How many of you have wished upon a star? Even without assurance of it coming true, we have recited heartfelt wishes at some point in our lives.
Music is the perfect vessel to make a wish, and songs about this topic are one of the most popular. They can be about wishing for happiness, love, and even world peace.
We’ve scoured far and wide to compile 21 of the best songs about wishes. So continue reading, and let’s find out what these songs have to say about it.
1. “My Wish” By Rascal Flatts
Leading our list is the 2006 single “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts. This poignant song resonates with listeners due to its message of hope, encouragement, and community.
“My Wish” is more than just a catchy tune. It’s a comforting ballad for people who feel lost or at rock bottom in life. Though the narrative centers around the relationship between a father and a child, the universal message appeals to all.
The song expresses one’s deep-seated desire for the well-being of a loved one. The underlying message is about wishing the best for someone who means the world to you, reminding them that they are loved, and offering them hope during tough times.
2. “Wish You Were Here” By Pink Floyd
Up next is “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd, the title track from their 1975 album. At its core, it conveys the importance of being free and present in one’s life to truly enjoy it.
The song is not about wishes in the traditional sense of hoping for something to happen. Rather, it’s a reflection on the feelings of missing someone deeply and wishing they were right in that moment.
“Wish You Were Here” is said to be a tribute to Syd Barrett, a founding member who had to leave due to mental health issues. The song expresses the band’s wish for Barrett to be with them.
Upon its release, “Wish You Were Here” was picked up by classic rock radio stations. Rolling Stone ranked it #302 on its list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2021.
3. “Airplanes” By B.o.B Ft. Hayley Williams
In 2010, American rapper B.o.B and Hayley Williams of Paramore collaborated to release “Airplanes.” It was a hit, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in the UK and New Zealand.
At its core, “Airplanes” is about wishing for simpler times, as addressed in the lines “Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish / To go back to a place much simpler than this.” B.o.B expresses his desire to go back to his past before his fame and success complicated his life.
The song expresses a burning desire to rewind time when music was just a passion. It uses the metaphor of airplanes in the night sky as shooting stars, symbolizing the wishes B.o.B has for a less complicated life.
4. “I Wish You Were There” By REO Speedwagon
From REO Speedwagon‘s ninth studio album comes “I Wish You Were There.” As you might have guessed from the title, the track is about longing for someone who is not around.
This song perfectly captures the universal human experience of missing someone dearly. The lyrics speak of a place of comfort where one can go no matter what they’re going through. Whether they’re “flyin’ high or layin’ low” or they’re up or down, the place is always available and abundant in comfort.
However, it’s the presence of someone special that makes the place a sanctuary. Hence, the narrator longs for a reunion or connection with this person who is no longer there.
5. “Wish You Would” By Justin Bieber Ft. Quavo
Marking their first collaboration, Justin Bieber and Quavo of Migos teamed up to record “Wish You Would.” Released in 2021, the track appeared in Bieber’s album Justice.
“Wish You Would” reflects the narrator’s desire for physical and emotional closeness with a partner. In relation to wishes, he longs for a partner who can provide him stability and understanding in their relationship. She must be someone who can help him feel grounded and inspire him to commit to her long-term.
The repeated phrase “wish you would” articulates the narrator’s wish for his partner to behave in a way that brings him comfort and security.
6. “Wish You Were Here” By Avril Lavigne
One’s longing for someone special intensifies when that person is not around. Avril Lavigne has to deal with an absentee person in “Wish You Were Here,” the third and final single off her album Goodbye Lullaby.
Thematically, the song conveys a feeling of loneliness and sadness that comes from separation. The narrator deeply misses the person and all the good times they had together.
Essentially, “Wish You Were Here” is a lament for the absence of the person in her life. Without him, there’s a void in her life that no one else can fill. It makes her wish earnestly that he is with her at the moment.
7. “I Wish” By Cher Lloyd
In this song with “wish” in the title, Cher Lloyd sings about her struggle with insecurities. “I Wish” reflects her longing to be someone else whom she perceives as more attractive and desirable.
The song highlights her wish to possess the traits that she believes would make her more appealing. She wishes to be richer, taller, and with a beautiful body, just like the woman that the narrator’s love interest likes.
