Wishful Thinking
Jan Howard & Wynn Stewart Lyrics


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Wishing I could see you again, dear
That the fires of love could burn once more
But I know that's just wishful thinking
And too much to be wishing for

Just thinking of how you once kissed me
Wishing that it hadn't meant goodbye
But I know that's just wishful thinking
Now I know why some people cry

I'll live my life in dreams and long for your love
It's you I'm wishing for and you I'm thinking of

My heart echoes the love words you've spoken
How I wish that I could hear them from you
Won't you answer a heart that's broken
And make my wishful thinking come true

Wishing I could see you again, dear
That the fires of love could burn once more
But I know that's just wishful thinking
And too much to be wishing for

I'll live my life in dreams and long for your love
It's you I'm wishing for and you I'm thinking of

My heart echoes the love words you've spoken
Now I wish that I could hear them from you
Won't you answer a heart that's broken




And make my wishful thinking come true
And make my wishful thinking come true

Overall Meaning

The song "Wishful Thinking" by Jan Howard & Wynn Stewart is a love ballad that explores the emotions of a person who longs to be with their lover again. The song is double-edged, as it expresses both the hope of seeing their lover again and the despair of knowing it is unlikely to happen. The lyrics are simple but heartfelt, as they convey the feeling of wanting something that may never come true.


The song begins with the singer wishing to see their lover again and relight the fires of love. However, they admit that this may be just wishful thinking, and they may be asking for too much. The singer then reminisces about how their lover once kissed them and how they wished it had never ended. But now they understand why some people cry, as they feel the pain of heartbreak.


Despite the sadness, the singer still longs for their lover's love and lives in dreams of them. They want to hear the words of love spoken by their lover and hope that their wishful thinking can come true. The song ends with a plea for their heart to be mended and their wish to become a reality.


Overall, "Wishful Thinking" is a powerful love song that captures the bittersweet emotions of a person who longs to be with their loved one again. It's a song that many can relate to, and the simplicity of the lyrics makes it all the more poignant.


Line by Line Meaning

Wishing I could see you again, dear
Desiring to reunite with a loved one


That the fires of love could burn once more
Hoping that the passion of their love can reignite


But I know that's just wishful thinking
Realizing that their hope may not come to fruition


And too much to be wishing for
Acknowledging that their desire may be unrealistic


Just thinking of how you once kissed me
Recollecting a past intimate moment with their partner


Wishing that it hadn't meant goodbye
Longing for the relationship to not have ended


Now I know why some people cry
Understanding the pain of a broken heart


I'll live my life in dreams and long for your love
Accepting that their love may only exist in their dreams


It's you I'm wishing for and you I'm thinking of
Constantly having their loved one on their mind


My heart echoes the love words you've spoken
Remembering the affectionate words their partner once said to them


How I wish that I could hear them from you
Wanting to hear those same words from their partner again


Won't you answer a heart that's broken
Asking their loved one to heal their heartache


And make my wishful thinking come true
Hoping that their desire for reconciliation can become reality


And make my wishful thinking come true
Reiterating their hope for their wishful thinking to turn into reality




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SYLVESTER STEWART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@frankchilds9848

My own WISHFUL THINKING is that someday we will have country music like this again!

@geoffreyjohnston6483

Easy! Don't listen to the squat new country, or call in asking for the classics, hound the hell out of them. Get family and friends on the bandwagon. If you're a business and advertising by radio, tell them you'll renew if they expand the playlist to include the classics. Get enough of a group action going, it might work.

@Jamestele1

That's one of my very favorite country songs I've ever heard. RIP Wynn Stewart.

@LaaksonLilja

Pure, straight, down-to-earth country at its best - too good to be forgotten! Thanks for posting!

@brownies4you

This song's acoustics sound magnificent when it's played in a large auditorium (ex: wedding receptions and holiday parties). It's one of the best toe-tapping songs ever released. Thank you for posting this beloved classic.

@antoniofernandesdequeiroga6197

I am an ardent fan of country music here in Brazil. Wynn Stewart's superb.

@oldsongwriterdude

I have been in country music professionally for over 50 years .....  no other recording has ever came close to this. It was a magic session!

@jpbaztan

Thanks from Spain. Lovely music

@patriciajrs46

Thank you Mr. Green.

@charlescassidy6786

Just one of my favorite country singers

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