Waiting Room
Fugazi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait
My time, water down a drain
Everybody's moving
Everybody's moving
Everybody's moving, moving, moving, moving
Please don't leave me to remain
In the waiting room
I don't want the news
I cannot use it
I don't want the news
I won't live by it
Sitting outside of town
Everybody's always down
Tell me why?
Because they can't get up
Come on and get up
Come on and get up
But I don't sit idly by
I'm planning a big surprise
I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be
And I won't make the same mistakes ('cause I know)
Because I know how much time that wastes (and function)
Function is the key
To the waiting room
I don't want the news
I cannot use it
I don't want the news
I won't live by it
Sitting outside of town
Everybody's always down
Tell me why?
Because they can't get up
Come on and get up
Up from the waiting room
Sitting in the waiting room (ah)
Sitting in the waiting room (ah)
Sitting in the waiting room (ah)
Sitting in the waiting room (tell me why)
Because they can't get up
The lyrics to Fugazi's "Waiting Room" represent a poignant commentary on society's tendency to constantly move and progress while the singer is left waiting and struggling. The opening lines, "I am a patient boy / I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait / My time, water down a drain," express the singer's frustration with feeling like time is being wasted while waiting. The repetition of "waiting" emphasizes the monotony and discomfort of this state.
As the song progresses, the singer observes that "Everybody's moving," but they are not. They are stuck in the waiting room, unable to move forward. The repetition of "moving" contrasts with the repetition of "waiting," highlighting the singer's sense of alienation and disconnection from the world around them. The request "Please don't leave me to remain" is a desperate plea for connection, for someone to understand and see them.
The refrain "I don't want the news / I cannot use it / I won't live by it" reflects the singer's rejection of the information overload in society. They do not want to hear about the latest news or events because they feel it is all meaningless and irrelevant to their situation. The lines "Function is the key / To the waiting room" suggest that the singer needs to find a way to function in this stagnant space, to find a purpose or goal to work towards.
Overall, the lyrics to "Waiting Room" provide a powerful commentary on the experiences of feeling stuck, frustrated, and disconnected in a world that is constantly moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a patient boy
I have the patience to wait
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait
I will wait as long as necessary
My time, water down a drain
My time waiting feels like it is being wasted
Everybody's moving
Everyone seems to be making progress
Everybody's moving, moving, moving, moving
Everyone seems to be making progress quickly
Please don't leave me to remain
Please do not let me be left behind
In the waiting room
I am stuck in a place where progress is slow
I don't want the news
I do not want to hear about the lack of progress
I cannot use it
Hearing about the lack of progress does not help me
I won't live by it
I refuse to be defined by the lack of progress
Sitting outside of town
I am on the outskirts of progress
Everybody's always down
Everyone seems to be dealing with the same struggles
Tell me why?
I want to understand the root of the problem
Because they can't get up
They are struggling to make progress
Come on and get up
I want to motivate others to make progress
But I don't sit idly by
But I am not just waiting without taking action
I'm planning a big surprise
I am working on a way to make significant progress
I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be
I am determined to achieve my goals
And I won't make the same mistakes ('cause I know)
I have learned from past failures and will avoid repeating them
Because I know how much time that wastes (and function)
I understand how detrimental mistakes can be and the importance of being productive
Function is the key
Productivity is crucial to success
Up from the waiting room
I am determined to make progress and leave the stagnant waiting room
Sitting in the waiting room (ah)
I feel stuck in a place without progress
Tell me why
I want to understand the reasons for the lack of progress
Because they can't get up
Others are struggling to make progress as well
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Ian MacKaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind