Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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
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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.