I Will Wait

I'll get to the point, I promise.

The Tower of Babel was built by a people who wanted to reach God. It was a meager attempt, and quite insulting to God, who ended up confusing their language. See, there used to be one language in the whole world, but God created many at this moment so that the tower could not be built. It also caused this nation to divide–just a consequence of their prideful yet meaningless pursuit of building a tower so high that it would reach the heavens. You can find this story in Genesis 11:1-9

Now here is why I think this album is called "Babel."

Religion is man’s pursuit to reach God through our trivial human actions and rituals. It's a waste of time because we're human–imperfect and small–and God is simply God. I think lead singer Marcus Mumford completely understands this, and has seen the hypocrisy of religion and the way it has torn the world apart, much like the Tower of Babel tore the early world apart ("'...and this is only the beginning of what they will do'" Genesis 11:6.)

Many of Mumford's lyrics allude to this theme of the hypocrisy and frivolity of religion, and the way it hurts people. I believe you can even hear this in the first verse of "I Will Wait.” Stones are hard, but they are also broken and smoothed over. Religion does the same thing to us. It hardens our hearts toward God, breaks us down, and corrodes our spirit and our character because we give into this lie that God is harsh and demanding, and only willing to know us if we offer religious sacrifices. God’s arms are actually open. He just wants our heart.

Seems to me that Marcus either was or is tired of the whole religion thing. It left him worn and bitter. The truth about salvation is that we cannot get it for ourselves. Here is the major point: we don’t reach God, God reaches us. We’re not powerful enough, which is why we needed a savior.

We wait on God to capture us in the right moment of our lives. We’ll die of exhaustion if we try to reach God with our actions.

“You forgave and I won’t forget” Jesus forgave us which is why we have freedom and why we only need to believe.

“Shake the excess” Shake the guilt. Jesus forgave everything, so we never need to be guilty.

“So take my flesh and fix my eyes” Galatians 5:16 2 Corinthians 4:18

“That tethered mind free from the lies” Lies that we’re not good enough.

“Keep my heart slow” Not be hasty in giving into what the world has to offer.

I will wait for God to come through.

This song is obviously about waiting for your partner through distance and overcoming all the obstacles that come with true love.

I don't believe this song is religious or about religion. There are some religious references in other Mumford & Sons songs, but I don't see any that stand out here. They're not a flat-out "religious" band. Frontman, Marcus Mumford describes the lyrics for Sigh No More as "a ­deliberately spiritual thing but ­deliberately not a ­religious thing. I think faith is ­something beautiful, and ­something real, and ­something ­universal, or it can be... We all have our ­separate views on religion, but I think faith is something to be celebrated. I have my own personal views, they're still real to me, and I want to write about them."

Anyway, more specifically, this song is about Marcus Mumford's wife, actress Carey Mulligan and waiting for her.

The two were childhood pen pals and it was only after they both found success in their respective fields that they got in touch with each other again as adults. Marcus and Carey began sending each other letters through their churches when they were kids. After becoming friends again things got more serious in early 2011 and they two became romantically involved and married after a nine-month engagement.

Through the years of having fallen out of touch, Marcus kept his hope up that they would meet again. Even through being distanced during their engagement/relationship and having conflicting schedule (Marcus having a busy recording/tour schedule and Carey having a busy filming schedule), they waited for one another and never gave up on the love they have for one another.

It's like when you go to the hairdressers and ask if they can cut your hair. They ask if you have an appointment and you say no. They say they can fit you in about 15 minutes. You say "i will wait". Pretty sure that's what this song is about

Seems like a very spiritual song - almost as if he is speaking to God. I love it!

I can relate to this song a lot, what I take from it is the way he feels after losing someone that was very dear to him, and the struggle that he faces while trying to win them back. "These days of dust which we've known will blow away with this new sun" This to me means a promise that things are going to change for the better. He then goes on to say that "I'll kneel down wait for now" this is a sign of submission, recognizing it is going to take some time but he will wait. Later on in the song he says "break my step and relent" He realizes that it's not going to play out according to his wishes, the person is relenting or trying to avoid the pain. He also says that "You forgave and I Won't forget" He tresures the fact that the persn has forgiven them on the inside, and even though he doesent exactly have what he wants "and him with less" and "now in some way shake the excess" to me this means try not to focus on all the feelings of doubt and anxiety. He finishes the song with saying he will be strong and use is head as well as his heart. He also says "A tethered mind freed from the lies" This could imply that he is focused on what he wants, and also recognizes where he made his mistakes.

