'wistful tone' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe a thoughtful, longing, almost sad way of speaking. For example: "He spoke in a wistful tone, as if he wished he could go back in time."
When Keflezighi responded, I thought I heard the wistful tone of an athlete in decline.
"Boomerang" (1989), a slim, autobiographical novel, exhibited a chastened, wistful tone new to Mr. Hannah's writing.
"Ahhhh, one can only hope," Clinton added in a wistful tone.
Colonel Abboud, looking back, tells the story in a wistful tone.
"The empty nest is underrated, so enjoy it while you can," another friend said in a wistful tone.
But while Mr. Clinton's comments have a wistful tone -- leavened with humor -- Mrs. Clinton sounds eager for a new platform.
It will be added in wistful tones that it was a pity it didn't last, but not a surprise.
Wilson's is still the definitive version, her wry but wistful tones encapsulating the tough Broadway babe in love with the wrong man and plaintively pipe-dreaming of settling down on a farm.
Nearly all of them were imaginary portraits of women, beautifully rendered in wistful tones of beige and gold, yet each had something about it that was not quite right.
Collins and Fassel both said after the Philadelphia loss that Shockey probably shouldn't have said what he did, but both spoke in wistful tones; they sounded as if they were giving advice, rather than admonishing him.
Romantic in character and wistful in tone, the song featured inspirational lyrics by Ms. Luque and Elisa Brown, a soprano, who sang sweetly with a string trio.
