Kate Rusby
The Wishing Wife
[Verse 1]
Once upon a time there was a man who scorned his wife
He was never happy with his lot or with his life
His manners they were miserable, he couldn't be polite
And his wife found a wishing well one morning

[Chorus]
She said, "I wish to all who hear me
I wish with all I see
Take this man and make him small
As small as he can be"

[Verse 2]
This man he was as spoilt as the cat that got the cream
He would shout and swear and carry on like you have never seen
Childlike and stubborn like a mule by the sea
Then his wife found a wishing well one morning

[Chorus]
She said, "I wish to all who hear me
I wish with all I see
Take this man and make him kind
As kind as he can be"

[Verse 3]
This man he took no pleasure in the beauty of the land
Money was the only thing that he could understand
Selfish as a clam he was, let all the rest be damned
Then his wife found a wishing well one morning
[Chorus]
She said, "I wish to all who hear me
I wish with all I see
Take this man and make him smile
As happy as can be"

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 4]
That night they fell asleep within the comfort of that bed
A strange wind was whispering just what the wife had said
In the morning where the man had laid there was a dog instead
And his wife cried for joy in the morning

[Chorus]
She said, "I wish to all who hear me
I wish with all I see
Take this man and make him mine
For all eternity"

[Verse 1]
Once upon a time there was a man who scorned his wife
He was never happy with his lot or with his life
His manners they were miserable and he couldn't be polite
And his wife found a wishing well one morning