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Waiting For The Miracle Lyrics
Baby, I've been waiting,
I've been waiting night and day.
I didn't see the time,
I waited half my life away.
There were lots of invitations
and I know you sent me some,
but I was waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
I know you really loved me.
but, you see, my hands were tied.
I know it must have hurt you,
it must have hurt your pride
to have to stand beneath my window
with your bugle and your drum,
and me I'm up there waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Ah I don't believe you'd like it,
You wouldn't like it here.
There ain't no entertainment
and the judgements are severe.
The Maestro says it's Mozart
but it sounds like bubble gum
when you're waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Waiting for the miracle
There's nothing left to do.
I haven't been this happy
since the end of World War II.
Nothing left to do
when you know that you've been taken.
Nothing left to do
when you're begging for a crumb
Nothing left to do
when you've got to go on waiting
waiting for the miracle to come.
I dreamed about you, baby.
It was just the other night.
Most of you was naked
Ah but some of you was light.
The sands of time were falling
from your fingers and your thumb,
and you were waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Ah baby, let's get married,
we've been alone too long.
Let's be alone together.
Let's see if we're that strong.
Yeah let's do something crazy,
something absolutely wrong
while we're waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Nothing left to do ...
When you've fallen on the highway
and you're lying in the rain,
and they ask you how you're doing
of course you'll say you can't complain --
If you're squeezed for information,
that's when you've got to play it dumb:
You just say you're out there waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
By Fistan Majere
Song Info
Submitted by
fistan On Dec 02, 2001
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Ok, I think I figured it out. It's about him missing out on love because he was waiting for the right woman. I think it's a reference to the old biblical story about how a guy's house was being engulfed with water from the river and three airplanes came by to help but he brushed them all off saying "No, I believe Jesus will save me". Turns out thos three airplanes were sent by some divine being and he missed out.
I think this song talks about a guy waiting for the perfect girl, and suddenly he has this girl and he isn´t able to see that, because he keeps looking for his ideal, and even when he realizes this somehow and see all what she has for him... he is not convinced. On the other side there is the girl, who is waiting for him to love her, doing much for him and not completely corresponded. the "miracle" for him is the ideal love and for her is the love of this guy she found and they are both trapped in this circle where they are waiting. Just my opinion... ;)
In my opinion, the "miracle" he's waiting for is the emotional rescue (or salvation, if you will) he's been longing for through many years of grief and being alone. When someone finally reaches out to save him, he's been blinded by the constant longing for the perfect rescue that he can't settle for those who've been trying to save him all this time. Now he's too bitter and settled into his own world that he is no longer able to accept anyone's help, just clinging to that old longing he's known so well and for so long.
Wonderful song. As with all Cohen's work it is open to numerous interpretations - the 'miracle' could refer to his ideal woman changing her mind; or to his present relationship coming right; or possibly to the physical act of sex. But that said, the basic meaning of the song seems to be along these lines: The narrator has spent half his life waiting for the unattainable 'perfect' person or near-impossible event while letting reality slip away. The song seems to consist of him explaining and apologising to a woman over why he couldn't commit to her, even though she had made it embarrassingly plain she was interested (standing beneath his window with her bugle and drum). In the middle of the song he complains about how unhappy he is in his present situation with no entertainment and the severe judgments. When he can finally break free from the unhappy relationship he has been in, and his hands are no longer tied, he hasn't been so happy since the end of World War Two. But his joy is short-lived. It's too late and the woman with the bugle and drum doesn't want him anymore. He dreams of being naked with her but even then he knows she is dreaming of someone else. And the reality is even worse - she won't even give him a crumb despite him begging her to do 'something crazy'. So he is left with nothing, lying in the rain and hasn't even got anyone to complain to anymore.
the miracle is indeed love or at least instant happiness i think the "bugle and drum" bit is about a potential lover being so obviously in love with him but hes so deluded that he cant see it
i love this song,i love it!!!
The "miracle" is love - the Romeo and Juliet unconditional absolute kind of love that he is still waiting for. But he's also considering settling for this girl he knows and loves because he does not want to wait forever.
"Yeah let's do something crazy, something absolutely wrong while we're waiting for the miracle, for the miracle to come."
I agree with Yoloko. This song is about suffering you cause yourself because of your idea of perfection.
"I waited half my life away" - time he probably could have spent being happy, if he wasn't fixated on the "miracle"
oh those biblical stories with airplanes get you everytime, don't they?
That's too funny! I was thinking the same thing. There were no airplanes during biblical times!
That's too funny! I was thinking the same thing. There were no airplanes during biblical times!
airplanes - haha fantastic.
Yes, definitely about a man who realises that someone is in love with him and has waited patiently while he pisses about with his own delusions. I have the version from the Natural Born Killers s/t - always forget there are several more verses!