Waste of Time
Fastbacks Lyrics

The lyrics to Fastbacks' song Waste of Time address the seemingly widespread disinterest in coming together to work towards meaningful change. The first verse opens with a declaration that some people believe it's "such a good time for everyone to not get along." This line speaks to a sense of apathy and insularity; that people are content to just stay with their own "tribes" and not attempt any conversations, dialogue, or progress with people who might have differing perspectives. The following line, "and how was everyone so right if only everyone was wrong," further emphasizes this sentiment. Essentially, the singer is calling out the fact that people can't all be right when they are unwilling to engage with opposing viewpoints.

The second verse introduces the idea that, despite recognizing the problem, people are still making excuses for why they don't need to do anything about it. "And then it called for opinions and no-one cared to call / And so they all cried 'apathy' and no-one cared at all" illustrates the defeatist mindset present, wherein people are not only eschewing participation but also taking pride in doing so. The third verse adds a personal touch, as the singer mentions trying to speak with these people directly but realizing that they won't listen. Even if the singer tried to contact them, they'd likely say "don't send the boy around" (i.e. don't bother sending someone to talk to me about this issue) because they're so set in their ways. Thus, the final line of the song, "now I know why everyone so right when they said everyone was wrong," takes on a new meaning; it's not just that people are wrong for not taking an active role in pushing for progress, but that they're willfully ignorant and unwilling to consider any form of dissent.