Wishing

Song Meaning

Joan Armatrading's "Wishing" isn't a saccharine ode to hope; it's a masterclass in depicting desire's frustrating dance with reality. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of faded glory – a falling star likened to an 'old Hollywood actress,' a broken neon sign. This sets the stage for a longing rooted in something that's already past its prime, a wish made not on fresh potential, but on the remnants of something once brilliant. The act of wishing itself becomes almost desperate, grasping at a 'burned out light' and a 'moon/Haunting the trees,' imagery that suggests a profound sense of isolation accompanying this yearning. It's not just about wanting, it's about wanting in the face of decay. The core of the song meaning lies in the frustrating elusiveness of the desired object. Armatrading's lyrics describe the wish as 'dodging,' a 'riderless horse' that seems perpetually out of reach. This isn't a passive waiting game; the wisher is actively engaged, tracking its movement 'to the left, to the right,' feeling the agonizing proximity only to have it slip away 'out of sight.' The 'riderless horse' is a particularly potent image, suggesting a force that is wild, untamed, and ultimately uncontrollable. The futility is amplified by the line 'I was wishing on a prayer,' hinting at a spiritual dimension to this desire, a plea to forces beyond the singer's control. Ultimately, "Wishing" is about the torment of deferred gratification and the recognition that sometimes, the object of our desire remains perpetually out of reach. The lines 'I'd waited too long/Watched for that pot to boil/Waited too long for the whistle' speak to a weariness, the sense that the opportunity has passed, not through lack of effort, but through the simple passage of time. The repetition of the 'dodging' metaphor reinforces the cyclical nature of desire and disappointment. Joan Armatrading doesn't offer easy answers or platitudes; she presents a raw, honest portrayal of the human condition, trapped between longing and the acceptance of an unfulfilled wish.