Wish I Sang A Little Better
sprites Lyrics


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Sometimes I wish I sang a little better but I don't.
Might be a frog in my throat,
Or a lapse in my brain
Must be a wrong guitar chord in the refrain.

Sometimes I wish I sang a little better -
I sound so fine in my head
But when I hear that tape played back to me
It sounds like someone else entirely.

And whoever says you need to sing well
Has never heard Stephen Pastel
And it's sincerity that gets me
Just like Bernard Sumner on "Love Vigilantes"

Sometimes I wish I sang a little better
Maybe just a little more control
Maybe just a little sharper on the flat notes

Sometimes I wish I sang a little better than I do
Still I won't be deterred by you
When all my favourite singers are challenged vocally too

And whoever says you need to sing well
Has never heard Kleenex Girl Wonder
And it's sincerity that moves me
Just like Feargal Sharkey or The Legendary Jim Ruiz

And whoever says you need to sing well
Has never heard Stephen Pastel
And it's sincerity that moves me
Just like Calvin Johnson or Feargal Sharkey

And whoever says, "Let someone else sing"
Has no idea how much it hurts




Letting someone else destroy your words
I'll sing the things that I want in the way that I want to.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Wish I Sang A Little Better" by Sprites reflects the artist's insecurities about their singing abilities. The song begins with the artist wishing they sang a little better, but they know that they have frog in their throat or they might have made a mistake in the guitar chords. The artist reflects on how they sound great in their head, but when they listen to the tape, they sound like an entirely different person. The lyrics suggest that the artist's lack of confidence in their singing voice comes from a comparison of their voice with other singers, and the artist still wishes to improve their control over their voice and sing sharper notes.


However, the song also emphasizes the importance of sincerity in singing. The artist references Stephen Pastel, Bernard Sumner on "Love Vigilantes," Kleenex Girl Wonder, Feargal Sharkey, and The Legendary Jim Ruiz as examples of singers who do not necessarily sing perfectly but move the listener with their sincerity. The artist concludes that they will continue singing the way they want to, even if people suggest that they let someone else sing.


Overall, "Wish I Sang A Little Better" is a beautiful song that addresses the artist's anxieties about their singing voice, while also providing comfort to listeners who may feel similarly insecure about their abilities.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I wish I sang a little better but I don't.
I sometimes feel like I'm not the best singer, but I'm okay with it.


Might be a frog in my throat,
Perhaps my voice isn't as clear as it could be.


Or a lapse in my brain
Maybe I forget the lyrics or notes from time to time.


Must be a wrong guitar chord in the refrain.
Perhaps I'm not playing the right notes on my guitar, affecting my performance.


I sound so fine in my head
I think I'm a great singer when I'm singing, but that's not always the case.


But when I hear that tape played back to me
Listening to a recording of my singing can be a humbling experience.


It sounds like someone else entirely.
My singing voice on a recording often doesn't match what I hear in my head.


And whoever says you need to sing well
People who think good singing is necessary for music enjoyment don't know what they're talking about.


Has never heard Stephen Pastel
The musician Stephen Pastel is an example of someone whose singing isn't stereotypically 'good', but still makes great music.


And it's sincerity that gets me
For me, it's the honesty and emotionality in music that really matters.


Just like Bernard Sumner on 'Love Vigilantes'
The singer Bernard Sumner's lack of traditional vocal training doesn't stop his music from being powerful and touching.


Maybe just a little more control
I know I could improve my singing with more precision and practice.


Maybe just a little sharper on the flat notes
Improving my pitch control would help me sound better and more consistent.


Still I won't be deterred by you
Even if someone criticizes my singing, I won't stop doing what I love.


When all my favourite singers are challenged vocally too
Many of my favorite artists don't have perfect pitch or vocal control either, but I still appreciate their work.


And whoever says, 'Let someone else sing'
People who don't think I should be singing at all don't understand how much it means to me.


Has no idea how much it hurts
Being told not to sing or that I'm not good at it is a painful experience for me.


Letting someone else destroy your words
Allowing someone else to sing my songs and change their meaning would be like letting them ruin something precious to me.


I'll sing the things that I want in the way that I want to.
I will continue to sing my music with honesty and authenticity, no matter what anyone else thinks.




Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Elijah Highberg

I think yer singing jives

King Urchin

It’s still not your song

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