Oh baby, don't it feel like heaven right now?
Don't it feel like somethin' from a dream?
Yeah, I've never known nothing quite like this
Don't it feel like tonight might never be again?
Baby, we know better than to try and pretend
Honey, no one could have ever told me 'bout this
I said, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

Well yeah, I might have chased a couple of women around
All it ever got me was down
Yeah, then there were those that made me feel good
But never as good as I feel right now
Baby, you're the only one that's ever known how
To make me wanna live like I wanna live now
I said, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

Oh, don't let it kill you, baby, don't let it get to you
Don't let 'em kill you, baby, don't let 'em get to you
I'll be your bleedin' heart, I'll be your cryin' fool
Don't let this go too far, don't let it get to you

Yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part
Yeah, the waiting is the hardest part

Ooh
Is the hardest part
Ooh
Is the hardest part


Lyrics submitted by oofus

The Waiting Lyrics as written by Tom Petty

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Gone Gator Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Waiting song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    To me this song applies to my life right now. I just met this really fantastic girl, and we hit it off really really well, I mean, scarily well. I'm just waiting to see if it's going to turn out the way I want it to or if it's just going to be only one of those fantastic nights that never happen again. But waiting, anticipating anything that could be potentially wonderful is difficult, and is the hardest part.

    monkeyninjaon October 25, 2009   Link

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