My Wish

Album: Me And My Gang (2006)
Charted: 28
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson-penned song was recorded by Rascal Flatts for their album Me and My Gang. Released as the third single from the set, it reached #1 on the Country chart in December 2006, their sixth chart-topper.
  • Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus told the Canada radio station The New 92.5 Fresh FM the story of the song: "Jeffrey Steele wrote it, and it was pitched to us," he said. "A lot of people think it was about his son who was killed, but he actually wrote it about his daughter who was graduating. And it was just so simple but said in such a nice, unique way, that went so great with the melody, we knew we had to be the ones to put our voices to it."
  • The song featured in the 2010 movie Letters to God.
  • Steve Robson came into town to write with Jeffrey Steele on the same day that Steele's 13-year-old daughter, Justine, accused her father of writing songs for her older sisters but never for her. "Steve played me this music [that day], and when it was over, I asked him to play it again," Steele recalled to The Boot. "It just captivated me. I just heard words coming. I started writing this song, not really thinking about writing Justine a song. I started singing, 'I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow' … It just had a feel to it. I thought, 'Wow! This is about somebody who is going somewhere with their life.' Then it dawned on me … this is Justine's song! This is it!"

    "Once I got locked into it, "My Wish" came to me for the title. I was just thinking about how crazy the world is right now for a kid to grow up in," he continued. "I started writing it like I wanted her to know whatever she did in life, somebody was thinking about her all the time. Someone was always behind her no matter what."

    "When I got home after recording the demo that day, I said, 'I wrote you a song today,'" Steele added. "She goes, 'Yeah, right.' I played it for her on the stereo. She looked at me and goes, "'t sounds really country.' [Laughs] I told her that this song - whatever happens with it - this is her song. She just kind of said, 'Yeah … thanks, Dad' - with that teenager attitude, you know?"

Comments: 3

  • Ginny from Santa Rosa, Ca.This is the song my son and I danced to at his wedding in 2015. This will song will always be in my heart.
  • Kathy from Saipan, NmiThank you for this song, it's heartwarming and an expression of true parents' love
  • Camille from Toronto, OhThe lyrics of “My Wish” run through the hearts of many parents when they think of their children as they grow into adulthood. That Rascal Flatts lend their incredible voices to the song raises it to another level. As it is a perfect graduation song, this year, 2020, my heart goes out to all the high school graduates and college graduates who got cheated out of the final months of their senior year and traditional graduation ceremonies by forces beyond their control. Life eventually moves forward; still, my heart goes out to each of you! This song is for you!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.