I Wish

R. Kelly

About I Wish

"I Wish" is an R&B song recorded by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly, from the album TP-2.com. It was released as the album's first single. It spent three weeks at number-one on the U. S. R&B chart and peaked at number fourteen on the U. S. Hot 100 chart. The song is dedicated to his mother as well as friends and other loved ones of his who have died. This song was originally going to feature rapper 2Pac, but he died before recording his verse. The remix, which was titled "I Wish - Remix (To the Homies That We Lost) featured Hip Hop duo Boo & Gotti, who were then signed to his Rockland Records imprint.  


Year:
2001
4:10
284 
#1

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I wish, I wish, I wish
To every city
I wish, I wish, I wish
Every hood
I wish, I wish, I wish
And every block
Ghetto America!

Rollin' through the hood
Just stopped by to say what's up
And let you know
Your baby boy ain't doing so tough
And even though you passed
Going on four long years
Still waking up late at night crying tears
Just thinking about those days
You used to talk to me
Smilin' while I'm sippin' on this Hennessey
And remember we bragged on how rich we would be
To get up out this hood was like a fantasy

And now you hear my songs the radio is bangin'
Oh I can't believe my ears 
And what everybody's sayin'
And boy I'll tell you, folks don't know the half
I would give it all up, just to take one ride

(With you)
How I used to kick it on the front porch
(With you)
And how I used to lay back and smoke weed
(With you)
And all the little basement party joints we'd do
Now I'm just missing you
How I wish

[Chorus]
I wish that I could hold you now
I wish that I could touch you now
I wish that I could talk to you
Be with you somehow
I know you're in a better place
Even though I can't see your face
I know you're smiling down on me
Saying everything's okay
And if I make it out this thug life
I'll see you again someday
I wish, I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish, I wish

Now ever since this money come
It's been nothing but stress
Sometimes I wish that I could just trade in my success
Y'all look at me and say boy you've been blessed
But y'all don't see the inside of my unhappiness
Man I swear this shit gets heavy like a ton
That's why you hear me shootin', this real shit off like a gun
Hmm I wonder how my friends would treat me now
If I wasn't iced up with a Bentley and a house
That's why fake ass niggas get fake ass digits
And fake ass playas get a real playa hatin' 'em
Honey Love goes platinum and y'all ass come around
But y'all don't want to raise the roof
Until my shit is going down

And now you hear my songs the radio is bangin'
Oh I can't believe my ears 
And what everybody's sayin'
Boy I'll tell you, folks don't know the half
I would give it all up, just to take one ride

(With you)
How I used to hoop off in them tournaments
(With you)
And how I used to club hop on weekends
(With you)
Your family called the morning of the tragic end
Damn, my condolences

[Chorus]

Voices in my head be telling me to come to church
Said the Lord is the only way for you to stop the hurt
Dreaming of windows black tinted like a hearse
When waking up to life sometimes seems worst
And all I ever wanted is to be a better man
And I try to keep it real with my homies now
For me to save the world I don't understand
How did I become the leader of a billion men?

And now you hear my songs the radio is bangin'
Oh I can't believe my ears 
And what everybody's sayin'
Boy I'll tell you, folks don't know the half
I would give it all up, just to take one ride

(With you)
How I used to street perform on Friday
(With you)
And how I used to go to church on Easter Sunday
(With you)
Standing here throwing them songs at me
Somebody pray for me

[Repeat: x3]
I wish that I could hold you now
I wish that I could touch you now
I wish that I could talk to you
Be with you somehow
I know you're in a better place
Even though I can't see your face
I know you're smiling down on me
Saying everything's okay

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R. Kelly

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Often referred to as the King of R&B, Kelly is recognized as one of the most successful R&B artists of all-time. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play. He is known for a collection of major hit singles including "Bump n' Grind", "Your Body's Callin'", "I Believe I Can Fly", "Gotham City", "Ignition (Remix)", "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time", "The World's Greatest", "I'm a Flirt", and the hip-hopera "Trapped in the Closet". In 1998, Kelly won three Grammy Awards for "I Bel… more »

2 fans

Written by: Robert S. Kelly

Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Release Information
"I Wish" is a single by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly, released on August 21, 2000.
Album Inclusion
It is featured on his fourth studio album "TP-2.com."
Song Format
The song is a ballad, which is a departure from R. Kelly's more famous contemporary R&B style.
Theme
The lyrics of "I Wish" are about the losses he had suffered in his life, including the death of his mother and his friends.
Song Success
"I Wish" was a commercial success, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Music Video
The music video for "I Wish" was directed by Kelly and Christopher Erskin. It features scenes of Kelly singing in a churchyard, and images of loved ones shown in the sky.
Extended Remix
R. Kelly also released a three-part extended remix version called "I Wish - Remix (To the Homies That We Lost)."
Remix Success
The remix was a commercial success too, peaking at No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
Song Duration
The original song runs for five minutes and thirty-six seconds while the remix is a three-part song with a total duration of eighteen minutes and fifty-three seconds.
Awards
Despite its commercial success, "I Wish" did not secure any major awards.
Inspirational Tone
The song is often considered as one of R. Kelly’s most inspirational tracks, highlighting his ability for deep emotional storytelling in song form.

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    "I Wish Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19186615/R.+Kelly/I+Wish>.

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    I Wish

    69.7M
    300.3K     17,450

    Top Hot 100 Songs 2001

    Billboard #14


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