Wish I Could
Lee Alexander/Norah Jones Lyrics
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Now I just walk by it for show
Can't bear to go in without you, you know
Wish I could
Wish I could
But Annie is standing in the door
With a look on her face, I can't just ignore
And pulls me in
She pulls me in
She says, "Love in the time of war is not fair
He was my man, but they didn't care
Sent him far away from here
No goodbye
No goodbye"
I don't tell her that I once loved you too
Or about all the things we used to do
I kiss her hair and think of you
Walking down
The road you found
We met in a place I used to go
Now I only walk by it slow
Can't bear to go in without you, you know
Wish I could
Wish I could
Wish I could
Wish I could
"Wish I Could" is a song by Lee Alexander and Norah Jones, and it talks about a nostalgic, bittersweet encounter with an old flame and the feelings that resurface when the singer revisits the place where they first met. The lyrics are filled with regret, longing, and wistfulness, as the singer wishes they could turn back time and change the course of their love story. The song is a beautiful ode to the power of memories and the pain of letting go.
The first few lines of the song set the scene and reveal the central conflict: the singer used to frequent a certain place where they met their former lover, but now they can't bring themselves to enter it alone. They are haunted by the memories of their past and the love that was lost. The next verse introduces a new character, Annie, who pulls the singer into a conversation about her own lost love. Annie's story is a foil for the singer's own, as it highlights the tragic toll that war can take on relationships and the people left behind. The chorus repeats the simple, plaintive wish to go back in time and change the outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
We met in a place I used to go
I met you in a familiar place where I used to go.
Now I just walk by it for show
I walk by that place just to appear nonchalant, even though I'm deeply affected by our memories there.
Can't bear to go in without you, you know
I cannot endure the idea of going to that place alone without you.
Wish I could
I wish that I could go to that place again with you.
But Annie is standing in the door
Annie is blocking my way by standing at the entrance.
With a look on her face, I can't just ignore
Her expression is so compelling that I cannot overlook her presence.
She tells me that her heart is sore
She admits that her heart is pained.
And pulls me in
She draws me in by her inner turmoil.
She says, 'Love in the time of war is not fair
She believes that love during times of war is unjust.
He was my man, but they didn't care
Her lover was taken away, and no one gave a second thought.
Sent him far away from here
Her loved one was dispatched from this place.
No goodbye
They didn't even get to say goodbye.
I don't tell her that I once loved you too
I keep to myself that I have felt the same way about you.
Or about all the things we used to do
I also don't disclose about the beautiful memories we shared together.
I kiss her hair and think of you
I kiss her hair while remembering you.
Walking down
I imagine you and me walking together.
The road you found
The place where we first found each other and walked down that road.
We met in a place I used to go
We first met in a place I frequently visited on my own.
Now I only walk by it slow
I have to slow down when I pass by that place because I'm overwhelmed by the memories.
Can't bear to go in without you, you know
It's too hard for me to enter that place alone without you.
Wish I could
I just wish I could go to that place again with you.
Wish I could
I really wish I could be with you once more.
Wish I could
I deeply long to be in that place with you again.
Wish I could
I wish that we could go back in time and relive those moments, just the two of us.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lee Alexander, Norah Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind