Wait (Secret Stars cover) Lyrics

Lyric discussion by jcjh20 

Cover art for Wait (Secret Stars cover) lyrics by Death Cab for Cutie

To me, it's not necessarily about any relationship or lost love, but I get a socially awkward vibe off of the main character of the song. I relate to certain lines here a lot and they really resonated with me. I feel like the song is about a person who doesn't go out all that much and someone who doesn't relate to the average person very much. He feels like most people are just trying to act cool and show off rather than strive for more meaningful friendships/relationships with people.

He is a guy that is introverted and doesn't go out much but he's trying to fit in with how other people socialize: going to diners, talking casually about nothing over coffee, no real meaningful conversations going on to the point where the main character of the song feels no connection and doesn't want to feel any connection. When you don't feel a connection with most people and stay with yourself a lot, you are cynical and never expect to really hit it off with anyone and you expect people not to really say anything that interests you. Such is the life of a socially awkward introverted person.

I really like the last 2 lines: "Sometimes we all feel stupid, we say the wrong things. You're not the only one. Sometimes we all get left behind in a race of style, it's a dumb thing."

I find the first line pretty comforting for someone who might be awkward and doesn't know what to say to people they don't know well. The 2nd line is just a repeat of the earlier subject of the average person just trying to one-up each other on who is more "cool" and "stylish" rather than forming any genuine chemistries with each other.

To me it's a nice philosophical way of lamenting how most people don't really have all that great social skills and they're all out for themselves. I am really surprised no one else came up with this interpretation because to me it was never about any particular failed relationship or love of a person or anything. It's just a general observation of the average person through the eyes of an introverted, perhaps even reclusive, person.

@jcjh20 I agree completely!! This song has nothing to do with love, I think maybe only introverted people see that? I feel though that the narrator, though definitely cynical, is more observational when it comes to his noticing of the character who waits for him hanging out with his friends. Instead of being critical toward the people who stand around on the corners looking “cool” with all their friends, I think he merely notices a separation between himself and them, a certain apathy and empty observation. I think this may be the reason why he wouldn’t care to know about...