I'm not standing still, I am lying in wait
September 23, 2016 3:25 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for songs about being patient and biding your time, waiting for better days/circumstances that will surely come. From the title, I obviously know Hamilton's Wait For It: can you think of any others along the same line?
The Kinks, Better Things
Here's wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the doubt and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.
posted by Aznable at 3:37 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Here's wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses to
Follow all the doubt and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.
posted by Aznable at 3:37 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
I feel like everything Lupe Fiasco does it a bit of this, but especially Hip-Hop Saved My Life
There's also at least the first verse of Queen's We are the Champions.
If you want to go all surreal then there is also Electric Six - When I get to the Green Building.
posted by sparklemotion at 3:38 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's also at least the first verse of Queen's We are the Champions.
If you want to go all surreal then there is also Electric Six - When I get to the Green Building.
posted by sparklemotion at 3:38 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
In Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, the singer states explicitly that he doesn't expect anything to change, but it is a pretty sweet song about biding your time.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:38 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 3:38 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks for asking this, it made me go and listen again to the beautiful Another Train - the original by Pete Morton (that's him playing it at a house gig), or the extraordinary a capella version by Sally Barker and the Poozies.
There's another train, there always is
Maybe the next one is yours
Get up and climb aboard another train
Full lyrics.
posted by penguin pie at 3:44 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's another train, there always is
Maybe the next one is yours
Get up and climb aboard another train
Full lyrics.
posted by penguin pie at 3:44 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
"Waiting for My Real Life to Begin" by Colin Hay
Any version of "O-o-h Child"
posted by northernish at 3:45 PM on September 23, 2016 [10 favorites]
Any version of "O-o-h Child"
posted by northernish at 3:45 PM on September 23, 2016 [10 favorites]
For more from the musical theater genre, "Tomorrow" from Annie?
posted by Mallenroh at 3:54 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Mallenroh at 3:54 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
This Year by The Mountain Goats is about enduring, no matter what.
posted by MsMolly at 3:57 PM on September 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by MsMolly at 3:57 PM on September 23, 2016 [7 favorites]
Can't Hurry Love
posted by bunderful at 4:14 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bunderful at 4:14 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Things Can Only Get Better and Everlasting Love by Howard Hughes
Nice and Easy by Frank Sinatra
posted by brookeb at 4:19 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Nice and Easy by Frank Sinatra
posted by brookeb at 4:19 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Jimmy Eat World - The Middle
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
Regina Spector - On the Radio
posted by ApathyGirl at 4:20 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
Regina Spector - On the Radio
posted by ApathyGirl at 4:20 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also Romans 10:9, although the narrator is not exactly reliable, and possibly not sane.
Sam Philips, One Day Late
posted by praemunire at 4:26 PM on September 23, 2016
Sam Philips, One Day Late
posted by praemunire at 4:26 PM on September 23, 2016
This is like half the Nina Simone songbook. (Well, some of them are covers, but obv the Nina version is the best version.)
I shall be released.
Oooh, Child.
New World Comming.
In re love, in particular:
Turn me on.
Do What You Gotta Do.
And, arguably, though in a much darker vein:
Pirate Jenny.
I could probably do this all night...in fact I might, on me own time. Cheers, and Nina's blessings to you all.
posted by Diablevert at 4:40 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
I shall be released.
Oooh, Child.
New World Comming.
In re love, in particular:
Turn me on.
Do What You Gotta Do.
And, arguably, though in a much darker vein:
Pirate Jenny.
I could probably do this all night...in fact I might, on me own time. Cheers, and Nina's blessings to you all.
posted by Diablevert at 4:40 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Bjork, "One Day". "One day it will happen, one day, one day it will all come true...
The atmosphere will get lighter and two suns ready to shine just for you/I can feel it."
