chorus serves as a reality check, and even though it's painful, Moorer accepts the fact that the person is not meant for her.

Line by Line Meaning

Wish I was really going
I wish that I was moving forward and being productive in my life.

Wish I was a blacktop road
I wish that I was a smooth path for you to walk on.

Wish I was a steamwheel
I wish that I was powerful and able to drive you forward.

Wish I was a radio
I wish that I was a way for you to hear the things you want to hear.

Wish I was in your pocket
I wish that I was always with you and in your thoughts.

Wish I was on your mind
I wish that I was constantly occupying your thoughts.

Wish I was a boot you're wearing
I wish that I was always in contact with you, even if just through your footwear.

Wish I was your valentine
I wish that I was the one you loved and cherished on Valentine's Day and every day.

But I guess I ain't your Cinderella
I realize that I may not be the one you see as your perfect match.

And if you don't want me then I don't want you back
If you are not interested in me, then I do not want to be with you either.

Can't stop the rain better hold an umbrella
Life is unpredictable, so it's important to be prepared for whatever may come your way.

I don't know much but I knew that
I may not be knowledgeable about everything, but I am aware of this truth.

Wish I was your whiskey baby
I wish that I was something you craved and desired.

Wish I was on your breath
I wish that I was with you all the time, and a part of every breath you take.

Wish you would hold me like you hold your cigarette
I wish that you could hold me with the same level of intensity and frequency as you do your cigarette.

Wish I had a song for you to make you love me
I wish that I had a way to make you fall in love with me through music.

Wish I could sing for you
I wish that I had the ability to serenade you with beautiful songs.

Wish I could make us right
I wish that I had the power to fix our relationship and make it work.

Wish I was your California
I wish that I was a place of beauty and warmth that you longed to visit.

Wish I was a shooting star
I wish that I had the ability to light up your world and make all of your dreams come true.

Wish I was your one and only
I wish that I was the only one in your heart and mind.

Wish I could break your heart
I wish that I could be the one to make you feel the deep pain of heartbreak, because that would mean that you loved me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALLISON MOORER, TONY LANE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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