Wait It Out Lyrics
How do we carry on?
I can't get beyond the questions.
Clambering for the scraps
In the shatter of us collapsed.
It cuts me with every could-have-been.
With the backup makeshift life in waiting.
But what of the wretched hollow?
The endless in-between?
Are we just going to wait it out?
Turning the sign around;
We're closed to the Earth 'til further notice.
A stumbling cliched case
Crumpled and puffy faced
Dead in the stare of a thousand miles
I'll be a an out-and-out, born again from none more cynical.
Oh in the end.
But what of the wretched hollow?
The endless in-between?
Are we just going to wait it out?
We'll be long gone by then.
And lackluster in dust we lay
Around old magazines.
Fluorescent lighting sets the scene
For all we could and should be being
In the one life that we've got.
But what of the wretched hollow?
The endless in-between?
We sit here
Just going to wait it out
Sit here cold
Just going to threat it out
Wait it out.
Okay, this is probably way off (and just because of personal experience), but this song actually seems to me to be about miscarriage. "The wretched hollow"-- you could not describe it better. Especially when you and your partner are at a loss as to where to go from there. You want to hide away (be "closed to the earth")-- and the fluorescent lighting/old magazines just seems like a doctor's office. That's my personal read at least.
i really love this take on it... i think all of her songs kind of appeal to different audiences in different ways, and the fact that you can take that from it is great. i can also totally see where all of it makes sense.
i really love this take on it... i think all of her songs kind of appeal to different audiences in different ways, and the fact that you can take that from it is great. i can also totally see where all of it makes sense.
I like this idea. It relates really well with the song. I think thats what I'm going to believe from now on. thank you for posting this.
I like this idea. It relates really well with the song. I think thats what I'm going to believe from now on. thank you for posting this.
I miscarried our baby girl a month ago due to full triploidy (she had 69 chromosomes instead of 26, a condition that is "incompatible with life"), and when I heard this song on Pandora it struck me the exact same way. I've found a lot of comfort in music, and this song grabbed me right away.
I miscarried our baby girl a month ago due to full triploidy (she had 69 chromosomes instead of 26, a condition that is "incompatible with life"), and when I heard this song on Pandora it struck me the exact same way. I've found a lot of comfort in music, and this song grabbed me right away.
Where do we go from here? How do we carry on? I can't get beyond the questions. Clambering for the scraps In the shatter of us collapsed. It cuts me with every could-have-been.
Where do we go from here? How do we carry on? I can't get beyond the questions. Clambering for the scraps In the shatter of us collapsed. It cuts me with every could-have-been.
My husband and I have been strained since the loss, because...
My husband and I have been strained since the loss, because I'm devastated and he doesn't know how to make things better. We are "shattered;" I feel like a failure as a woman because I lost our baby, and he feels like a bad husband because he can't fix it. We find ourselves wondering about her and what she might have looked like and become
Pain on pain on play, repeating With the backup makeshift life in waiting.
Every time things start to feel like they might be getting better, something happens to remind me of what we've lost, like a song stuck on repeat. We're stuck living in this weird limbo between devastation and ok, our "makeshift life."
Everybody says that time heals everything. But what of the wretched hollow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out?
This is the perfect description of how I feel right now. Everyone keeps saying that it will feel better in time and I'll heal, but right now I just feel so empty. I’m in the limbo between our loss and the future, and I’m not sure how to get out and move on
There's nothing to see here now, Turning the sign around; We're closed to the Earth 'til further notice. A stumbling cliched case Crumpled and puffy faced Dead in the stare of a thousand miles
When something like this happens, you close off to everyone around you. Our society isn't well programmed to handle miscarriage, and a lot of people mistakenly think they are helping when they tell a bereaved mother that it's ok because it "wasn't really a baby yet." So to avoid hearing that again and again, I don't talk about it and pretend I'm ok, while really crying alone when I don't think anyone can see.
An all-out one, only one street-level miracle. I'll be an out-and-out, born again from none more cynical.
I keep finding myself wishing things could have been different, that there would have been a small miracle that could have saved her. Miscarriage can shake your faith and your trust in God, and you find yourself praying to find that faith in life again, and needing proof before that can happen
Everybody says that time heals everything Oh in the end. But what of the wretched hollow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out?
And sit here cold? We'll be long gone by then. And lackluster in dust we lay Around old magazines. Fluorescent lighting sets the scene For all we could and should be being In the one life that we've got.
I agree, this feels like a doctor’s office to me. I've had endless doctor’s appointments to make sure that my body is healing and coping with the loss, and as I sit in my O.B's office surrounded by pregnant women and baby magazines, I can't help thinking of why I should be here and mourning her loss all over again
In the one life that we've got.
Everybody says that time heals everything. But what of the wretched hollow? The endless in-between?
Are we just going to wait it out? We sit here Just going to wait it out Sit here cold Just going to threat it out Wait it out.
