I Wished On The Moon
Billie Holiday(빌리 홀리데이) Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wished on the moon
For something I never knew
Wished on the moon
For more than I ever knew
A sweeter rose, a softer sky
On April days that would not dance by

I begged on the stars
To throw me a beam or two
Wished on the stars
And asked for a dream or two
I looked for every loveliness




It all came true
I wished on the moon for you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Wished on the Moon" are a poetic expression of yearning for something intangible and unattainable, an unfulfilled desire that persists despite its elusive nature. The opening line "I wished on the moon for something I never knew" captures this sense of longing for an unknown and mysterious object of desire, a yearning that cannot be satisfied by anything tangible or visible. The repetition of "wished on the moon" in the second line conveys a sense of obsession or fixation, as if the singer is unable to think of anything else.


The second verse continues this theme of yearning, with the singer "begging on the stars to throw [her] a beam or two" and asking for a dream or two. The use of celestial imagery emphasizes the otherworldly nature of the singer's desires, as if they are beyond the reach of ordinary earthly means. The refrain "I wished on the moon for you" brings the focus of the song towards a specific person, as if the singer's vague and abstract yearning has now been filled with a concrete object of desire. However, the final line is still tinged with a sense of bittersweet yearning, as if even this fulfilled wish is not enough to completely satisfy the singer's longing.


Line by Line Meaning

I wished on the moon
I hoped for something out of my reach


For something I never knew
For something undefined yet yearning


Wished on the moon
I longed for the impossible


For more than I ever knew
For depths of love I never knew existed


A sweeter rose, a softer sky
Days that bring happiness and comfort beyond measure


On April days that would not dance by
On days that would linger for a while longer


I begged on the stars
I pleaded for a miracle


To throw me a beam or two
To bring me hope and light


Wished on the stars
I wished for more than just reality


And asked for a dream or two
I yearned for a world beyond the tangible


I looked for every loveliness
I searched for beauty in every aspect of life


It all came true
My heart's desires were granted


I wished on the moon for you
I wished for you, the embodiment of love and beauty




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

DN

I wished on the moon
For something I never knew
Wished on the moon
For more than I ever knew
A sweeter rose, a softer sky
On April days that would not dance by
I begged on the stars
To throw me a beam or two
Wished on the stars
And asked for a dream or two
I looked for every loveliness
It all came true
I wished on the moon for you



All comments from YouTube:

Angie Argon

This song is pure art ✨. I love this.

Steve Schwartz

Probably my favorite tune by Billie Holiday from her early period. It symbolizes her promise and hope for future..She was able to achieve great things in her life at an early age and was fortunate enough to be at the right time and place when she made these recordings. The best players and the feeling is what makes her early work much more than the sum of their parts...

jw12ification

Everything about this recording is so right: the singer, lyric, musicians, and the very sound of the recording. You get the feel of being transported back in time.

SweetTingles ASMR

This is truly good music. sigh, wish more people would listen to it now.

FeralKoboldGirl

im 14, almost 15, and adore this music, classic and jazz,and people like billie holiday just blow me away, an amazing singer...thanks for up -oading

DN

I wished on the moon
For something I never knew
Wished on the moon
For more than I ever knew
A sweeter rose, a softer sky
On April days that would not dance by
I begged on the stars
To throw me a beam or two
Wished on the stars
And asked for a dream or two
I looked for every loveliness
It all came true
I wished on the moon for you

Danny Owens

Ms. Holiday does such a beautiful job on this song, I get goose bumps when I hear it. I then play it over and over and over and over and

Christina Graham

I love this.lady. her struggle tho not my own I understood her. She sustained me thru my teen years

jaimesanders80

Age: 16.....English assignment: biography on famous person.....I chose Billie Holiday, she is a true icon and legend. She is an pure example as to what true beauty and elegance really is. Love her!!!!!

TedWms521

For fans of Billie Holiday, check out Zadie Smith's defiant story about her called "Crazy he calls me" in The New Yorker for March 6, 2017, pages 69-70.

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