The song "Wish" by Hurts tells the story of missed opportunities and regret. The lyrics describe moments in the narrator's life where they had the chance to express their feelings or take action but failed to do so. The song begins with the narrator reflecting on a past experience at Piccadilly station, where they felt their heartbeat racing but didn't understand its significance. They then mention finding a mirror for their soul on Camberwell road, indicating a moment of self-reflection and self-discovery. The lyrics suggest that the narrator didn't need anyone else because they were content with themselves. The second verse describes the narrator's tendency to be accident-prone and how they fell head over heels for someone without warning. Despite their fear of falling (both literally and metaphorically), they never noticed themselves falling in love. The chorus expresses the regret of not expressing their feelings to this person and realizing it only after they are no longer around. The lyrics mention a specific location, Whitechapel, where something important could have happened, but the narrator simply left the other person standing there. While the narrator's life took them from New York City to Japan, they find that these experiences don't bring them satisfaction compared to what could have been with the person they regret not pursuing. The bridge reflects on the idea that the timing of events often makes us victims, implying that circumstances prevented the narrator from taking action in the past. However, they acknowledge that they were a fool for not trying on that cold summer night. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the regret of not expressing their feelings when they had the chance. In the final verse, the narrator expresses a desire to rewrite the past and hold onto the things that were let go. They wish they could turn back time and express their feelings to the person they regret not pursuing. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus to highlight the ongoing regret and longing for what could have been.