Whether this song was written about a miscarriage or some other loss or trauma, it is a beautiful song that perfectly captures the hopeless feeling you have when your entire world is shaken and everything that could have been is torn away. I also think the end offers a little hope, as she’s stopped asking “are we just going to wait it out?” and has decided to take control of things and says definitively “we sit here, just going to wait it out.” To me that feels like a regaining of some peace and calm in a time when everything feels so completely out of control. It’s a hope that I so desperately need to find right now.
As always, another beautiful song from Imogen Heap that is so full of meaning for so many different people.
It's about despair and giving up. The listlessness of the "in-between" the event and the recovery. The withdrawal from the world in an attempt to stop the hurt.
It's about a situation where no matter how hard you wished for things to change, there is nothing you can do that will make it better, short of a miracle. Where you stop struggling to stay afloat and let yourself sink.
It's about grief so deep you can't even imagine how things can ever get better after it. Even if it does, you'll never trust the world in the same way again.
You can't escape it, you can't beat it, and you're not quite ready to die yet, so you really have no choice but to wait it out.
It's pretty much clear what this song is about. I just love the lyric "The endless inbetween"
It's so true.
To me, this song is about a broken relationship.
She doesn't want to let go because she doesn't know what good could happen in the future and doesn't want to give up that possibility.
They say that time heals everything, and she wonders if it will eventually heal the relationship by waiting it out. However, if they wait for that to happen, what will they do to fill the hole while they wait? They're closed off from the Earth (other people) because they are choosing to stay together and hope it gets better with time, but she fears they'll waste their entire lives hoping it will get better.
I agree that on the surface this appears to be a break-up song. But to me, there seem to be allusions to the songwriting process. It's not unusual for your internal dialog with yourself to refer to 'we' or 'us' (Imogen takes this to the extreme in the song 'Bad Body Double'). So from this point of view, one can imagine the songrwriter struggling to overcome a dry period, where inspiration is in short supply. I imagine working to complete a song:
"Where do we go from here? How do we carry on? I can't get beyond the questions. Clambering for the scraps in the shatter of us collapsed - it cuts me with every could-have-been."
The unfinished writing/recording process:
"Pain on pain on play repeating."
And the alternative to being a successful songrwriter/musician:
"With a back-up, makeshift life in waiting."
Impatience, frustration:
"Everybody says: time heals everything. But what of the wretched hollow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out?"
The self-portrait of the frustrated artist:
"There's nothing to see here now - turning the sign around. We're closed to the earth til further notice. A stumbling, cliche case: crumpled and puffy-faced, and dead in the stare of a thousand miles."
Invoking the muse:
"All I want's only one street-level miracle. I'll be an out and out born again for none more cynical."
Let's do this thing:
"Everybody says that time heals everything: ALL IN THE END. But what of the wretched hollow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out? Sit here cold? We'll be long gone by then, luckluster, in dusty layers on old magazines."
So back to the drawing board/studio:
"Fluorescent lighting sets the scene for all we could and should be being In the one life that we've got. Ah...! In the one life that we've got..."
"Everybody says: time heals everything. And what of the wretched hollow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out? Sit here? Just going to wait it out? Sit here, cold? Just going to sweat it out? Wait it out?"
Apparently - not.
Great interpretation. Totally makes sense... Super creative way to get rid of the writer's block too....
Great interpretation. Totally makes sense... Super creative way to get rid of the writer's block too....
I would have to disagree with everyone, although I see the break-up thing, but I relate to this song as someone struggling with the way people seem so lethargic or apathetic about changing the world.
Waiting out each worldly tragedy, wishing for the courage to makeshift yourself into a hero, stumbling around in self-conscious agony of what people might assume from your youthful tears, frustrated with logical, and born again cynics yet sharing opinions with both hoping a street-level miracle makes the connection between sides.
That's just how I related to the song anyway.
Yes! This is exactly what I scrolled down to post :) It seems it could be interpreted as a break-up song if one needed a break-up song at the time, but she never mentions anything about a break-up.
Yes! This is exactly what I scrolled down to post :) It seems it could be interpreted as a break-up song if one needed a break-up song at the time, but she never mentions anything about a break-up.
She is talking about apathy, and how everyone seems to just be 'waiting it out'. For someone else to fix the world. We're 'clambering for the scraps (of the Earth) in the shatter of us collapsed (society) that cuts me with every could have been (species that have died, ideas that will never eventuate etc)'
She is talking about apathy, and how everyone seems to just be 'waiting it out'. For someone else to fix the world. We're 'clambering for the scraps (of the Earth) in the shatter of us collapsed (society) that cuts me with every could have been (species that have died, ideas that will never eventuate etc)'
You can read the whole song and...
You can read the whole song and see how well this fits in
What are they waiting for when it's over. Seems foolish. They seem foolish.