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:41 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
The atmosphere will get lighter and two suns ready to shine just for you/I can feel it."
posted by Ralston McTodd at 4:41 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ella Fitzgerald singing G. Gershwin's Biding my Time.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:42 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sciencegeek at 4:42 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fugazi - Waiting Room
Gang Starr - Work ("I've been laying, waiting for your next mistake / I put in work, and watch my status escalate")
posted by salvia at 5:20 PM on September 23, 2016
Gang Starr - Work ("I've been laying, waiting for your next mistake / I put in work, and watch my status escalate")
posted by salvia at 5:20 PM on September 23, 2016
Here's one about after the wait is over:
Iris Dement, "When My Morning Comes Around"
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:29 PM on September 23, 2016
Iris Dement, "When My Morning Comes Around"
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:29 PM on September 23, 2016
I am ashamed to tell you that Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight" sprang to my mind, and I will be angsting about this until after November 9.
posted by effluvia at 5:33 PM on September 23, 2016
posted by effluvia at 5:33 PM on September 23, 2016
Am I really the first one to think of Sam Cooke?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:46 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:46 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hold On by Wilson Phillips comes to mind, but may have a hint of victim-blaming in its encouragement.
Does Tom Petty's "The Waiting" not count because it's mostly about romance?
Almost certainly not what you're looking for: Tom Lehrer's Who's Next.
John Lennon's Watching the Wheels is what I use for The Hanged Man in my "tarot songs" mix.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:52 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does Tom Petty's "The Waiting" not count because it's mostly about romance?
Almost certainly not what you're looking for: Tom Lehrer's Who's Next.
John Lennon's Watching the Wheels is what I use for The Hanged Man in my "tarot songs" mix.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:52 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's "Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer, which I actually hate but meets your criteria. It's basically about how there are so many problems in the world, but it seems hard to do anything about them so he's going to wait around until things magically change.
posted by chickenmagazine at 5:54 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by chickenmagazine at 5:54 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Bruce Springsteen has a song literally called "Better Days.", although it's sort of about better days in the present tense.
The Mountain Goats, "The Day The Aliens Came (Hawaiian Feeling)"
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:56 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Mountain Goats, "The Day The Aliens Came (Hawaiian Feeling)"
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:56 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
And how could I forget "A Change Is Gonna Come??"
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:57 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:57 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Bob Dylan/The Band, "When I Paint My Masterpiece."
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:59 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:59 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Came to say 'This Year' (MsMolly) and 'A Change is Gonna Come' (EC).
Could add Morrissey 'I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday'.
posted by Pink Frost at 6:00 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Could add Morrissey 'I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday'.
posted by Pink Frost at 6:00 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Dawes, "When My Time Comes," although the lyric is not 100% positive about the change happening.
posted by drjimmy11 at 6:04 PM on September 23, 2016
posted by drjimmy11 at 6:04 PM on September 23, 2016
Tomorrow Will Be Fine - Sunnyboys
You Come Through - PJ Harvey
Tomorrow Is Just Another Day - Madness
posted by h00py at 6:20 PM on September 23, 2016
You Come Through - PJ Harvey
Tomorrow Is Just Another Day - Madness
posted by h00py at 6:20 PM on September 23, 2016
I'll probably think of a million of these later, but the first one to come to mind was David Bowie's When I Live My Dream.
(Plus a Milton sonnet which is not a song.)
posted by ernielundquist at 6:21 PM on September 23, 2016
(Plus a Milton sonnet which is not a song.)
posted by ernielundquist at 6:21 PM on September 23, 2016
From another Broadway musical, Big River. Waiting For the Light to Shine. The first and the reprise are pretty different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fDI8y62DvY
reprise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45cE1DGZnFY
posted by release the hardwoods! at 6:42 PM on September 23, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fDI8y62DvY
reprise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45cE1DGZnFY
posted by release the hardwoods! at 6:42 PM on September 23, 2016
Does Tom Petty's "The Waiting yt " not count because it's mostly about romance?
Does Petty's "Something Big" not count because it's incredibly depressing?
posted by bongo_x at 6:44 PM on September 23, 2016
Does Petty's "Something Big" not count because it's incredibly depressing?
posted by bongo_x at 6:44 PM on September 23, 2016
I am ashamed to tell you that Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight" sprang to my mind
You mean Phil "You Can't Hurry Love" Collins?
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:44 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
You mean Phil "You Can't Hurry Love" Collins?
