The song was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in the fall of 1962, and was the B-side of Warwick's single "This Empty Place" (also recorded in the fall of 1962) in the spring of 1963; the track was also featured on Warwick's debut album Presenting Dionne Warwick. Warwick's rendition became a charting single in France, reaching No. 79 in 1963. It was included again on Warwick's third album Make Way For Dionne Warwick.
Dusty Springfield, who had heard the Warwick album track, recorded "Wishin' and Hopin'" in January 1964 at Olympic Studios. Personnel for the session included Bobby Graham on drums, Big Jim Sullivan on guitar, and the Breakaways vocal group. Ivor Raymonde arranged and conducted on the session for which Johnny Franz was the producer. The track was included on Springfield's solo album debuts in the UK: A Girl Called Dusty, and the US: Stay Awhile/I Only Want to Be with You.
In February 1964, Springfield met with Burt Bacharach in New York City to listen to other songs to consider recording. Bacharach recalls at that time: "I (think) I tried to talk her into releasing 'Wishin' and Hopin'' (as a single) because she had some ambivalence about it."
Springfield's version is recorded in the key of B major with a tempo of 108 beats per minute.
A New York disc jockey, Jack Lacy, began to play "Wishin' and Hopin'" following some encouragement from David and Bacharach, and Philips' US label issued it as a single in May 1964; "Wishin' and Hopin'" broke nationally that June entering the Top Ten in July to peak at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 Easy Listening, No. 4 in Cashbox. It also got to No. 1 on The American Bandstand top ten in July 1964. Cash Box described it as "a tantalizing, cha cha beat-ballad affair that Dusty waxes in money-in-the-bank-for-all-concerned fashion" with a "superb ork-choral arrangement."
The release of "Wishin' and Hopin'" as a concurrent UK single release for Springfield was precluded by the presence on the UK charts of Springfield's single "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" – one of the songs Bacharach had pitched to her when they met in New York City in February 1964. "Wishin' and Hopin'" was recorded by UK band The Merseybeats whose inaugural single had been another song (reissued in 1982) from the Presenting Dionne Warwick album: "It's Love That Really Counts" (UK No. 24). The Merseybeats "Wishin' and Hopin'" peaked at No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1964, the same week Springfield's "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" spent at its No. 3 peak. Another UK male vocal group The Eagles also had a single release of "Wishin' and Hopin'", although it was the B-side of their non-charting single "Write Me a Letter".
Despite not being a UK hit single for Springfield, "Wishin' and Hopin'" was strongly identified with her in the UK public consciousness: she performed the song with the Merseybeats on the 8 August, 1964 episode of Ready Steady Go! – actually both acts lip-synched to a track spliced together from their respective versions – and on that show's Sound of Motown edition broadcast 28 April, 1965 which Springfield hosted, the only one of her own songs she performed was "Wishin' and Hopin'" with the vocal accompaniment of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
Springfield's recording was featured in the film, A Home at the End of the World (2004).
"Wishin' and Hopin'" was also featured in Tricks and Treats, the second episode of American Horror Story: Asylum.
The song was featured in Netflix's Sex Education (TV series).
Springfield recorded foreign language versions of "Wishin' and Hopin'" in July 1964: in Italian as "Stupido Stupido" – which was a combination of lyrics in Italian and English, the latter being newly written rather than taken from the original song – and in German as "Warten Und Hoffen". "Wishin' and Hopin'" was also a hit for Springfield in Australia (No. 2), New Zealand (No. 3), South Africa (No. 2), and Canada (No. 2).
Wishin' And Hopin'
Dusty Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms
So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care
Show him that you care just for him
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'
'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him
And squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You gotta show him that you care just for him
And do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'
'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him
And squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You will be his
You will be his
In Dusty Springfield's song "Wishin' and Hopin'", she offers advice to women on how to find love. The song suggests that simply wishing and hoping for love won't bring it to you or allow you to win over the man of your dreams. Instead, the woman must show that she cares for the man and do things that he likes. The song encourages the listener to take action and not just wait around, as taking initiative leads to making progress in winning over the person they desire.
The lyrics of the song are simple, yet powerful. They encourage women to take an active role in finding love, instead of waiting for it to come to them. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy tune create a feeling of optimism, making one believe that finding love is possible if they approach it correctly. "Wishin' and Hopin'" is a timeless classic that has been covered by many artists over the years since it was released in 1964.
Line by Line Meaning
Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Simply wishing, hoping, thinking, and praying won't be enough to gain his affection
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
Planning and dreaming of how charming he is each night won't be enough either
That won't get you into his arms
Neither wishful thinking nor planning will lead you into his arms
So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
If you want to find love that you can share with him
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and love him
You just need to hold him, kiss him, and love him to show him you care
And show him that you care
Demonstrate that you care about him
Show him that you care just for him
Show your love and affection only to him
And do the things he likes to do
Engage in activities that he enjoys
Wear your hair just for him 'cause
Style your hair to please him
You won't get him
You won't win him over
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'
Merely thinking, praying, wishing, and hoping won't help you win his heart
'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
The same actions won't lead you into his heart, no matter how much you do them
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
You won't gain his affection by planning and dreaming about his kisses
That won't get you into his heart
Merely wishing and planning won't win his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is
If you want to experience true love
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him
Show your affection by embracing him and kissing him
And squeeze him and love him
Hold him tightly and love him unconditionally
Yeah, just do it
Don't hesitate, just show him your love and affection
And after you do, you will be his
If you show him your love and affection, he will be yours
You will be his
He will choose you as his lover
You will be his
He will choose you as his lover
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
M.S.
Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms
So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'
'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You gotta show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin', wishin' and a-hopin'
'Cause wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinkin' of how great true love is
All you gotta do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You will be his
You will be his
MJ24
I love blasting her music while I bake. I’m 75 but these 60’s and 70’s songs make me feel young again. ❤
Katrina Parham
I'm 47 and do the same it's all how your raised 🙌 I now have my granddaughter listening. My Mom gave a wonderful example 😊👍
breckbordr
Nothing brings you back to a time in your life like music
Neisel Anderson
Me too, at 65 blasting. In apt now, I'm the oldest outta 5 single ladies I get asked to turn down. Old fogies🤣
David Maslow
I hear You! I'm 72
Herbert Otto
77 here - sill Wishin and Hopin. 😊
Handhika Y-P
I'm 22, and I just realizing the music from my grandpa & grandma age was really amazing
Lfg
'Eyyyyyyy
Emily Couturière
Lol im 24 but my parents were boomers so they had great taste in music.
Copper Head
And really scary