Waiting on the World to Change

John Mayer

About Waiting on the World to Change

"Waiting on the World to Change" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mayer. It was released as the lead single from his third studio album, Continuum (2006), on August 1, 2006. The song enjoyed commercial success as a single and won the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.


Year:
2008
54 
#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Me and all my friends
We're all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and
There's no way we ever could

Now we see everything that's going wrong
With the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it

So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

It's hard to beat the system
When we're standing at a distance
So we keep waiting
Waiting on the world to change

Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They would have never missed a Christmas
No more ribbons on their door
And when you trust your television
What you get is what you got
Cause when they own the information, oh
They can bend it all they want

That's why we're waiting
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

It's not that we don't care,
We just know that the fight ain't fair
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

And we're still waiting 
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

We keep on waiting
Waiting on the world to change

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


John Mayer

John Clayton Mayer ( /ˈmeɪ.ər/ MAY-ər; born October 16, 1977) is an American pop and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and raised in Fairfield, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his skills and gained a following, and he now lives in New York City. His first two studio albums, Room for Squares and Heavier Things, did well commercially, achieving multi-platinum status. In 2003, he won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Your Body Is a Wonderland." more »

5 fans

Written by: John Mayer

Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release and Chart Success
"Waiting on the World to Change" was released in 2006 as part of John Mayer's third studio album, "Continuum". Upon its release, it achieved commercial success and became one of the singer's most popular songs, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
Grammy Award
This song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2007, highlighting John Mayer's vocal talents and the strength of the song's composition and production.
Political Context
Often categorized as a political song, "Waiting on the World to Change" has been noted by Mayer himself to reflect the feelings of helplessness that many young people felt about the world's issues at the time.
Song Meaning and Message
The song speaks about the powerlessness of Mayer's generation to effect change and their hopes for a better future. The lyrics question the many societal and political issues but at the same time, suggest that change can only come when the younger generation is in power.
Music Video
The music video for the song features various shots of John Mayer walking through New York City with views of everyday people in the background, echoing the themes of societal change captured in the lyrics.
Cover Versions
Numerous other artists have covered this song. Ben Harper and Relentless7 performed a version of it at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors to pay tribute to Bruce Springsteen.
Live Performances
Throughout his career, John Mayer has played "Waiting on the World to Change" in numerous live performances, making it a signature song of his repertoire.
Song Writing
Mayer wrote this song as a conscious effort to write a song that was vastly different from his usual music. He was inspired by Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, two artists known for their socially conscious music.
Used in Media
The song has been used in various forms of media. It was featured in an episode of the television series "Jericho", and has been used in advertisements for the brand Omega SA Watches and Invesco Funds.
Reception
"Waiting on the World to Change" has received mixed responses from music critics. Some praised its composition and lyrics, while others criticized it for being too complacent in its approach to tackling societal problems.

Discuss the Waiting on the World to Change Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Waiting on the World to Change Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14618811/John+Mayer/Waiting+on+the+World+to+Change>.

    Missing lyrics by John Mayer?

    Know any other songs by John Mayer? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Waiting on the World to Change

    47.9M
    245.2K     5,368

    Top Hot 100 Songs 2007

    Billboard #14


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "I was painting a picture. The picture was a painting of you."
    A Aurora - Runaway
    B Bic Runga - Sway
    C Kelly Clarkson - Because of You
    D MYMP - Especially for You

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss John Mayer's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    John Mayer tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!