Waving Through A Window
Ben Platt feat. Original Broadway Cast of Dear Evan Hansen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've learned to slam on the brake
Before I even turn the key
Before I make the mistake
Before I lead with the worst of me

Give them no reason to stare
No slipping up if you slip away
So I got nothing to share
No, I got nothing to say

Step out, step out of the sun if you keep getting burned
Step out, step out of the sun because you've learned
Because you've learned

On the outside always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
I'm waving through a window
I tried to speak but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass
I'm waving through a window
Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?

We start with stars in our eyes
We start believing that we belong
But every sun doesn't rise
And no one tells you where you went wrong

Step out, step out of the sun if you keep getting burned
Step out, step out of the sun because you've learned
Because you've learned

On the outside always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
Waving through a window
I tried to speak but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass
Waving through a window
Can anybody see, is anybody waving?

When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around
Do you ever really crash or even make a sound?
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around
Do you ever really crash or even make a sound?
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around
Do you ever really crash or even make a sound?
When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around
Do you ever really crash or even make a sound?
Did I even make a sound?
Did I even make a sound?
It's like I never made a sound
Will I ever make a sound?

On the outside always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
Waving through a window
I tried to speak but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass
Waving through a window
Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?

Is anybody waving




Waving, waving
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Waving Through a Window" by Ben Platt feat. Original Broadway Cast of Dear Evan Hansen is about feeling invisible and isolated, despite trying your best to fit in and be seen. The first verse speaks of the singer's tendency to hold back and present a perfect image to the world, as if they're constantly under scrutiny. They're afraid to be vulnerable and show their true selves, so they remain alone. In the chorus, the singer admits to feeling like an outsider, always looking in from the outside. They're surrounded by people, yet feel entirely unseen and unheard. In the second verse, the singer reflects on how this feeling has grown over time, and how they once believed they would fit in if they just tried hard enough. The bridge poses a philosophical question about existence and how one's experience of it is affected by being observed or not. Ultimately, the singer is left questioning their own existence and whether they have ever truly been seen or heard by anyone.


Line by Line Meaning

I've learned to slam on the brake
I have learned to pause and think before I act out of impulse


Before I even turn the key
Before I begin doing anything at all


Before I make the mistake
Before I make a regretful decision or take the wrong path


Before I lead with the worst of me
Before I show my negative traits or act out of character


Give them no reason to stare
Do nothing that will make others look at you with judgment or disapproval


No slipping up if you slip away
Avoid mistakes or revealing your true self if you choose to distance yourself


So I got nothing to share
I have nothing to reveal, nothing to talk about


No, I got nothing to say
I have no words to express myself


Step out, step out of the sun if you keep getting burned
Take a break from what is hurting or harming you


Step out, step out of the sun because you've learned
Take a break because you know better now


On the outside always looking in
Feeling like an outsider, never quite fitting in


Will I ever be more than I've always been?
Will I ever change or grow from who I am now?


'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
I am trying to get someone's attention or be noticed


I'm waving through a window
I am communicating, but from a distance or through a barrier


I tried to speak but nobody can hear
I have something to say, but no one is listening or understanding


So I wait around for an answer to appear
I am seeking clarity or guidance


While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass
Observing others going about their lives while I feel stuck or ignored


Can anybody see, is anybody waving back at me?
Is anyone noticing or acknowledging me or my message?


We start with stars in our eyes
We begin with high hopes and big dreams


We start believing that we belong
We start to feel like we have found our place and purpose


But every sun doesn't rise
Not everything will work out, no matter how hopeful we feel


And no one tells you where you went wrong
Sometimes we fail without clear explanations or instructions on how to avoid it


When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around
When you are struggling or failing unnoticed and unsupported


Do you ever really crash or even make a sound?
Does failure matter if no one is there to see or hear it?


Did I even make a sound?
Did anyone notice or care that I failed?


It's like I never made a sound
No one noticed or acknowledged the failure or struggle I experienced


Will I ever make a sound?
Will I ever be seen, heard, or acknowledged?