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:44 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Billy Bragg's "To Have and to Have Not" is more about being unemployed than it is about biding your time, but I thought of it because of the last two lines of the chorus:
Just because you're going forwards
Doesn't mean I'm going backwards
posted by baseballpajamas at 6:48 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just because you're going forwards
Doesn't mean I'm going backwards
posted by baseballpajamas at 6:48 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nina Simone's "Trouble in Mind" (specifically this version - accept no other) has gotten me through some Real Shit.
there's a pretty obvious darker interpretation of the meaning of this song (given the lines about heads and railroad tracks), but I find it helps me regardless
posted by sallybrown at 7:00 PM on September 23, 2016
there's a pretty obvious darker interpretation of the meaning of this song (given the lines about heads and railroad tracks), but I find it helps me regardless
posted by sallybrown at 7:00 PM on September 23, 2016
The Green Day song "Waiting" mentioned above is probably a better fit, but I also thought of "Are We The Waiting" which seems like it somewhat fits the criteria too (the better days that will surely come part is questionable, perhaps).
My current favorite song of this type is Matisyahu's "One Day", and particularly this awesome young Israeli couple singing it a cappella in their car. If you haven't heard this, my goodness, you've got to.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:38 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
My current favorite song of this type is Matisyahu's "One Day", and particularly this awesome young Israeli couple singing it a cappella in their car. If you haven't heard this, my goodness, you've got to.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:38 PM on September 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
also, perhaps Bob Marley's Three Little Birds?
Cat Stevens' Tea for the Tillerman? (this one seems somewhat open to interpretation)
The finale to Les Miserables?
I might be reaching here.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:47 PM on September 23, 2016
Cat Stevens' Tea for the Tillerman? (this one seems somewhat open to interpretation)
The finale to Les Miserables?
I might be reaching here.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 7:47 PM on September 23, 2016
The Beast and Dragon Adored by Spoon is at least partly about creative inspiration being something on a slow burn vs something that strikes overnight.
posted by deludingmyself at 8:25 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by deludingmyself at 8:25 PM on September 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
Blondie, The Tide Is High (originally by ska band the Paragons)
They Might Be Giants, No One Knows My Plan
posted by Pallas Athena at 9:45 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
They Might Be Giants, No One Knows My Plan
posted by Pallas Athena at 9:45 PM on September 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)
They say a watched pot won't ever boil / Well I just closed my eyes and nothing changed / Just some water getting hotter in the flames .... Just like a seed down in the soil gotta give it time
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 6:45 AM on September 24, 2016
They say a watched pot won't ever boil / Well I just closed my eyes and nothing changed / Just some water getting hotter in the flames .... Just like a seed down in the soil gotta give it time
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 6:45 AM on September 24, 2016
Blur - For Tomorrow. Maybe not so much about how the future will be good, but just about holding on (as the title says) for tomorrow.
posted by bjrn at 7:52 AM on September 24, 2016
posted by bjrn at 7:52 AM on September 24, 2016
Someday Soon by Ian Tyson
The link is to a cover by Judy Collins.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:39 AM on September 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
The link is to a cover by Judy Collins.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:39 AM on September 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yet another Mountain Goats song, one which subverts the trope of receiving a reward at the end of waiting:
Seed Song
posted by MsMolly at 11:39 AM on September 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seed Song
posted by MsMolly at 11:39 AM on September 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you'll forgive the self-promo, I made a song called Our Plans Are On Hold that fits this description.
posted by chococat at 12:05 PM on September 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by chococat at 12:05 PM on September 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
July 4th, 2004 by Jason Anderson- 'I WILL WAIT FOR YOU/AND I ALWAYS WIIILLLL'
You Can't Hurry Love, the old Motown song
Handwritten - Gaslight Anthem
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 9:38 PM on September 24, 2016
You Can't Hurry Love, the old Motown song
Handwritten - Gaslight Anthem
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 9:38 PM on September 24, 2016
Marit Bergman "This is the year
The Concretes "Can't Hurry Love
posted by ortoLANparty at 9:03 PM on September 27, 2016
The Concretes "Can't Hurry Love
posted by ortoLANparty at 9:03 PM on September 27, 2016
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