What are they waiting for when it's over. Seems foolish. They seem foolish.
sorry i don't know some of the lyrics. i found a video of Immi singing this live from PopTech... and i thought Immi fans might want some of the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CNoFfCW0g
theres the video. xoxoxo
Allowing my comment to be representative of ImogenHeap.com's "iBabble" forum topic "Wait It Out", here are the generally accepted and fan-discussed lyrics (I only offer you corrections, beenie_08; you have a very attentive ear, though!)
[...]
Clambering for the scraps in the shatter of us collapsed. Is cuts me with every "could have been."
Pain on pain on play, repeating. With the backup makeshift life in waiting.
Everybody says that time heals everything. But what of the wretched hallow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out...?
There's nothing to see here now turning the sign around We're closed to the Earth til further notice. Clambering for the scraps, clambering in the light We're closed to the Earth til further...
All-in-one, only one street-level miracle I'll be an out-in-out, born-again from none more cynical.
Everybody says that time heals everything. But what of the wretched hallow? The endless in-between? Are we just going to wait it out...?
...and sit here cold? Look, you'll be long gone by then, and lackluster. In dust we lay 'round old magazines. Fluorescent lighting sets the scene for all we could and should be being in the one life that we've got.
Everybody says that time heals everything. But what of the wretched hallow? The endless in-between?
Are we just going to wait it out? Sit here cold... ...just going to sweat it out? Just going to sweat it out?
Wait it out.
ohh wow thank you :):) i'll stick these up instead! they sound better than what i put haha awwh thank you. i did listen to it over and over (like a geek ;) ) can't wait for the new album :D xoxoxox
ohh wow thank you :):) i'll stick these up instead! they sound better than what i put haha awwh thank you. i did listen to it over and over (like a geek ;) ) can't wait for the new album :D xoxoxox
I wonder if this is the song that got left off the Narnia soundtrack. I remember hearing awhile ago that she had written something for the movie but Disney didn't like it and ended up going with Regina Spektor instead and she was going to put it on the new album. It fits quite well within the context of the movie/book at any rate.
no, that was "2-1" I think.
no, that was "2-1" I think.
From the booklet:
Where do we go from here? How do we carry on? I can't get beyond these questions...
Clambering for the scraps in the shatter of us collapsed that cuts me with every could-have-been
Pain on pain on play repeating with the backup, makeshift life in waiting
Everybody says time heals everything but what of the wretched hollow? The endless in between are we just going to wait it out?
There's nothing to see here now, turning the sign around We're closed to the earth 'til further notice
A stumbling cliched case, crumpled and puffy faced Dead in the stare of a thousand miles
All I want, only one, street level miracle I'll be an out and out, born again, from none more cynical
And sit here cold, we will be long gone by then In lackluster, in dust we layer on old magazines, fluorescent lighting sets the scene in the one life that we've got
And sit here Just going to wait it out And sit here cold Just going to sweat it out Wait it out
I tried to keep the punctuation consistent but sometimes my fingers couldn't help adding between stanzas...
anyhow, the lyrics looked generally correct, except my favorite line: "All I want, only one, street level miracle"
I think the song is about breaking up, trying to move on and knowing that you will eventually, but just that at this moment in time you're far from it...and that everyone is telling you you will be okay and everything, but you just keeping thinking about it-
the perfect post-break-up song.
thanks for the lyrics... these were posted last year... as I actually wrote them up originally from listening to the song for the first time of a performance recorded on a camera phone... so.. they were bound to be off ahah as you can imagine thanks for the help xoxox
thanks for the lyrics... these were posted last year... as I actually wrote them up originally from listening to the song for the first time of a performance recorded on a camera phone... so.. they were bound to be off ahah as you can imagine thanks for the help xoxox
I love this song, so thank you so much for the lyrics, but can I ask why the line "for all we could and should be being" gets added and dropped in different accounts of the lyrics? It's one of my favorite lines and sets up a more intense meaning to the following line "in the one life that we've got." I wonder, are there different performances or recordings of this song perhaps, other than the one I have, where Imogen Heap cuts this line?
I love this song, so thank you so much for the lyrics, but can I ask why the line "for all we could and should be being" gets added and dropped in different accounts of the lyrics? It's one of my favorite lines and sets up a more intense meaning to the following line "in the one life that we've got." I wonder, are there different performances or recordings of this song perhaps, other than the one I have, where Imogen Heap cuts this line?
^The first printing of the lyric book has a lot of misprints and mistakes. I don't believe the line was intentionally dropped :) IIRC, First Train Home is missing a few lines, and in Canvas she can't find the strength to keep you 'taut", not "taught".
^The first printing of the lyric book has a lot of misprints and mistakes. I don't believe the line was intentionally dropped :) IIRC, First Train Home is missing a few lines, and in Canvas she can't find the strength to keep you 'taut", not "taught".
Just use the lyric book as tentative guideline and immi herself as the gospel =D
Just use the lyric book as tentative guideline and immi herself as the gospel =D