Wishing Well

Terence Trent D'Arby

About Wishing Well

"Wishing Well" is a song by Terence Trent D'Arby. The second single from the 1987 album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, the song reached number one on both the Soul Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 on May 7, 1988 (1988-05-07). "Wishing Well" was certified "Gold", indicating sales of 500,000, by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 1991. Written by D'Arby and Sean Oliver, D'Arby said "Wishing Well" was written "when I was in a half-asleep, half-awake state of mind", and that he "liked the feel of the words". Martyn Ware of Heaven 17 paired with D'Arby in production of the song, which was released on CBS Records. Once released, "Wishing Well", along with D'Arby's debut single "If You Let Me Stay", went into "heavy rotation" on MTV. D'Arby performed the song live at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards, where he lost the Grammy Award for Best New Artist to Jody Watley. When the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, it had charted for 17 weeks, which made it the slowest song to reach number one since Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" in 1983. Ben Greenman of The New Yorker credits "Wishing Well", along with other D'Arby songs, with "[bringing] soul music into the eighties". Writing about D'Arby for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the song "sparse funk", and noted how "Wishing Well" was his first major hit in the United States. Kathi Whalen of The Washington Post credited the song's chart success to D'Arby's combination of "'60s soul and pop on top", and called "Wishing Well" "bouncy". 


Year:
2005
3:32
73 

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

Kissing like a bandit stealing time underneath a sycamore tree.
Cupid by the hour sends Valentines to my sweet lover and me.
Slowly, but surely your appetite is more than I knew.
Sweetly, softly I'm falling in love with you.

Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell;
a wishing well of butterfly tears.
Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell.
A wishing well of crocodile tears sing.

Hugging like a monkey see, monkey do right beside a riverboat gambler.
Erotic images float through my head; I wanna be your midnight rambler.
Quickly, but quickly the blood races through me veins.
Quickly, loudly I wanna hear those sugar bells ring.

Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell;
a wishing well of butterfly tears.
Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell.

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Terence Trent D'Arby

Sananda Francesco Maitreya (born Terence Trent Howard in Manhattan, New York, New York on March 15, 1962), better known by his former stage name Terence Trent D'Arby, is an American singer-songwriter who came to fame with his album Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby, released in July 1987, which included the singles "Wishing Well" and "Sign Your Name". The album has sold over 14 million copies. more »

3 fans

Written by: Terence Trent D'arby, Sean Oliver

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Identity
"Wishing Well" is a song by Terence Trent D'Arby from his 1987 debut studio album, "Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby".
Chart Success
The song was a major success, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Black Singles charts in the United States.
Writing Credits
"Wishing Well" was written by Terence Trent D'Arby and Sean Oliver. D'Arby also produced the song alongside Martyn Ware and Howard Gray.
Song Theme
The song has a strong soul influence, with lyrics that blend romantic longing with a sense of spirituality. The lyrics speak about personal self-realization, freedom, and spiritually guided love.
Recognitions
"Wishing Well" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1988.
Music Video
The music video for the song further contributed to its popularity. In it, D’Arby showcased his unique style, which included a mixture of modern pop and classic soul.
Revival in Pop Culture
The song continues to be popular and has been featured in numerous films and television shows, including the 2004 movie “50 First Dates”.
Impact on Career
"Wishing Well" served as D’Arby’s breakout hit, establishing him as a major talent in the music industry during the late 1980s.
Unique Approach
A striking feature of the song is D’Arby’s vocal performance. His voice has often been compared to that of Sam Cooke, and he showcased its range and flexibility in this song.
Song Legacy
"Wishing Well" remains a staple of 80s soul-pop and continues to receive airplay on adult contemporary and classic hits radio stations. It played a significant role in setting the standards and expectations for D’Arby’s subsequent works.

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    Wishing Well

    13.8M
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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1988

    Billboard #1


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