I wished I was smarter
Wished I was stronger
I wished I loved Jesus
The way the my wife does

I wished it'd been easier
Instead of any longer
I wished I could've stood
Where you would've been proud
That won't happen now
That won't happen now

There's a whole lot of sinners
That ain't gonna be heard
Disappearing every day
Without so much as a word
Somehow

I'm afraid I broke the wings
Off that little songbird
And she's never gonna fly
To the top of the world How
To the top of the world

I don't have to answer
Any of these questions
Don't have no guide to
Teach me no lessons

I come home in the evening
Sit in my chair
One night they called me for supper
But I never got up
I stayed right there
In my chair

There's a whole lot of singing
That ain't gonna be heard
Disappearing every day
Without so much as a word
Somehow

I think I broke the wings
Off a little songbird
And she's never gonna fly
To the top of the world
How
To the top of the world

I wished I'd had known you
Wished I had shown you
All of the things I
Was all these are
But I'd pretend to be sleeping
When you'd come in in the morning
To whisper goodbye
Go work at the rain
I don't know why
Don't know why

Cause everyone's singing
We just want to be heard
Disappearing every day
Without so much as a word
So how?

Gonna grab a hold
Of that little songbird
And take her for a ride
To the top of the world
Right now
To the top of the world


Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28, edited by GRAMMARSNOB, vshjr

Top of the World Lyrics as written by Patricia J. Griffin

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Top of the World song meanings
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    General Comment

    This song is about a man who dies and he is looking back on his life regretting all the things he did. Basically, wishing he spent more time with his family and hopes he did not ruin his children's lives with his actions--or lack there of. The Dixie Chicks do a good cover and have a cool video, but that is only shown at concerts right now.

    ELS24on July 06, 2003   Link

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