According to the The Impossible Songfacts, the Kelley Lovelace and Lee Thomas Miller penned mid-tempo ballad was released in March 2002 as the first single from his second album, man With a Memory . It became his first hit, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Country chart and #29 on the Hot 100. Nichols recalled to The Boot in a 2011 interview: "'The Impossible' was huge for me for a number of different reasons. It was my introduction to Country music. It was the first thing everybody saw of me, this brand new guy with this voice. I heard a lot of people say when they met me, 'Wow! We just pictured somebody a lot older, because it's a really country-sounding voice.' So, it was my introduction. It got people familiar with me."
I Wish That Wasn't All
Joe Nichols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hadn't heard that voice in way too long
I've still got those worn out tapes
The only three or four he made, what a shame
I wish that wasn't all
Hearin' that song took me back to my senior year
The year I asked Mary Ellen Mayfield to the prom
She agreed to go as friends, and I remember thinkin',
Ain't it funny how sometimes we can be unsatisfied
With things we should be thankful for
Like an old Keith Whitley song or a slow dance at the senior prom
Some things just leave you wantin' more
Like the way I felt that June when Dad called me with the news
Through tears, he told me my grand dad was gone
He lived til' he was ninety-five, I know that's a good long life
Still I wish, Lord, I wish that wasn't all
Ain't it funny how sometimes we can be unsatisfied
With things we should be thankful for
Like the time we get to spend with the ones we love, family and friends
Some things just leave you wantin' more
I thank God that I found you
Until now I never Knew
That love could be this strong
I could stay right here and hold you close for ten forevers in a row
Still I'd wish, I'd wish that wasn't all
Yeah I wish, Lord, I wish that wasn't all
Joe Nichols's song "I Wish That Wasn't All" is a reflection on the nostalgia and longing that we experience when revisiting the past. The song begins with the singer hearing Keith Whitley's "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" on the radio and being taken back to his teenage years when he listened to Whitley's tapes. The nostalgia continues as the singer remembers his senior prom, specifically his unrequited crush on Mary Ellen Mayfield - he wished that their time together didn't have to end. The song then moves into more somber territory as the singer reflects on the passing of his grandfather. While his grandfather lived a long life, the singer still wishes he had more time with him. The song concludes on a positive note as the singer expresses his gratitude for the love he has found, but still wishes that their time together wasn't limited.
The lyrics of "I Wish That Wasn't All" tap into a universal feeling of longing for more time with loved ones, or the ability to stay in a certain moment forever. It's a bittersweet reflection on the ephemeral nature of life, and how even the most meaningful experiences can leave us wanting more. Despite this melancholy sentiment, the song also serves as a reminder to be grateful for the time we have and the people we love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm No Stranger To The Rain came on my radio today
The singer heard a song on the radio today and it brought back memories.
I hadn't heard that voice in way too long
He had not heard that particular singer in a very long time.
I've still got those worn out tapes
The singer has old tapes of that singer.
The only three or four he made, what a shame
The singer only has a few tapes of that singer, which is unfortunate.
I wish that wasn't all
The singer wishes he had more tapes of that singer.
Hearin' that song took me back to my senior year
The singer was reminded of his senior year when he heard that song.
The year I asked Mary Ellen Mayfield to the prom
He remembers asking Mary Ellen Mayfield to the prom that year.
She agreed to go as friends, and I remember thinkin', "man I wish, Lord, I wish that wasn't all"
He only went to the prom as friends with Mary Ellen, but he wished it could have been more.
Ain't it funny how sometimes we can be unsatisfied
The singer reflects on how sometimes people can be unsatisfied with things they should be thankful for.
With things we should be thankful for
He explains that sometimes people don't appreciate things they should be grateful for.
Like an old Keith Whitley song or a slow dance at the senior prom
He gives examples of things that people should be grateful for.
Some things just leave you wantin' more
He thinks that sometimes people can want more, even though they have a lot.
Like the way I felt that June when Dad called me with the news
The singer was reminded of how he felt when his dad told him his granddad had passed away.
Through tears, he told me my grand dad was gone
The singer's dad was upset when he told him his granddad has passed away.
He lived til' he was ninety-five, I know that's a good long life
Even though his granddad passed away, he lived a long life.
Still I wish, Lord, I wish that wasn't all
The singer wishes his granddad could have lived longer, even though he lived a good, long life.
I thank God that I found you
The singer expresses gratitude for finding someone he loves.
Until now I never Knew that love could be this strong
The singer has learned how strong love can be thanks to that person.
I could stay right here and hold you close for ten forevers in a row
The singer wants to hold that person for a long time.
Still I'd wish, I'd wish that wasn't all
Even though he loves that person, he still wishes for more.
Yeah I wish, Lord, I wish that wasn't all
The singer concludes the song by repeating his earlier wish.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ASHLEY GORLEY, CHRIS DUBOIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind