The Dead Horses are Matthew Smith (drums), Corby Schaub (guitar and mandolin) and Elijah Ford (bass).
Bingham parted ways with The Dead Horses, and also with his then record label Lost Highway Records, in 2012.
Wishing Well
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't need no more rain
I've been gone for so long
I think the devil lost my name
I took a little ride
On a heartache highway
Loving from you, honey
When I go astray
Lose my way
Honey, I go down
To the wishing well
Standing at them crossroads
I've been begging for change
I said I've been gone for so long
The devil lost my name
The big wheel is burning up the rubber
The highway is killing time
And this here gutless six string
Eases my mind
When I go astray
Lose my way
I go on down
To the wishing well
I said I've been wasting my time
I don't need no more rain
Blood drips from my knuckles
It helps ease the pain
Standing at them crossroads
I've begging for change
I said I been gone for so long
I think the devil lost my name
When I go astray
Lose my way
Honey, I go down
To the wishing well
The lyrics of Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses's song Wishing Well paint a picture of a man who has been through a lot of struggles in life. He has wasted his time and experienced heartbreak, leaving him feeling lost and disconnected from himself. The lines “I’ve been gone for so long, I think the devil lost my name” offer insight into a feeling of disenfranchisement and alienation, as if he’s been living on the fringes for so long that his identity has vanished into thin air.
Despite his troubled past, the singer of the song remains resilient, always pushing forward towards something better. The chorus “When I go astray, lose my way, honey, I go down to the wishing well” portrays someone who’s not afraid to embark on a spiritual journey to find their way forward. The wishing well in this context stands as a symbol for hope and renewal, a place where one can go to let go of old baggage and start afresh.
Overall, Wishing Well is a touching and deeply empathetic depiction of a person who has been through a lot of pain and heartache, but who remains determined to keep moving forward. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and overcome, and Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses do a great job of capturing that in this song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been wasting my time
I've been spending my time in a manner that doesn't bring me any benefit
I don't need no more rain
I don't need any further complications in my life
I've been gone for so long
I've been away for a significant period of time
I think the devil lost my name
I've been through so much, even the devil doesn't recognize me anymore
I took a little ride
I engaged in a risky venture
On a heartache highway
A place where pain and sorrow are a common occurrence
Loving from you, honey
Your love supports me and keeps me going
Keeps me moving on my way
Your love motivates me to keep pushing forward towards my goal
When I go astray
When I lose sight of my goal
Lose my way
When I become unclear about my path
Honey, I go down
I seek refuge
To the wishing well
To a place where I can seek guidance
Standing at them crossroads
At a point of decision
I've been begging for change
I've been pleading for an opportunity to turn my situation around
The big wheel is burning up the rubber
I'm in a difficult, fast-paced and potentially dangerous situation
The highway is killing time
Time seems to be moving very slowly
And this here gutless six string
My six-stringed guitar does not have its own voice, but is very therapeutic
Eases my mind
It helps see me through my difficulties without complicating issues further
Blood drips from my knuckles
I've been through a lot of pain and hardship, causing even my blood to flow
It helps ease the pain
It offers me a way to cope with the pains of life
I said I been gone for so long
I've been away for a significant period of time
I think the devil lost my name
I've been through so much, even the devil doesn't recognize me anymore
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE RYAN BINGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind