Wynn Stewart (born Winford Lindsey Stewart June 7, 1934; died July 17, 1985… Read Full Bio ↴Wynn Stewart (born Winford Lindsey Stewart June 7, 1934; died July 17, 1985) was an American country music performer. He was one of the progenitors of the Bakersfield sound. Although not a huge chart success, he was an inspiration to such greats as Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.

Wishful Thinking
Wynn Stewart Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wishing I could see you again, dear
That the fires of love could burn once more
But I know that's just wishful thinking
And too much to be wishing for

Just thinking of how you once kissed me
Wishing that it hadn't meant goodbye
But I know that's just wishful thinking

Now I know why some people cry

I'll live my life in dreams and long for your love
It's you I'm wishing for and you I'm thinking of

My heart echoes the love words you've spoken
How I wish that I could hear them from you
Won't you answer a heart that's broken
And make my wishful thinking come true

Wishing I could see you again, dear
That the fires of love could burn once more
But I know that's just wishful thinking
And too much to be wishing for

I'll live my life in dreams and long for your love
It's you I'm wishing for and you I'm thinking of

My heart echoes the love words you've spoken
Now I wish that I could hear them from you
Won't you answer a heart that's broken

And make my wishful thinking come true
And make my wishful thinking come true

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wynn Stewart's song "Wishful Thinking" speak to the heartache that comes with longing for a lost love. The singer is consumed with thoughts of his past relationship and yearns for the flames of passion to be rekindled. He is haunted by memories of their last kiss and the pain of their goodbyes. Despite knowing that his desires are unrealistic, he can't help but wish for them to come true.

The song captures the universal human experience of grasping for something out of reach. The lyrics convey the sadness and desperation of a heart that still holds onto hope, even when love seems impossible. The line "Now I know why some people cry" speaks to the profound emotional pain that can come with the loss of a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Wishing I could see you again, dear
Expressing the singer's longing to see their loved one again.

That the fires of love could burn once more
Describing the singer's wish for their love to be reignited.

But I know that's just wishful thinking
Acknowledging that the singer's desires may not become reality.

And too much to be wishing for
Recognizing that their hopes may be unrealistic or unattainable.

Just thinking of how you once kissed me
Recalling a past moment of intimacy with their love interest.

Wishing that it hadn't meant goodbye
Expressing regret over the end of their relationship.

Now I know why some people cry
Reflecting on the sadness and heartbreak that can come from lost love.

I'll live my life in dreams and long for your love
Accepting that their love may not be possible in reality and instead living in their dreams.

It's you I'm wishing for and you I'm thinking of
Declaring their love and devotion to their past partner.

My heart echoes the love words you've spoken
Remembering sweet words of affection from their love interest.

How I wish that I could hear them from you
Expressing a desire to hear those love words again, this time from the source.

Won't you answer a heart that's broken
Making a plea to the former partner to respond to the artist's feelings.

And make my wishful thinking come true
Requesting that their wishes and hopes for a renewed romance become a reality.

And make my wishful thinking come true
Repeating the request to emphasize the singer's yearning for their former lover.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SYLVESTER STEWART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@frankchilds9848

1y↑15

My own WISHFUL THINKING is that someday we will have country music like this again!

@geoffreyjohnston6483

28w

Easy! Don't listen to the squat new country, or call in asking for the classics, hound the hell out of them. Get family and friends on the bandwagon. If you're a business and advertising by radio, tell them you'll renew if they expand the playlist to include the classics. Get enough of a group action going, it might work.

@Jamestele1

2y↑13

That's one of my very favorite country songs I've ever heard. RIP Wynn Stewart.

@LaaksonLilja

13y↑44

Pure, straight, down-to-earth country at its best - too good to be forgotten! Thanks for posting!

@brownies4you

13y↑6

This song's acoustics sound magnificent when it's played in a large auditorium (ex: wedding receptions and holiday parties). It's one of the best toe-tapping songs ever released. Thank you for posting this beloved classic.

@antoniofernandesdequeiroga6197

3y↑8

I am an ardent fan of country music here in Brazil. Wynn Stewart's superb.

@oldsongwriterdude

10y↑27

I have been in country music professionally for over 50 years ..... no other recording has ever came close to this. It was a magic session!

@jpbaztan

Thanks from Spain. Lovely music

@patriciajrs46

Thank you Mr. Green.

@charlescassidy6786

38w↑2

Just one of my favorite country singers

@2bakidagain

8y↑25

Oh my, how I've missed this voice! so glad you can jump back in time and pull up these great sounds. I loved his voice! so pure you can almost feel the pain! he was outstanding!

@1945biged1

9y↑28

They don't get much better than this one. Fantastic song.

@Westisbest

3y↑2

One of the best country songs I’ve heard. Got a good flow and distinctive, complementing steel guitar melody. Rip Wynn Stewart.

@SPRINGSTEEN-ek8oy

5y↑9

I'm 53 years old I wish I could see him sing live like this I know he passed away but THIS IS COUNTRY

@1947burke

10y↑5

Wynn was one of the very best, listening to this brings back so many memories. Too bad he died young, he had a lot of demons like many brilliant people do and just couldn't deal with them. RIP Wynn, you will be loved forever.

@dunce237

7y↑7

They don't make em like this anymore! One of my all time favorites!

@johnhood9861

5y↑3

Haunting but beautiful soprano in background, loved Wynn's music and voice. Heaven truly laced with classic country music, an awesome journey if one graces heaven's halls.

@shannonburns6724

3y↑2

From my late wife's notes. Gone to heaven 2 years the 23rd of this month. She will be eternally 43, God Bless her beautiful soul and memory. Wynn had his sister Beverly in the studio. She was that haunting soprano voice ringing in the Tannoy Westminsters. Ralph Mooney was in the studio as he was working in Alvis Edgar Owens' band at the time. Wynn and Leonard Sipes, Rose Maddox, Jean Sheppard, Joe Maphis, the Collins kids, Buck Owens was playing in bands such as Budd Hobbs' band that recorded Louisiana Swing in 1954. Bonnie Campbell, Kaye Adams, and Rosie Flores came out of the recording venues that sprung up all over from Phoenix, to Bakersfield. Great music from a much better time in America. Shannon's Denny.

@dcgilleland

11y

Still a TOP requested dance tune down in Texas. It will still, after all these decades, fill the floor with dancers! VERY HIGHLY respected by band leaders down here!

@johnlennon8653

1y↑1

A few years ago at a biker party, my then 14 years old daughter got up and sang this for the crowd. I broke down in tears beside the the toughest biker chick I know, who put her arm around me and told me to be proud that my daughter sang my all time favorite just me,in front of all my friends, knowing I would break down. Never knew that she'd learned it.

@MrHenry-2001

7y↑1

This guy has on of the best voices in country music!!! I enjoy his music a lot!!!!

@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles

2y↑1

This is amazing. I'll have to check out more of Wynn's music. Thank you for this upload and helping me discover a "new" Country artist to enjoy.

@patriciajrs46

2y↑1

Check out Ferlin Husky. He was very good, also Slim Whitman.

@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles

2y↑1

@Patricia Slocum Thank you, I will. Actually, I've heard Slim Whitman and yes, I enjoy his music. I know Ferlin Husky because of a movie he did with Jayne Mansfield, but I haven't heard his music yet. I'll check him out.

@AMWAYB

10y↑13

one of my favorites by him.#5 country in 1960.

@lindawaye1098

9y↑1

love this song. brings back a lot of memories.

@johnnylujan9117

6y↑2

Wow what a voice he was one of the greatest

@thomashamilton9102

5y↑3

Now that's Country music at its best

@sonnydave8551

4y↑2

Many singers sing country songs, but IMO, it takes more to be considered a true classic country singer. Your voice and delivery has to blend with the pedal steel and fiddles. The 2 male singers who do this best are Carl Butler and Wynn Stewart.

@RTRDick

11y↑1

Wow. Further evidence if any is required that not all great music came out of Nashville. A masterful composition, super singing great Bakersfield sound, Never realized Wynn and his sister wrote this, makes it even more special. Little wonder this type of music has staying power.

@thomashamilton9102

6y↑1

Thank you Wynn, this is real country music

@frankshearer4412

8y↑11

Love the female voice in the back round. Wish I could find every song ever sung with those heart breaking women wailing. Love this song.

@lizfugate7895

6y↑2

Great song and voice

@billylittleton3395

Love wynn one of the real singers not what we have today

@shannonburns3785

5y↑5

With sister Beverly singing that high harmony and spotlighting her soprano voice. Wynn with Moon on pedal steel. A couple of true masters of their trade and God I miss Shannon Marie who left this world on August 23, 2019 at 6:08 pm. God rest her soul. My little Angel Bear is gone!

@shannonburns3785

4y↑2

Wynn's daughter writes on you tube.

@shannonburns6724

3y↑1

Gordon Terry on fiddle, Bobby Austin, and Red Simpson in the studio.

@doctormountebank7656

2y↑1

You are spot on Shannon Burns. Ralph Mooney on pedal steel. All those Hoosier mods installed and fired up.

@jamessmitherman63

3y↑1

Great musicians, great song.

@earlslot8320

6y↑17

wynn sang from the heart

@1945biged1

12y↑2

Could dance all night to music with that beat. Great memories.

@Farrah300

8y↑1

I heard this song yesterday on the radio!!! SO COOL!!!

@denisecahoon6435

8y↑24

That's what I call country 🎶😁

@ernestperrone2812

3y↑1

One the best county songs ever made

@patriciajrs46

He was quite a good looking man. Good singer, too.
Clear, unvarnished, nicely polished music. Talented. Miss you Wynn.

@earlslot8320

7y↑6

great country singer, no more like him

@frankhaley9202

4y↑1

AAWW. DO I EVER MISS THESE KINDS OF INTROS.. Mr. Wynn🙏🏻Stewart thank you for always “ keeping it Country”

@michaelstickney9077

9y↑3

Great song. Terrific accompanying instrumentals. That's a pedal steel? Great sound.

@shannonburns6724

36w↑1

That was Ralph Mooney on his Fender 1000 presented him by Leo himself. What great sound it had. Hoosier mods from Vans in Indy. Great playing by probably the best to sit behind one.

@redshaftedflicker

7y↑1

Pure class, pure soul. I'm one lucky bastard to even know who Wynn Stewart is.

@donniehodge2548

42w

Great Singer 👏

@saragray4268

5y↑1

I LOVE HIS OLD TIME SINGING EVERY THING HE SINGS . HE SINGS FROM THE HEART

@Starliner57

9y↑5

Really cool sound!

@oldsongwriterdude

11y↑26

I often visited the club where they played in Long Beach CA called George's Roundup in the late 50s and early 60s. What with Wynn's singing and Ralph Mooney on the steel (an old Fender 1000 with a homemade pedal chord-changer) plus the rest of the great guys in the band (I recall Gordon Terry) .... it was a time I will never forget ... I was often asked to sit in ... and I never sounded that good again! Wynn Stewart's recording of Wishful Thinking still gives me the chills ....

@bobharris7046

4y↑1

Lenny, didn't he also play Bonnie Price's Foothill Club, on Coast Hwy. foot of Signal Hill, Long Beach, during that time? I lived in Long Beach 1953 to 1963.

@patriciajrs46

1y↑1

Mr. Green, it would be nice to hear you play, too.

@dapntman

Yea

@dapntman

1y↑1

Wish I could copy this comment

1 More Replies...

@delferguson8077

Some people pass through your life and you never get over her

@asianawesome1

3y↑1

Great singer great song.

@frankhaley9202

4y↑1

Wynn 🙏🏻 Stewart never was given enough recognition..( in my opinion) Always admired his style ..and Ralph🙏🏻 Mooney on that steel ..

@bobbycoxjr.2464

41w

Real country music!

@rodneycrafton9562

what a great singer

@outerlimit9752

7y↑1

this song was recorded in 59? wow, it must have been pretty bad a$$ back then. wynn stewart really can sing, and the band behind him is just awesome!

@bwatson65

11y

A great recording of the early Bakersfield sound!

@StanMusial1

8y↑1

Great song!

@tonihendrix6211

My dad played pedal steel for folks like Wynn and Buck when they'd sing at spots like the Fresno Barn, The Blackboard and The Lucky Spot. Buck used dad a LOT. He's not on this recording but he played it just like this!...so wish I could go back in time and see my dad again again and hear him in his heyday. In my opinion, he was undoubtedly also one of the original collaborators of The Bakersfield Sound.

@shannonburns6724

36w↑1

Great praise from a rightiously proud son. God bless your father. What was his name, and what did he play?

@vincentkahnapace9605

Gotta say I Like it, I like it,just listening to this song brings back alot of memories.

@webbjr37

10y↑2

One of Wynn's best,Way back in the early 50s had an album one side Wynn Stewart One side Webb Pierce,before either had a big hit,Webb's side were before Decca

@CreamyBone

8y↑36

This is so good! ...and Moon on the steel!

@marieblee9187

6y↑1

Slee

@dean828

2y↑1

Wynn Stewart... one of the fathers of The Bakersfield Sound... he also gave the first professional music job to Merle Haggard, after he was out of prison for good... He certainly deserves to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame... and it's a true shame he is not in it as of 2022... when he died in 1985., age just 51. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynn_Stewart

@mosrite60

8y↑7

Some trivia: Wynn's band back then included: Roy Nichols (tele), Moon (pedal steel), Bobby Austin (bass) , Gordon Terry (fiddle). Hey, an all star band IMO. All great musicians . And yes, that is Moon on steel. Waylon knew just how good he was. mos60

@juvenilehall1979

8y↑3

Dear Friend.... Thanks for the info on the Back up musicians ... they MAKE stars
of so many. Look up my friend Hal Blaine "The Wrecking Crew" drummer.
Look him up on Google and you'll be amazed how much he has done.
Thanks, Roger C. San Diego

@mosrite60

8y↑2

Roger C, sure Hal Blaine amazing drummer with WC. Thousands of records with the top groups of the day. Carol Kaye bass, Tommy Tedesco guitar Howard Roberts, wow Glen Campbell, all superstar. Not this electronic bull crap heard these days. Hey those were the days of musicians who played it right! cheers mos60

@shannonburns6724

3y↑1

Great one Mos60

@earlslot8320

7y↑6

one of the greatest tear jerkers of all time

@mosrite60

8y↑11

Wynn was one of the "original" members of "Bakersfield" sound. Of course we all know the other members Buck, Merle, Red Simpson, and others. This group of country stars showed the Nashville establishment that this was the way country should really sound. mos60

@cornbreadwinner

what a singer and band,one of the fine est guys you could ever meet. nashvile must have had their head up well, nuff said.
love wynn's music I do a lot of it myself,crowds seem to like it. they can dance to it. thanks

@earlslot8320

7y↑4

god we loved this song

@LouiseTabor-jl7em

40w

He is awsome👍

@latokatn506

7y↑5

Real True Country Music Thanks

@frankshearer4412

5y↑1

I love this song, love the voices of the squealing back up Women. Steel Guitar makes me cry, Thanks Mooney.

@shannonburns6724

36w↑1

That squeeling backup woman was Wynn's sister Beverly. Great recording from Capital West. A fine example of great and real country music.

@UncleCaptainMidnight

7y↑3

I love country shuffles !!

@edgarwarden8480

8y↑12

That is the wonderful backup singer, Millie Kirkham who just passed in the last year.She was 90 years old and still doung shows with Ronnie McDowell.Loved her.