Waving, waving
Continuing to try to communicate or connect


Whoa-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Vocalization to add emotion to the repeated action of waving




Writer(s): Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Contributed by Alice N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@desireefernandes4205

I've learned to slam on the brake
Before I even turn the key
Before I make the mistake
Before I lead with the worst of me
Give them no reason to stare
No slipping up if you slip away
So I got nothing to share
No, I got nothing to say
Step out, step out of the sun
If you keep getting burned
Step out, step out of the sun
Because you've learned, because you've
learned
On the outside, always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
I'm waving through a window
I try to speak, but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people
pass
I'm waving through a window, oh
Can anybody see, is anybody waving back
at me?
We start with stars in our eyes
We start believing that we belong
But every sun doesn't rise
And no one tells you where you went
wrong
Step out, step out of the sun
If you keep getting burned
Step out, step out of the sun
Because you've learned, because you've
learned
On the outside, always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
Waving through a window
I try to speak, but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people
pass
Waving through a window, oh
Can anybody see, is anybody waving?
When you're falling in a forest and there's
nobody around
Do you ever really crash, or even make a
sound?
When you're falling in a forest and there's
nobody around
Do you ever really crash, or even make a
sound?
When you're falling in a forest and there's
nobody around
Do you ever really crash, or even make a
sound?
When you're falling in a forest and there's
nobody around
Do you ever really crash, or even make a
sound?
Did I even make a sound?
Did I even make a sound?
It's like I never made a sound
Will I ever make a sound?
On the outside, always looking in
Will I ever be more than I've always been?
'Cause I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass
Waving through a window
I try to speak, but nobody can hear
So I wait around for an answer to appear
While I'm watch, watch, watching people
pass
Waving through a window, oh
Can anybody see, is anybody waving back
at me? (oh)
Is anybody waving?
Waving, waving, whoa-oh, whoa-oh



@sophiaredwood5825

Annalise Wedewer Woah, mind blown, I literally just realized that that is exactly how my friend group formed. And it makes perfect sense! Aaa!!

Also, don’t apologize for rambling. I’m a writer by nature, I read and write without stopping so I’ve surely burdened many who try to read my long comments 😂 but I will usually never be bothered by a long comment to read. ESPECIALLY if it’s sincere and interesting. So you’re perfectly fine 😊

As for speaking intellectually? Hmm, lately I resort to thought-provoking questions or hypothetical situations (some stupidly fun, others actually super interesting)... Like... “If all of a sudden you met your future child and they were your age because of some time-related thing, and they knew you were their (younger) parent, how do you think the conversation would go? Any interests you think you both would have? How would your friends react if the same thing happened to them?”

Also stuff like, “What is a donut without a hole?” or “Why is hot chocolate called what it is despite its actual temperature?” and stuff to that effect, haha.

I also tend to think a lot about people and interactions and identity and stuff but that could be a bit long 😂



@rainingwhenidie

"we start with stars in our eyes

we start believing that we belong

but every sun doesn't rise

and no one tells you where you went wrong"

Hits SOOO hard. They're my favorite lines in the song



All comments from YouTube:

@prvatenbody8805

Don’t tap on the window.



It ANGERS the g l a s s .

@devin1395

this is so cursed but I love it

@carmellaruss3414

- fish in tank

@joselitotejada9631

I tried tapping on the glass, the next day, the glass tapped on me.

@bababooey3534

Angry g l a s s

@meepbeep2029

Why is this funny-

69 More Replies...

@cffee3288

“What does anxiety feel like?”

Me: aggressively points

@stitch_playz9710

Cøffee it feels like you're always being watched In normal anxiety. With social anxiety it feels they will think you're weird, or they will hate you if you talk to them. There are many forms.

@ValeskaTAdams

@Cøffee

XDXDXDXDXDXDXDXD I’ll just sing it! 😂👍

@margothbarrios3488

@@stitch_playz9710 yeah, mine is that I'm worried that I'll offend someone and then everyone will hate me

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