In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
One, two
One, two, three
Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could
Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting on (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They woulda never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
'Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want
That's why we're waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
It's not that we don't care
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
And we're still waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now I keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
We're waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
One, two, three
Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could
Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting on (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They woulda never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
'Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want
That's why we're waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
It's not that we don't care
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
And we're still waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now I keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
We're waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
no comments yet? good song
this is so good. i love him.
My opinion of it is I'm glad to see how much he's matured lyrically over the past 5 years. He doesn't have to tell anyone what to think, but hopefully, like he said, he'll get them TO think about these issues.
He did say before playing an acoustic version of the song that the reason its called WAITING on the world to change is bc he doesnt feel like he or anyone else can do anything about it (we just feel like we don't have the means/ to rise above and beat it). It's because the rules keep changing. He said people wonder why there used to be so many change songs. He says the reason for that is peoples minds didnt used to be so defensive to new ideas.
His analogy was the Bush is like that kid up the street you used to play cops and robbers with. But everytime you shot him, he all of a sudden became bulletproof.
The best line is "when you trust your television/what you get is what you got/ cuz when the own the information oh/ they can bend it all they want". Cough- FOX NEWS -Cough
Yea he is saying he/we can't do anything about it but the waiting part is talking about when it is our turn, waiting for our turn to make the change.<br /> <br /> we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change<br /> one day our generation<br /> is gonna rule the population<br /> so we keep on waiting<br /> <br />
Well i'm glad you gave us that information boltau, but i must ask because i'm curious, what interview was that? cause i try to keep updated with him and his public songs or interviews. But to comment on maturity, yes i definately think he's matured over the years although i must say his old stuff is simple wisdom beyond his years in my view; though presented in a universal way which may result in people thinking it's naive. Also, i don't think it's a Bush bashing song, at least it's not directly. He talks in generallities about war and abuse of power, which is important no matter what political view you hold to. Yes, even my conservative friends need to question everything. i like the line "Now if we had the power to bring our neighbors home from war, they would've never missed a Christmas; no more ribbons on their door." i don't think that many people love war, not even ones who support this war or any other (believe it or not). But to comment on the fox news cheap shot, do you really believe the government controls it? and if they do no one is forcing anyone to watch it; there are tons of other choices some different and some completely different. Wheres the facts? i think it's best to view more than one news source and not eat every word they say. But yeah, Fox news bashing is old and simply a retalliation to their success and/or their view because it's different to previous news leaders. Making wild statements and treating them as fact when it's just your opinion and doesn't sway anyone (though it may get them curious). More relevent, this song is really good and i think John is taking his time and perfecting each song. He said in an interview on Sound Off with Matt Pinfield (11/6/05), "My mission statement is no filler." "every moment in this record is either gonna have a lyrical thing, or a melodic thing, or a guitar playing thing, or a rhythmic thing. But it's never going to just go by."
there interview is here - aolmusicnewsblog.com/2006/06/26/john-mayer-goes-to-war-on-new-single/
(cont) o-war-on-new-single/
I like the song.
But waiting, that's the problem with the world.
John did it again! Nice song with a message that just makes you think about the issue rather than debate a solution which is his poiint I think. Got to love the heart in his lyrics!
"We keep on waiting on the world to change."
Is that kind of like "I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do"?
terrific lyrics. but everyone is waiting and you cant count on the world to change on its own. trying to tell you to take things into your own hands? dunno.