@edgarwarden8480

8y↑2

Millie must have sang backup on at least 1000 recordings. It is fun to hear classic country and listen for her voice in the background.oved her.

@shannonburns6724

3y↑1

Not even. Better check Wynn's notes on his collection CD. That voice is his sister Beverly. The West Coast group would not have a Trashville Sound member on a Wynn Stewart recording. Do not guess, read. Plenty of info who was on these recordings. Like someone tried to credit her for being on some Hank Snow and John Horton songs. Research clearly shows Chet Atkins penciled in The Carters on the Hank Snow recordings, and Don Law done the same on the Horton recordings. Research, dig, find out these things. It makes the recordings mean more. From my Shannon Burns' notes. She loved real Country Music. And I love and miss my Angel Bear gone to Heaven 2 years now. Her Denny in tears.😪

@jeannieemberton5746

Great,real country!!

@jamesjenkins819

10y↑31

First time I heard this was in Chris' lounge, on Harrisburg Blvd. in Houston, Texas in 1959. Good country sound.

@7550375503

4y↑1

Oh my!

@raymondshirk8722

I love the steel guitar in the background of this song.

@ottloblundly8

Love Wynn.

@darrylpreston7632

11y↑4

Likes over dislikes 104-0! Is that a Youtube record for unanimity? If so, there isn't a more deserving song!

@karenlindsay8936

Wow great song🎤

@MrDoneboy

Real country music...The fakes today can't touch this!

@chuckacker3024

7y↑7

some real country music,

@cristianelvis5788

Great song

@JulesElway07KennyBrent

13y

Thank you Buddy, thank you Wynn Stewart!

@ikemortensen1181

3y↑2

Pure Country

@BCRification

13y↑1

Thanks for posting this great tune!!! Heres to ya!

@hipfilms

5y↑2

Miss my friend Wynn, RIP brother.........

@hejda3334

This is great! However I have a burnt CD which contain a cover of this song and i dunno who have done this. The cover is kinda soulful, meaning soul, the singer sings so well. Anyone know who this is? It is not done like a country song more like soul.

@JohnWhite-si4xc

10y↑9

one great song and singer thanks for this old one

@susliq86

11y↑27

beautiful music. mich better than the crap they do today..

@earlslot8320

4y↑2

in high school in 59 love this song and many other ones

@melvinpaul8135

10y↑12

awesome country the best.

@TheElvisSinger

10y↑8

Thanks for introducing me to a GREAT.

@chuckacker3024

I can remember when country singers could not get a top 10 song, cuz those spots were held by jim reeves, ray price, marty robbins, & faron young

@verycoolsound

13y↑3

@mrfiddleman Well put, but Wynn is definitely in my Hall of Fame!

@angusoldde2103

awesome, Bro....perfect timing as well.....

@jamescollins7913

skeeter davis also recorded this it is beautiful

@henrymartinez472

9y↑19

I used to dance the two step at Buck Owen's Crystal palace in Bakersfield,California to this song was so much fun I miss them days 😯

@charleskitchen542

Henry Martinez of

@mrfiddleman

13y

I also think Wynn should be in the Hall of Fame but doubt he ever will be. He had some great recordings but also recorded a bunch of duds. He never toured consistently with great success, settling in Las Vegas and working his own club there for a long time. I have always thought that his career did not live up to the potential for greatness that his voice bought him. It's too bad he didn't have better management and direction when he was younger, things might have been different.

@kennybuckman8048

9y↑4

THE BEST

@earlslot8320

7y↑1

want to bring it back, but can't still love her after all these years

@BKayProxie12345

I had no idea this guy was born in my hometown

@Johnny-xw7mf

Boy so called country music today really blows!! Johnny from Alabama

@georgehall1614

5y↑1

I wasn't born when these great songs came out. I never heard of Wynn Stewart. Met an older gentleman that turned me on too the old music from the 50's. Since then I've been researching the oldies. God, I love 'em!!!!