In relation to wishes, the narrator uses the term to express her desire for validation and her struggle with self-confidence. However, the song reminds us to embrace our own uniqueness and individuality.
8. “Wish You Were Here” By Incubus
In “Wish You Were Here,” Incubus sings about yearning for someone to share a moment of happiness. The song mentions “wish” to signify the narrator’s longing for companionship.
The lyrics convey a sense of contentment and peace as the narrator stands at the beach. The feelings the place evokes in him leave him in a happy state. It’s a beautiful moment that he wishes someone was there with him to experience it.
In essence, “Wish You Were Here” emphasizes the importance of companionship and shared experiences. It suggests that moments of happiness are amplified when they are shared with others.
9. “I Wish It Would Rain” By The Temptations
The deeply emotional song “I Wish It Would Rain” by The Temptations delves around heartbreak and despair. The narrator wishing for it to rain is a metaphorical expression of his inner turmoil.
The lyrics find the narrator grappling with the loss of his partner, who has already found someone else, leaving him in extreme sorrow. He wishes that it would rain to mirror his emotional state and hide his tears.
In relation to “wish,” he uses this term to express his longing for an external manifestation of his internal anguish. The rain is considered a cleansing force that can wash away his pain.
10. “I Wish I Had A Girl” By Henry Lee Summer
Don’t we all wish to find the right partner for us? Henry Lee Summer sure does, as he sings about it in “I Wish I Had a Girl.” Released in 1988, this song centers on the narrator’s desire to find a woman who embodies the qualities he admires.
Throughout the song, he wishes for a girl who stands out from the crowd, someone unique and special. He references various types of women, such as Cajun queens and movie stars. But what he desires is a girl who is perfect for him.
However, his wish is not just for any girl. He’s looking for a person who will understand and resonate with him on a deeper level.
11. “My Wish Came True” By Elvis Presley
In this 1959 song from Elvis Presley, he gets the one thing he has been wishing for. “My Wish Came True” expresses the fulfillment of his longing for true love.
The “wish” in this context signifies his deep desire to find the woman who will complete him. The narrator’s wish is not just for any partner, though. He has been wishing for someone who will bring him true happiness.
He expresses through the lyrics his joy and satisfaction when he meets the woman he loves. He mentions that he has “searched and searched [his] whole life through” and how she stands right before his eyes.
12. “Three Wishes” By The Pierces
Up next, we have a poignant song with “wish” in the lyrics. The Pierces‘ “Three Wishes” talks about vulnerability and a desire for emotional strength.
The song explores three wishes: to “fly the heavens” and “swim like fishes.” The third one is reserved for a rainy day when the narrator’s lover leaves her. These wishes represent a yearning for emotional fortitude and the ability to withstand pain and distress.
In essence, “Three Wishes” is not about desiring material goods or superficial desires. But it’s about wishing for the capacity to protect emotions and navigate life with strength.
13. “I Wish You Well” By Bill Withers
From the legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers comes a heartfelt song titled “I Wish You Well.” This beautiful ballad expresses love and sincere goodbyes, with the “wish” serving as an emblem of positivity and hope.
“I Wish You Well” reveals his wishes for the subject of the song. These include flowers, sunshine, smiles, and pretty things to wear. The wishes are not simply material things but also emotional, reflecting his deep desire for the person’s happiness.
The phrase “I wish you well” is almost a prayer or positive affirmation. It reinforces the sincerity of the narrator’s wishes.
14. “Blown A Wish” By My Bloody Valentine
The dreamy song “Blown a Wish” by My Bloody Valentine is about longing and desire. The narrator’s wish symbolizes a deep yearning that is cast out into the universe, much like blowing a candle and making a wish.
The lines “Midnight wish, blow me a kiss, I’ll blow one to you / Make like this, try to pretend it’s true” suggest the narrator’s longing for a deep connection and intimacy with someone. She attempts to hold onto a moment, even if it’s fleeting or not real.
In essence, “Blown a Wish” is about the human experience of longing and one’s desire for love and connection. All these are inherent in making a wish.
15. “When You Wish Upon A Star” By Tony Bennett
Written for the 1940 animated film Pinocchio, “When You Wish Upon a Star” is up next. Tony Bennett‘s rendition of this classic captures the power of dreams and the magic of wishing.
