Wish You Were Here | Avril Lavigne

What is the meaning and main idea of Avril Lavigne's Wish You Were Here song? What is the message the song tries to convey? In this article, I'll try to discuss this song in quite detail. But, before we do that, let's read the complete lyric of the song below:

Wish You Were Here - Avril Lavigne

I can be tough, I can be strong
But with you, it's not like that at all
There's a girl that gives a shit
Behind this wall you just walk through it

PRE-CHORUS
And I remember all those crazy things you said
You left them running through my head
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here

All those crazy things we did
Didn't think about it, just went with it
You're always there, you're everywhere
But right now I wish you were here

CHORUS
Damn, damn, damn
What I'd do to have you
Here, here, here
(I wish you were here)

Damn, damn, damn
What I'd do to have you
Near, near, near
(I wish you were here)

I love the way you are
It's who I am, don't have to try hard
We always say, say like it is
And the truth is that I really miss

PRE-CHORUS

CHORUS

(2x)
No, I don't wanna let go
I just wanna let you know
That I never wanna let go
Let go, oh oh

CHORUS (2x)



Meaning, Main Idea, and Message of The Song

In a nutshell, the song tells us about someone (a girl) who is crushing on her boy. She adores the boy so much that she always remembers about him everywhere she is. She remembers about the 'crazy things' that her boy have ever said and 'crazy things' that they have ever done together. Well, she actually does not TRY to remember it all. The memory just comes to her without she trying to remember it. I believe you who ever fall in love know how the feeling. It's true, wherever you are, whatever you do, your mind is full with him/her you love so much. Yups, I know the feeling as well.


That feeling of missing her boy makes her expect the boy to come to her that very moment. That's why she sings "Now I wish you were here." (This line is repeated again and again in the whole lyric emphasizing the feeling of the singer who is missing her boy so much). Again, if you ever miss someone you love, you will feel the same. Nothing else you want but to meet and be with your beloved one. Really, the feeling of longing is much stronger that the feeling of hunger. When you are hungry, all you need is food (and drink) and abacadabra, your hunger is gone instantly. But, when you miss someone (especially your beloved) who is far away from you, there is nothing that can satisfy you except meeting with her/him right that moment (which is of course impossible). That's why I can say that being longing someone is much more torturing that being hungry.


In the lyric, the singer also feels tortured. She is very confused. She does not know what to do. Of course it's impossible his boy instantly appears in front of her since in fact he is far away. Hence she sings' "what I'd do to have you." This line reflects the feeling of despair and expectation at the same time. You expect something to happen, but you know that it's impossible to happen. It's understandable then if Avril curses 'damn, damn, damn' in the chorus of the song. Well, If you are in despair, and you are very confused, but you expect something to happen, what else you can do but cursing. So let me also curse, Damn the song is so good :D.

That's my interpretation of Avril Lavigne's Wish You Were Here. Your comment is highly appreciated.

3 comments:

  1. This song hurts, very full of emotion. I can really relate my love story in it.

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  2. It's a complicated love triangle, creating A tense but true to reality atmosphere throughout it truly is heart warming but for the people out there sometimes it's hard to surcome this lust and passion for each other when your so far apart, for all the people who are in the sane situation as avril herself, keep the people you love close don't ever let them fade :')

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  3. It can mean it's her boyfriend/lover, but it can be anyone you love that has died and the memories of that person are everywhere, but you can't bring them back, no matter what. Damn I wish you were here...I am sure she is singing about a love in her life, but the feeling of longing for anyone you have loved can make you wish they were there with you after they're gone..Can you see it? Can you feel that?

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