Lily Chloe Ninette James (née Thomson; born 5 April 1989) is an English act… Read Full Bio ↴Lily Chloe Ninette James (née Thomson; born 5 April 1989) is an English actress. She studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and soon began her acting career in the British television series Just William (2010). Following a supporting role in the period drama series Downton Abbey (2012–2015), James had her film breakthrough by playing the eponymous role in the fantasy film Cinderella (2015).

James went on to play Natasha Rostova in the television series War & Peace (2016). In 2017, she starred in the action crime film Baby Driver and the war drama film Darkest Hour, both of which were critically and commercially successful. She starred as the younger version of the character Donna Sheridan in the musical film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018).

I Wonder
Lily James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This park and these houses
Old streets I have walked
Everything dear, will it be here
One day when I am returning?

My friends will get married
Have children and homes
It sounds so nice, well-planned and wise

Never expecting surprises

I wonder, it's frightening
Leaving now, is that the right thing?
I wonder, it scares me
But who the the hell am I if I don't even try?
I'm not a coward
Oh no, I'll be strong
One chance in a lifetime
Yes I will take it
It can't go wrong

My friends are my family
This city I love
Buses I've missed
Boys that I've kissed
Everything old and familiar

I wonder, it's frightening
Leaving now, is that the right thing?
I wonder, it scares me
But who the the hell am I if I don't even try?

I'm not a coward
Oh no, I'll be strong
One chance in a lifetime
Yes, I will take it
It can't go wrong

Yes, I will take it
It can't go wrong

Overall Meaning

The song "I Wonder" by Lily James, is a reflective piece reflecting on the concept of leaving home and moving on, especially to pursue new goals or dreams. The opening lyrics expresses a sense of nostalgia towards the familiar places and faces that the singer has grown up around, and questions whether those things will still be around when she returns. The song discusses the future plans of her friends, such as getting married, having children and buying homes, but acknowledges that this kind of settled lifestyle is not for her. The singer is scared to leave her comfort zone, but she also realizes that if she does not try, she would never know what she is capable of achieving.

The questioning tone of the chorus, where the singer wonders if leaving is the right thing to do, is a reflection of the internal conflict people feel when they are about to embark on something new. The idea of taking the chance once-in-a-lifetime is presented as a powerful motivator for taking the leap of faith. The line "who the hell am I if I don't even try?" is the answer to the singer's own question about whether she should leave, which suggests that the need to try something new is a part of her identity. The song ends on a confident note telling us that she will take the chance because it can't go wrong.

Overall, "I Wonder" seems to be about the importance of taking risks and stepping out of one's comfort zone to pursue their own dreams, even if it’s scary. It is a very relatable and introspective piece that can resonate with anyone who understands the value of embracing change and taking opportunities in life.

Line by Line Meaning

This park and these houses
The familiar surroundings of this place where I spent my life so far.

Old streets I have walked
The well-known paths I have walked in this town.

Everything dear, will it be here
Will everything I hold dear in this place be available when I return?

One day when I am returning?
Am I really going to come back to this place?

My friends will get married
My close friends will tie the knot.

Have children and homes
Start their own families and build homes.

It sounds so nice, well-planned and wise
Their lives are planned out and seem secure.

Never expecting surprises
Without anticipation of any unexpected events.

I wonder, it's frightening
I am scared to think of the unknown.

Leaving now, is that the right thing?
Is it right to leave everything behind and move away?

I wonder, it scares me
I am uncertain and frightened of the choice I have to make.