“Wish Me Well” - a song about dreaming
I pick mountains over beach every time. Fight me.
Story Pairing
I felt like re-recording this song as I have just recently added it back into my solo shows. It’s one of the songs that when I recorded it on my 2021 album, “Now You Know”, it felt like it needed a break. I think that break is over so it’s back in rotation.
I have so many songs about moving or traveling or exploring and it’s because it’s such a big part of my life. I remember I had a co-worker who was double my age (at the time I believe she was 52?), and she had never been to NYC. She said it was a dream of hers to go. I may have shared this story before, but it’s one that really shaped my perspective on adventure. You are telling me that in 52 years you haven’t been able to achieve a “dream” that consists of driving 7.5 hours. That’s the hurdle. I get that there is anxiety and fear and money and so much more going into a journey like that, but it was a DREAM. A very achievable one to some, but maybe the equivalent of scaling a mountain to others.
That’s something I think about a lot in this line of work. It’s one that is often dreamed about, making it different than other occupations. I haven’t met too many younger folk that dream of being a logistics manager or an accountant, etc (I picked two jobs that I think I could take if they attack me). But music and the arts are full of people that dreamed about it first. They wanted it and then made it happen. Pushed through the shit, pushed through the hard days/nights, pushed through the doubt and anxiety and fear (and probably still do).
The short of it is that a dream rarely comes easy. You have to want it. Lip service and excuses are easy to come by. This song came from feeling a little lonely among a sea of dreamers. The group that keeps swimming gets smaller and smaller the farther you go, and it can feel like you’re lost or the only one out there at times.
I am not planning on stopping anytime soon, but the little caveat I threw in this song, is that if I do, I will sell everything and find a secluded place in the mountains to carry on. Wish me well.
Here is the version from the 2021 album. This was live recorded in an empty church, and is part of 17 song project that lives online.
Song Structure
Verse: C / F / G / C / F / G / C
Chorus: F / C / G / C / F / C / G / C
Voice Memos
Notebook Page
July 2020
Lyrics
Gets a bit lonesome to try and reach you
Gets a bit lonesome just to say hello
I keep rambling round to your town
Seems like an awful long way to go
Getting moving on east, to New York City
Getting driving on west, I'm California bound
Lose my trail, go on check the mountains
Wish me well, I chose to settle down
Get's a bit lonesome to stay ahead
Get's a bit lonesome just to stay afloat
I keep writing sad songs you don't stop listening
Maybe I'll sell one tune that I wrote
Getting moving on east, to New York City
Getting driving on west, I'm California bound
Lose my trail, go on check the mountains
Wish me well, I chose to settle down
Get's a bit lonesome to keep you happy
Get's a bit lonesome to keep you fed
You get to running I wouldn't blame ya
Welcome back when I make a little bread
Getting moving on east, to New York City
Getting driving on west, I'm California bound
Lose my trail, go on check the mountains
Wish me well, I chose to settle down
Wish me well, I chose to settle down
Wish me well, I chose to settle down