I Wish
DJ Joe K Lyrics

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I WISH

I wish I was a chauffer
California, New Year's Eve
Driving around a pretty lady with a hanky up her sleeve
I would light her tiparillos just as civil as you please

I wish I was a diver on a ship with Jacques Cousteau

I'd get a picture in our rubber suits so that everyone would know
"Hey, you really know Jacques?"
I'd say, "Yeah, just look at this"
I'd show it everywhere I go, Jacques Cousteau, Jacques Cousteau

I wish I was a cartoon
I wish I was Peter Pan
Then I could fly away from sorrow and never have to feel like a man
You ask me why I'm still a child?
Well, it's just because I am

I wish I had a cabin on the top of some big hill
I'd build a fire every evening and listen to thwe whipporwill
Eat my food out of a garden and drink my whiskey from a still
I wish I was a diamond on the back of your skinny little hand
Then I could keep my eye on you

Maybe then I would understand
How you just leave us all weeping just to prove that you still can

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in DJ Joe K's song "I Wish" express a deep yearning for escape and a longing for something more in life. The artist wishes he was a chauffer driving a beautiful lady around on New Year's Eve, with the ability to light her cigars and make her feel special. He then wishes he was a diver with Jacques Cousteau, desiring the attention and recognition that comes from such a famous association.

Moving on, he would also like to be a cartoon or even Peter Pan, where he could fly away from his sorrows and leave adult responsibilities behind. When asked why he still acts like a child, he states that it's simply because he is one. The artist continues to describe his desires for a cabin on a hill, where he can enjoy the simple things in life, eating fresh food from a garden and drinking whiskey from a still.

Finally, he wishes he was a diamond on someone's hand so he could watch over them and better understand why people hurt each other. Overall, the song expresses a strong desire for a different life, away from the burdens and pressures of adulthood, where one can enjoy the simple things and feel appreciated and loved.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I was a chauffer
I wish I had a job where I could drive a pretty lady around on New Year's Eve

California, New Year's Eve
The setting of the wish to be a chauffeur

Driving around a pretty lady with a hanky up her sleeve
The type of passenger the singer wishes to drive around

I would light her tiparillos just as civil as you please
The singer wishes to be a gentleman and light her cigarettes for her

I wish I was a diver on a ship with Jacques Cousteau
The singer wishes he was a part of Jacques Cousteau's crew

I'd get a picture in our rubber suits so that everyone would know
The singer wants to have a picture in a rubber suit to show off his diving skills with Jacques Cousteau

"Hey, you really know Jacques?"
The singer imagines people asking him if he really knows Jacques Cousteau

I'd say, "Yeah, just look at this"
The singer would proudly show off the picture of him and Jacques Cousteau

I'd show it everywhere I go, Jacques Cousteau, Jacques Cousteau
The singer would show off the picture to everyone he meets

I wish I was a cartoon
The singer wishes he could be an animated character

I wish I was Peter Pan
The singer wishes he could be Peter Pan and fly away from his problems

Then I could fly away from sorrow and never have to feel like a man
The singer wishes he could avoid dealing with sadness and responsibilities

You ask me why I'm still a child?
The singer imagines someone asking him why he still acts like a child

Well, it's just because I am
The singer acknowledges that he is still child-like

I wish I had a cabin on the top of some big hill
The singer dreams of having a cabin in a remote, natural setting

I'd build a fire every evening and listen to thwe whipporwill
The singer imagines himself having peaceful evenings by the fire, listening to the sounds of nature

Eat my food out of a garden and drink my whiskey from a still
The singer imagines living off the land and enjoying home-brewed whiskey

I wish I was a diamond on the back of your skinny little hand
The singer wishes he was a precious gem on the back of someone's hand

Then I could keep my eye on you
The singer wishes he could be close to the person with the diamond

Maybe then I would understand
The singer hopes that by being close to the person, he could understand them better

How you just leave us all weeping just to prove that you still can
The singer reflects on how the person with the diamond causes others to feel sad just to show their power

Contributed by Jack J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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