The song encapsulates hope, aspiration, and the belief in one’s ability to make dreams come true. Wishes, the song says, can transcend physical limitations and circumstances. In addition, the song tells us that wishes are accessible to anyone, regardless of who they are.
At its core, “When You Wish Upon a Star” plays around the idea that wishes can come true if you believe. It reminds us to harness the power of positive thinking and believing in our dreams.
16. “I Wish I Were A Princess” By Peggy March
In “I Wish I Were a Princess,” Peggy March sings about a girl’s dream of being a princess and the romantic implications it holds for her. The song expresses her deep longing for an idealized form of love and life.
The lines “I wish I were a princess / And if I were a princess / I’d make you my prince” suggest her desire for a fairy-tale-like romance. She wishes to be a princess not just for the glamor and beauty but also to elevate her love interest to the status of a prince.
“I Wish I Were a Princess” shows how wishes often reflect our deepest desires and dreams. And it doesn’t even matter if they’re far-fetched or fantastical.
17. “I Wish” By Stevie Wonder
The nostalgic song “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder is up next. Released as the lead single from his album Songs in the Key of Life, it’s a recollection of childhood and the desire for simpler times. The narrator longs for the past and appreciates the memories of his youth.
In the lyrics, the narrator reminisces about when he was a young boy, getting into mischief and experiencing the joys of childhood. He yearns to relive those moments, as addressed in the line, “I wish those days could come back once more.”
“I Wish” encapsulates the feeling of nostalgia and the acknowledgment that changes occur with growing up.
18. “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” By Angie Stone
It’s a different kind of pain when you miss the person who hurt you in the past. Angie Stone knows this too well in “Wish I Didn’t Miss You.”
The lyrics express her struggle of missing her ex despite the pain he caused her. The song details her turmoil and her attempts at moving forward even when she has residual feelings for him.
This leaves her with a sense of frustration and heartache, making her wish to be free from emotional ties to him. The song highlights the painful reality of longing for someone who does not deserve our love.
19. “I Wish I Could Break Your Heart” By Cassadee Pope
In the next song, the narrator couldn’t help wishing something bad to the person who hurt her. Cassadee Pope released “I Wish I Could Break Your Heart” in 2013 from her album Frame by Frame.
The lyrics find our narrator exploring her conflicted feelings after a breakup. The song encapsulates her desire to make her ex feel the same pain that she has experienced. She wishes to break his heart and bring him down just to teach him a lesson.
This conveys her struggle with lingering feelings of hurt and betrayal. These emotions fuel her desire for revenge.
20. “I Hope” By Gabby Barrett
Another song that deals with complex feelings following a painful breakup is Gabby Barrett‘s “I Hope.” This track came from her 2020 Goldmine album.
The lyrics are twofold. The first expresses the narrator’s seemingly well-intentioned wish for her ex’s future happiness. The second reveals a darker desire for that person to experience heartbreak, similar to what she has endured in his hands.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the narrator’s true wish is for him to go through the same pain he caused her. In this context, wishes somehow become a coping mechanism to deal with the hurt and betrayal from a failed relationship.
21. “Wish You The Best” By Lewis Capaldi
To tie up this list, we present to you Lewis Capaldi‘s “Wish You the Best,” released in 2023. This track explores themes of longing, regret, and unexpressed emotions.
The lyrics find the narrator missing someone who has been an important part of his life. Now she’s with someone else, but his feelings for her remain.
In relation to “wishes,” the song uses this term to express the narrator’s inner desires for her. He wants her back and to tell her that he needs her. But all he can do is wish her the best in a life that no longer includes him.
Summing Up Our List Of Songs About Wishes
In wrapping up, the songs above showed that wishes often serve as a mirror to our deepest emotions and desires. They are a testament to our ability to feel deeply, love passionately, and hope fervently despite heartbreak and disappointment.
In addition, these songs remind us that wishes can come from a place of pain or a place of happiness. It’s up to us which to choose. But we hope that you choose the path that can help you confront, process, and heal from your experiences.
That’s it for today, and we hope you liked the selection of songs we prepared. We always love to hear from our dear readers. So, if you want to see more songs that tackle wishes, do let us know!
