I Wish You Love
Billy May/George Shearing Lyrics


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Beyond the shadow of a dove
As the mighty river flows
As the meadow gaily plays
With the wind of summer days
'Bout as deep as we can go
From the canyon to the skies
Like a mother as she cares
For the baby that she bears

Do I love you
Don't you know by now
Do I love you
Must I show you how
Do I love
Must I always say
Do I love
Yes in every way

About as sacred as a hymn
And a bible full of prayers
From a whisper to a roar
Very much and even more
And I shall show it with my eyes
And share it with the night
If in death the good Lord is kind
You'll be the last thing on my mind

Do I love you
Don't you know by now
Do I love you
Must I show you how
Do I love
Do I have to say
Do I love
Yes in every way

Do I love you
You should know by now
Do I love you
Must I show you how
Do I love
Do I have to say




Do I love
Yes in every way

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are reminiscent of a love that goes beyond words. The first verse paints a picture of nature, using the shadow of a dove, a mighty river, and a meadow in the summer wind to represent the depth of the love being described. It speaks of a love that is as deep as the canyon and as high as the skies, comparing it to the care of a mother for her child. The second verse elevates this love to the sacred, comparing it to a hymn and a bible full of prayers. It speaks of showing this love with one's eyes and sharing it with the night. The final lines speak of the enduring quality of this love, even in death, where the object of affection would still be the last thing on the singer's mind.


The song I Wish You Love was originally composed in French as Que reste-t-il de nos amours? ("What remains of our love?") by Charles Trenet, a French singer-songwriter, in 1942. It was later translated into English by Albert Beach in 1954. It has since been covered by various artists, including Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand.


Line by Line Meaning

Beyond the shadow of a dove
Just as surely as doves cast shadows, my feelings for you are certain and unwavering.


As the mighty river flows
My love for you is as continuous and powerful as a flowing river.


As the meadow gaily plays
My love for you brings me joy and is as playful as a meadow on a summer day.


With the wind of summer days
My love for you is as natural and easy as the wind blowing on a summer day.


'Bout as deep as we can go
My love for you is as deep as any emotion could go.


From the canyon to the skies
My love for you is boundless, reaching from the depths of a canyon to the heights of the sky.


Like a mother as she cares
My love for you is nurturing and tender, as a mother cares for her child.


For the baby that she bears
My love for you is protective and devoted, as a mother's love for her baby.


Do I love you
Do you really question my love for you?


Don't you know by now
Surely you must know by now that I love you deeply and completely.


Must I show you how
Do I need to demonstrate my love for you to convince you?


Do I love
Is there any doubt in your mind that I love you?


Must I always say
Is it necessary for me to constantly verbalize my love for you?


Yes in every way
Yes, I love you in every possible way - completely and unconditionally.


About as sacred as a hymn
My love for you is as sacred and reverent as a religious hymn.


And a bible full of prayers
My love for you is as pure and devoted as the prayers in a Bible.


From a whisper to a roar
My love for you is versatile, ranging from a soft whisper to a powerful roar.


Very much and even more
I love you very much, and even more than that - my love grows every day.


And I shall show it with my eyes
My eyes will express my love for you, even when words cannot.


And share it with the night
I will share my love for you with the entire world, even in the darkness of night.


If in death the good Lord is kind
If I am to die, I hope that God is kind to me.


You'll be the last thing on my mind
But even in death, my love for you will still be present - you will always be on my mind.


You should know by now
After all this time, you should know without a doubt that I love you.


Do I have to say
Is it really necessary for me to constantly verbalize my love for you?


Yes in every way
Yes, my love for you is present in every way - completely and unconditionally.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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