Wish – English Lyrics

• By: Hurts
• Album: SURRENDER

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional world of Hurts' "Wish," a song that beautifully captures the pain of unspoken feelings and missed opportunities. By exploring the heartfelt lyrics, you'll gain insight into the universal experience of regret and learn how timing and circumstances can impact our lives, all while appreciating Hurts' signature synth-pop style.

[English]

At the Piccadilly station I felt my heartbeat racing

I didn't know no better

And on that Camberwell Road I found a mirror for my soul

And I didn't need no other

I was accident prone, I fell head over heels with no warning

And in spite of my vertigo I never felt myself falling

And I wish, I wish

That I told you then what

I realise now And I wish, I wish

That I told you when you were still around

...

That night in Whitechapel girl, I know what should have happened

I just left you standing there

Meanwhile I became a man from New York City to Japan

But that don't give me satisfaction, yeah

We're only victims of timing

And on that cold summer night

I know I'm a fool for not trying

And I wish, I wish

That I told you then what I realise now

And I wish, I wish

That I told you when you were still around

...

I wish that I could rewrite all the things that we both let go

And I wish that I could just turn back the time and tell you

I wish, I wish

That I told you then what I realise now

And I wish

I wish, I wish

That I told you then what I realise now

And I wish, I wish

That I told you when you were still around

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wish /wɪʃ/ A1	verb - to want something that cannot or probably will not happen noun - a desire or hope for something
realise /ˈriəlaɪz/ B1	verb - to become aware of something
heartbeat /ˈhɑːrtbiːt/ A2	noun - a single contraction of the heart
racing /ˈreɪsɪŋ/ A2	verb - to move or progress quickly
mirror /ˈmɪrər/ A1	noun - a reflective surface
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual part of a person
prone /proʊn/ B2	adjective - likely or liable to suffer from something
vertigo /ˈvɜːrtɪɡoʊ/ C1	noun - a sensation of whirling and loss of balance
satisfaction /ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/ B1	noun - fulfillment of one's wishes, expectations, or needs
victim /ˈvɪktɪm/ A2	noun - a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event
timing /ˈtaɪmɪŋ/ B1	noun - the choice, judgment, or control of when something should be done
rewrite /riːˈraɪt/ B2	verb - to write something again, typically in a different or improved form
turn /tɜːrn/ A1	verb - to change direction or position
fool /fuːl/ A2	noun - a person who acts unwisely or imprudently
trying /ˈtraɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - to make an attempt to do something

Key Grammar Structures

• At the Piccadilly station I felt my heartbeat racing

  ➔ Verb + Object + Present Participle

  ➔ The verb "felt" is followed by the object "my heartbeat" and the present participle "racing" which describes the object's state.

• I didn't know no better

  ➔ Past Simple Negative (auxiliary "did" + not)

  ➔ The negative past simple is formed with the auxiliary "did" + "not", as in "didn't".

• And on that Camberwell Road I found a mirror for my soul

  ➔ Past Simple with Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The verb "found" is in the past simple, and "on that Camberwell Road" is a prepositional phrase indicating location.

• I was accident prone, I fell head over heels with no warning

  ➔ Past Simple + Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ The verb "fell" is past simple, and "head over heels" is an idiomatic expression meaning completely.

• And in spite of my vertigo I never felt myself falling

  ➔ Gerund as Object Complement

  ➔ The gerund "falling" functions as a complement to the object "myself", describing what was felt.

• And I wish, I wish That I told you then what I realise now

  ➔ Wish + Past Simple (unreal past)

  ➔ After the verb "wish" we use the past simple "told" to talk about an unreal situation in the past.

• Meanwhile I became a man from New York City to Japan

  ➔ Past Simple 'become' with Infinitive Phrase

  ➔ The verb "became" is past simple; the phrase "from New York City to Japan" shows the range of change.

• We're only victims of timing

  ➔ Present Simple (contraction)

  ➔ "We're" is the contracted form of "we are", used in the present simple tense.

• I know I'm a fool for not trying

  ➔ Gerund after preposition "for"

  ➔ The gerund "trying" follows the preposition "for" to express purpose or reason.

• I wish that I could rewrite all the things that we both let go

  ➔ Wish + Modal "could" + Infinitive + Relative Clause

  ➔ "could rewrite" uses the modal "could" to show hypothetical ability, and the relative clause "that we both let go" modifies "things".