(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

I felt you coming girl, as you drew near
I knew you'd find me, 'cause I longed you here
Are you my destiny?
Is this how you'll appear?
Wrapped in a coat with the tears in your eyes?
Well take that coat babe, and throw it on the floor
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

As you've been moving surely toward me
My soul has comforted and assured me
That in time my heart it will reward me
And that all will be revealed
So I've sat and I've watched an ice-age thaw
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

Out of sorrow, entire worlds have been built
Out of longing great wonders have been willed
They're only little tears, darling, let them spill
And lay your head upon my shoulder
Outside my window the world has gone to war
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

Oh we will know, won't we?
The stars will explode in the sky
But they don't, do they?
Stars have their moment and then they die

There's a man who spoke wonders, though I've never met him
He said, "He who seeks finds and who knocks will be let in"
I think of you in motion and just how close you are getting
And how every little thing anticipates you
All down my veins my heart-strings call
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?


Lyrics submitted by delial, edited by Mellow_Harsher

(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? Lyrics as written by Nicholas Cave

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentI didn't get the feeling of disappointment at all - I did hear the caution in it though. I feel like it's a song of anticipation... can it really be that the person he has waited for is here? That all this time he has waited (the ice-age thawing), and now he's beginning to believe that the wait is at end... "every little thing anticipates you" and "all down my veins my heart strings call" is that great tingly excitement/hope that he is feeling. the stanza where he talks about 'we all know, don't we, that stars will explode in the sky" sounds sarcastic - like what you've said previously - the false expectation of what love will be like. but the reality is "stars have their moments and they die", much like our own lives - great moments, and a natural conclusion. I love this song!
    episceson July 25, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think he never felt out of love with her. this song sounds to me like the fantasy of her return
    rachel1711on September 10, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentRachel has it right. He loved her and she's gone. He wants her back. But she's not coming. And he won't come to her.
    kelevenon January 20, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think this song is about a man that's lived a difficult life and has been so terribly hurt in the past that he's afraid to give himself and his heart again... until this girl comes along... and he loves her dearly, falls in love with her, but doesn't give himself readily.... but slowly but surely he will... b/c deep down inside he knows that she is the one.
    CherryBomB13on February 26, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThe song is a love song. He met someone and fell for them he thinks that she is the one but he doubts it because the current world expects so much from your "true love" that unless "Stars explode in the sky" how do you know if this person is the one! The last verse explains that you have to put aside expectations and go for what you want. He who seeks finds! Perfect modern love song.
    chazangelon March 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think it is a song of anticipation. That he is still waiting for the one he's been waiting for? And through his search he is waiting for the one with a fantastic romanticism (the stars exploding in the sky), but when he realises there is no real romanticism in lifes loves. That's when the biblical reference comes in.
    The biblical reference I think points out that he can find in each lover past or future what he looks for, or what he's been waiting for. And perhaps even, in reflecting his past loves, that he only ever found what he was looking for, and just has to change the focus of his vision. :)
    At least that's what it means to me. . . ;)
    scrappysamIamon August 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIs the man he speaks of Jesus? Or someone who wrote of him in the Bible, maybe?
    __AwwSugaron February 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit is the perfect non love song

    are you the one?
    we would know wouldnt we?
    stars would explode... but the don't
    you aren't the one....


    and yes, its a"jesus" quote
    forensickon July 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThose lines don't necessarily mean it's not a love song. It might be an admission of his ridiculous claims about stars exploding in the sky.
    xdvron August 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"stars have their moment then they die"

    he loved her, and he fell out of love with her.
    and he in "are you the one that i've been waiting for"
    is asking himself, is this what he waited for...
    did i really wait for something that failed
    forensickon September 01, 2006   Link

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