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The Wait Lyrics
Huh!
Said the wait, child, magic child, work it on out now, work it
The wait child pinball child, pool hall child, hurts
Wait child, pacing child, forth, back, now, hurts
The wait child neon light, late night lights hurt
Oh, gonna hurt some
Child, child,
Gonna hurt some,
Whoa, my baby
Hmm.
Said the wait child, bruise-balled child, pride-slapped child, hurts,
Wait child, crest-felled child, tear-eyed child hurts
Wait child, bus stop child, late-come child hurts
The wait, child, platform walk, idle talk hurts
Oh, gonna hurt some
Child, child,
Gonna hurt some,
Whoa, my baby
Hmm.
Said, child, child, staring into the street light
Messed up child, lonely boy tonight
Kick the wall, turn the street and back again, oh boy, you've been forgotten
child, child, staring into the street light
Messed up child, lonely boy tonight
Kick the wall, turn the street and back again, oh boy, you've been forgotten
Huh!
Said the wait child, pacing child, forth back now hurts,
Wait child bus stop child, late-come child hurts
Wait child pool hall child, pin-table now, hurts
The wait child magic child work it on out now, work it
Oh gonna hurt some
This child, child child child child
Hurt some,
Whoa, my baby
Yeah!
The wait child pinball child, pool hall child, hurts
Wait child, pacing child, forth, back, now, hurts
The wait child neon light, late night lights hurt
Child, child,
Gonna hurt some,
Whoa, my baby
Wait child, crest-felled child, tear-eyed child hurts
Wait child, bus stop child, late-come child hurts
The wait, child, platform walk, idle talk hurts
Child, child,
Gonna hurt some,
Whoa, my baby
Said, child, child, staring into the street light
Messed up child, lonely boy tonight
Kick the wall, turn the street and back again, oh boy, you've been forgotten
child, child, staring into the street light
Messed up child, lonely boy tonight
Kick the wall, turn the street and back again, oh boy, you've been forgotten
Said the wait child, pacing child, forth back now hurts,
Wait child bus stop child, late-come child hurts
Wait child pool hall child, pin-table now, hurts
The wait child magic child work it on out now, work it
This child, child child child child
Hurt some,
Whoa, my baby
Yeah!
Song Info
Submitted by
spliphstar On Jan 23, 2002
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This song is clearly about a latchkey kid. Could be autobiographical, or 3rd person. But definitely about a kid who is left to fend for him/herself at night, hanging out in pool halls and waiting at bus stops and train platforms, "staring into the streetlights".
No idea why Chrissie went to such lengths to make the lyrics unintelligible. I wondered about these lyrics for years and years.
Having since read "Reckless", Chrissie's autobiography, it seems the tune was written about her then boyfriend and bassist Pete Farndon.
Having since read "Reckless", Chrissie's autobiography, it seems the tune was written about her then boyfriend and bassist Pete Farndon.
@Stiglr I don't think she intentionally tried to make the lyrics unintelligible. It's just the combination of the words she wrote and the tempo of the song. I'm guessing they might have tried to play the song at a slower pace and it just didn't feel right.
@Stiglr I don't think she intentionally tried to make the lyrics unintelligible. It's just the combination of the words she wrote and the tempo of the song. I'm guessing they might have tried to play the song at a slower pace and it just didn't feel right.
@Stiglr I recall reading an article on the band circa '81, and the writer made a big deal out of how he had lyrics with him and J H Scott said, "Don't let Chrissie see you've got those". And the garbling of this song's lyrics in particular are extreme!!! I mean, listen to that first line, "Said, the wait now, magic child, workitonoutnowworkit" :o
@Stiglr I recall reading an article on the band circa '81, and the writer made a big deal out of how he had lyrics with him and J H Scott said, "Don't let Chrissie see you've got those". And the garbling of this song's lyrics in particular are extreme!!! I mean, listen to that first line, "Said, the wait now, magic child, workitonoutnowworkit" :o
Probably my favorite Pretenders tune, at least the one that gets me the most wound up. The staccato lyrics are part of what put this song over the top for me - so frantic and grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Took me a long time to even try to track down the lyrics, but I\'m glad I did. I respect Chrissie even more now.
@Hartyhar Yeah, I can remember years ago having my old Pretenders (I) cassette in my car stereo and then getting a speeding ticket... because how can you not drive at breakneck speed with this blaring out of your speakers??? "Huhhhhhhhhhhhh!"\r\n
@Hartyhar Yeah, I can remember years ago having my old Pretenders (I) cassette in my car stereo and then getting a speeding ticket... because how can you not drive at breakneck speed with this blaring out of your speakers??? "Huhhhhhhhhhhhh!"\r\n