would like/would have liked

[Vladv1]

"My mother Anna came to the rescue. Listening to the radio and deciding which sound I liked best would provide the answer to which instrument I should learn to play. The old Philco “Baby Grand” radio was revved up, and the golden tones of Harry James’s trumpet filled the small kitchen. I’d like to say that at that moment my soul was uplifted, the windows of my mind raised to let the joyous sounds reverberate. I really would like to say that, but damn, I had a game to play".

"Rainbow In The Dark", Ronnie James Dio.

Would it be be more correct to say "would have liked" instead of the bolded, because he talks about the past.

 

[emsr2d2]

No. They're saying that they would like now to be able to say that their soul was uplifted in the past. They didn't want to actually say it in the past.