About The Song
“I Wish I Could Have Been There” is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist John Anderson. It was released in April 1994 as the fourth and final single from his album Solid Ground. It peaked at number 4 in the United States, and number 21 in Canada. Anderson co-wrote this song with Kent Robbins.
The narrator wishes that he could have been around his family more often for many things.
Deborah Evans Price, of Billboard magazine gave the song a mixed review, saying that while Anderson “squeezes the emotional maximum from this nostalgic ballad with his usual full vocal assault”, she compared its theme to the song “Cat’s in the Cradle.”
There was a music video for this song. It features Anderson singing in a room at a fireplace, and also shows him on his touring.
“I Wish I Could Have Been There” debuted at number 75 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of April 23, 1994.
Video
Lyrics
When our baby Kate was born it was the biggest day of my life
Lying there, little bows in her hair
In the loving arms of my wife
I was the proudest papa in the USA
Makin’ a living on the road somewhere a thousand miles awayIt was a happy day, but kinda’ sad
And I wish I coulda’ been there
Yea I wish I coulda’ been there
I wish I coulda been there for thatLittle Bobby hit his first home run
He was the hero of the home town crowd
Two to one, it was a winning run
Everybody was cheering loud
And mommy she was smilin’ saying he’s a chip off of the old block
But I was on the road somewhere between Memphis and Little RockIt was a happy day but kinda’ sad
And I wish I coulda’ been there
Yea I wish I coulda’ been there
I wish I coulda’ been there for thatNow Bobby and Kate are all grown up
And moved away
They stay in touch
We’re proud of the two good kids we raised
And it’s hard to believe we are celebrating our twenty fifth year today
This party’s nice but the kids aren’t here
At least they called to say
Congratulations mom and dad