I Wish
Rivers Lyrics

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I wish I was born before
The tide had washed away the shores
And you
Were new

I wish I was born before
The rain had carved the valley floors
And you

Were new

I have watched the rise and falls
The seasons change yet not all
And you
Get used

Look at all the things they've done
The times have changed
Thy kingdom come
But you get used

I been sittin' inside the shade
But all this trash gettin' my way
Of you
Mmhm

I wish I was born before
The tide had washed away the shore
And you
Were new

Sea to me
It really ain't that complicated
I like that I been isolated
For countless days

Then I see
A picture of the world we painted
At times it makes me so frustrated
In countless ways

I remember exactly how it
Used to be
Skating' down on Hunakai Road
So care free
Now all I see is the cars parked
On the street
All this change is happenin'
Too fast for me

I remember exactly how it
Used to be
Five thirty sunrise
On the sea
I sat on the ocean water
Feelin' free
Palm trees in the calm breeze blowin'
Just for me

I been sittin' inside the shade
But all this trash gettin' my way
Of you
Mmhm

I wish I was born before
The tides had washed away the shore

And you
Were new

Overall Meaning

Rivers's song "I Wish" is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the changes that have taken place in the world and the effect they have on the singer. The lyrics express an intense longing for a time before the damage caused by humans to the environment and the natural world. The repeated line "I wish I was born before" alludes to the idea that the world was better, purer, and more natural before human intervention left its mark on it. The first verse, "I wish I was born before the tide had washed away the shores, and you were new," echoes that sentiment. It evokes the image of a world where there was no trash, pollution, or climate change, where nature was whole and unspoiled. The singer's wish to be born before these events occurred represents a desire to return to a world that was unspoiled and pure.

In the second verse, the singer reflects on the rise and fall of the seasons, and how things change, but not everything. The line "And you get used" implies that humans have gotten used to the damage they have caused and have become desensitized to it, like a calloused hand. The next lines express the frustration that the singer feels towards the changes in the world. "Look at all the things they've done, the times have changed, thy kingdom come, but you get used," speaks to the idea that humans have done so much damage to the world, yet we have become accustomed to it, almost complacent.

The last verse expresses the yearning for simpler times, with the line, "I remember exactly how it used to be." Here, Rivers reminisces about the past, recalling the peacefulness of Hunakai Road and the beauty of the sunrise on the sea. The "Palm trees in the calm breeze blowin' just for me" line shows the longing for a time when nature was still untouched by human hands.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I was born before The tide had washed away the shores And you Were new
The singer wishes he lived in a time before the coastlines were eroded by the sea, and before the person he loves had experienced life and its hardships.

I wish I was born before The rain had carved the valley floors And you Were new
The singer longs for a time when the valleys were pristine and untouched by erosion, and for his loved one to have had the same kind of innocence.

I have watched the rise and falls The seasons change yet not all And you Get used
The singer has observed the world's natural cycles and changes, but his loved one has grown accustomed to them and does not view them with the same wonder.

Look at all the things they've done The times have changed Thy kingdom come But you get used
The artist considers the extent of human progress and change, but his loved one has become indifferent to them and the progress of society.

I been sittin' inside the shade But all this trash gettin' my way Of you Mmhm
The artist is feeling weighed down by the pollution and clutter of the world, which keeps him from fully experiencing his love for his partner.

Sea to me It really ain't that complicated I like that I been isolated For countless days
The singer finds simplicity and comfort in isolation, away from the overwhelming changes and challenges of the outside world.

Then I see A picture of the world we painted At times it makes me so frustrated In countless ways
Occasionally, when the singer looks at the world around him and the progress made, he is left frustrated and overwhelmed by its complications.

I remember exactly how it Used to be Skating' down on Hunakai Road So care free Now all I see is the cars parked On the street All this change is happenin' Too fast for me
The artist fondly recalls the simpler days of his youth, when streets were used for leisurely activities and not just filled with parked cars – they find the pace of the modern world too fast for their liking.

I remember exactly how it Used to be Five thirty sunrise On the sea I sat on the ocean water Feelin' free Palm trees in the calm breeze blowin' Just for me
The artist again thinks back to a time when he could experience the natural world in its pure state, enjoying the ocean and its accompanying elements all to himself.

I wish I was born before The tides had washed away the shore And you Were new
The artist repeats their longing to have existed in a time before the erosion of the coasts, and for his loved one to not be burdened by the weight of experience.

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Andy Rivers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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