You're the Wish (You Are) I Had

(Partridge)

The Big Express

Recordings XTCfans interview with Andy Partridge Art Lyrics Chords and Tablature

Recordings

1. Album version, 3'13.
   Released on The Big Express.
   Peter Phipps - Drums
2. BBC version, 3'26.
   Recorded 11 October 1984 at BBC Studios.
   Produced and engineered by Dale Griffin and Ted De Bono.
   First broadcast 20 November 1984 on the Bruno Brookes Show.
   Released on 5 October 1994 on Drums and Wireless in the U.K.
   Also available on Transistor Blast.
   Andy Partridge - vocals, guitars, zippy zither and drum programming
   Colin Moulding - vocals and bass guitar
   Dave Gregory - keyboards

   Andy: “A real upside-down little song. I was really happy with this one.”

3. Demo version.
   Released on 2 December 2002 on Fuzzy Warbles Volume Two in the U.K.

   Andy: “I thought I was writing a real sweet pop song, but I guess the anti-funk, eight beat snare rhythm and chord changes from the blunder zone, rather left it off kilter. Like they say, if wishes were donkeys, beggars would ride.”

4. 2023 stereo mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the reissue of The Big Express on 29 September 2023 in the U.K.
5. 2023 Dolby Atmos mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the reissue of The Big Express on 29 September 2023 in the U.K.
6. 2023 DTS-HD MA Surround Sound mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the reissue of The Big Express on 29 September 2023 in the U.K.
7. 2023 instrumental mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the reissue of The Big Express on 29 September 2023 in the U.K.

[Thanks to R. Stevie Moore]

Art

[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

Lyrics

What was I supposed to do?
I turned around with the world and she simply was there
My blood ran like ice right through
She had your face and your lips
And your eyes and your hair

You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish that I had

I wonder if she knows that when I made her up
I made her eat an apple
And I made her drink a cup or two

Wish wish wish wish wish
Wish wish wish wish wish for you

Who'd believe me if I said
I brought an angel to earth by the power of mind
Think I'm going off my head
She caught the same bus as me and she sat down behind

You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish you are I had
You're the wish that I had

Little did I know that on a rainy day
All the little wishes I had put away
Would bring you

Wish wish wish wish wish
Wish wish wish wish wish for you

Well if wishing is bad bad bad
     Then send me to hell hell hell
     But If you take my wish away
     Then this cold world would burn as well

You're the wish you are I had

© 1984 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.

Chords and Tablature

Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 18:43:44 -0500
From: JH3 <jh3 (at) cencom dot net>
Subject: You're The Chords You Are I Tabbed
Message-Id: <9604232343.AA15363 (at) ns dot cencom dot net>

michael wilson <tomservo (at) uoknor dot edu> writes:

>Does anyone have a clue as to how to play Youre the wish... on the guitar?

I do, sort of. Some might call it more of a piano number (and everybody feel
free to get on my case if and these chords are wrong), but how about this:

-----------------------------
YOU'RE THE WISH YOU ARE I HAD
Andy Partridge

------------------
Bb7sus2:    6865XX  (?)
Bb:         68876X
Bb(add Gb): 68877X
------------------

Bb7sus2
What was I supposed to do?

                                                  Bb - Bb(add Gb)
I turned around with the world and she simply was there

Bb7sus2
My blood ran like ice right through

                                                       Bb
She had your face and your lips and your eyes and your hair

(Chorus:)

D#                  Bb    Fm    Bb
You're the wish you are I had

D#                  Bb    Fm    Bb
You're the wish you are I had

D#                   Bb
You're the wish that I had

  Fm                              Gm
I wonder if she knows that when I made her up

  A                           Bb                      B
I made her eat an apple and I made her drink a cup or two

               (Bass starts playing F# here)          F#    B
Wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish for you

Bb7sus2
Who'd believe me if I said

                                            Bb - Bb(add Gb)
I brought an angel to earth by the power of mind

Bb7sus2
Think I'm going off my head

                                                 Bb
She caught the same bus as me and she sat down behind

(chorus)

A                         C#
...Well if wishing is bad bad bad

Em                             E
...Then send me to hell, hell, hell

A                          C#
...But if you take my wish away

        Em                         E
...Then this cold world could burn as well

(Break: basically E with a guitar lead over it)
(Chorus)

Outro: (starts with B)

Gb: 6446XX  (this is just an approximation)

           B            Gb       B   Gb
You're the wish you are I had...

           B            Gb       B   Gb
You're the wish you are I had...

(fade)
------

Rather tricky, actually. He keeps using D# and Bb, doesn't he?
Anyway, have fun...

--John Hedges

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