This is what it means to me at least, I hurt a woman that I loved badly with stupid lies, and other girls. I know she loves me and has forgiven me to a certain point, but it will take time for her to trust me and give me all of herself again...so I will wait.

I personally believe this album is a Spiritual Journey, and "I Will Wait" as the first release frames the rest of the albums meaning... For starters, both albums are heavily influenced by his being raised in the church since his parents were church leaders. That said, I think he had a falling out with the church, but never forgot his roots and developed a more spiritual relationship with God. The first albums seems to sum up a litany of failed relationships (not sure if they are his own or of those around him) and lamenting over them, and this album seems to be more about the process of healing the damage and turning back to your roots for guidance like a "12 Step Program". That said in "I Will Wait" he's apparently re-established a connection with God, and is saying no "I will wait for you" as in 'This has got to stop and I'm not rushing to my death to be saved.' Its subtle, I know, but I think its there.

"Well I came home like a stone And I fell heavy into your arms"

Death comes suddenly like a stone on the water, Heaven his final home, and falls into the Lord's welcoming arms.

"These days of dust, which we've known Will blow away with this new sun"

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust is the allusion.

"And I'll kneel down, wait for now And I'll kneel down know my ground"

Knell down before God awaiting judgement to know where he stands.

"And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"

He's not rushing to be there, probably out of fear of finding out what that judgement will be.

"So break my step, and relent Well you forgave, and I won't forget"

Persevere through the tough times knowing and never forgetting his roots that the Lord died to forgive his sins. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

"Know what we've seen and him with less Now in some way shake the excess"

This was a tough line to interpret, but I think he's talking about shaking the excesses of life, at least uncomplicated it. Or as I like to say "Keep it simple stupid".

"But I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"

Still waiting for judgement like he knows he'll be waiting a while in purgatory.

"Now I'll be bold as well as strong And use my head alongside my heart"

Ok this line is came off a little odd to me, but again he's talking about persevering through the low points in life and finding a balance between thinking and feeling, Logic and Emotion. However, when singing the song, "And use my head alongside my soul" seems to come out more naturally. In fact, his voice seems to unnaturally waiver on "Heart" in the album version, but by the time they recorded the Live Concert video, its become more natural. Now, if I'm right that this was a word substitution, I think he did this himself to make the song less Religious to his following, more Spiritual, and Non-Secular.

"So tame my flesh and fix my eyes A tethered mind freed from the lies"

Talking about being free from sins of flesh, freed from the lies throughout the world, its people and its religions, and being allowed to finally see "The Real Truth" for himself through God's eyes.

"But I'll kneel down, wait for now I'll kneel down know my ground

Raise my hands, paint my spirit gold Bow my head, keep my heart slow"

When his time comes, he'll wait for judgement hoping to be found righteous enough to enter heaven and that he can raise his hands in praise to find his spirit is pure again, humbled to bow his head before God.

"'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you And I will wait, I will wait for you"

Until that day comes he'll continue to wait and try to right the wrongs in his life to become a better person before that time arrives.

This song is about the second coming of Jesus Christ. The term "coming home" is used when the person in the song receives salvation. "You forgave" is referring to the Lord forgiving him of his sins. "Kneel down" and "raise my hands" and "bow my head" are all praises to the Lord you will see during a revival. He is telling the Lord he is saved and he will wait for the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. This is a super song!!!

This is just Untitled, from The Cave b-side, with a few new lines. I like the original better

So I'll be bold As well as strong And use my head alongside my heart So take my flesh And fix my eyes That tethered mind free from the lies

"well balanced, this is great!"

Like most great songs, this can mean so much to people for many different reasons. The poetry is simple and for me the words reflect word for word something in my life that isn't related to God or religion, but at the same time you can read those messages in it as well. Amazing.