Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Philip Andelman and features Mayer walking along the East River while commissioned graffiti artists Futura, Tats Cru, and Daze spray paint messages relating to the song's content on New York City billboards.
Promotion and release
A limited-edition EP of "Waiting on the World to Change" was released that includes both the album version and a bonus, acoustic version featuring Ben Harper. The EP also is the only official source for the studio (electric) version of "Good Love Is On The Way", a live version of which was previously released on the live album Try! by the John Mayer Trio. This particular EP has only been made available through Best Buy and with the purchase of the Continuum album. An acoustic studio version of "Good Love Is on the Way" is also available on Mayer's EP entitled The Village Sessions, released on December 12, 2006 ("The Village Sessions" EP also contains the aforementioned Ben Harper acoustic version of "Waiting On The World to Change").
Critical reception
"Waiting on the World to Change" received mixed reviews from music critics. Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times called the song "a lovely and anger-free ode to a vaguely dissatisfied generation," while Matt Collar with AMG wrote that "Nobody — not a single one of Mayer's contemporaries — has come up with anything resembling a worthwhile anti-war anthem that is as good and speaks for their generation as much as his 'Waiting on the World to Change'". Rolling Stone called the opening track and first single "a moving apologia for Gen Y's seeming 'apathy'". Other reviewers commented on his progression as an artist; Tony Pascarella found the song "gives listeners, both old and new, an idea of how far Mayer has come. To be frank, this is no 'Your Body Is A Wonderland.' With Continuum, Mayer broadens his fan base by infusing a very blues and R&B-influenced sound." Not all reviews were glowing: Entertainment Weekly and the Los Angeles Times were both less than impressed, with the Times saying that, in the song, "his mood tightens up unpleasantly". Greg Kot in the Chicago Tribune also referred to the song (in his report on Mayer's appearance at the Crossroads Guitar Festival) as "[perhaps] the most spineless social-justice song ever written. It advocates a passive approach, whereas the song it most closely resembles --- Curtis Mayfield's classic "People Get Ready" --- urges everyone to get involved, or risk being left behind". Pitchfork found in the track "the gravitas of an infomercial but only a fraction of the soul", giving it the least grade.
Commercial performance
On February 22, 2007, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It stayed on the charts for 41 weeks. The single also reached number 1 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, remaining on the chart for over a year. It is Mayer's most successful single (both in sales and chart positions). To date, in the US, the single has sold over two million digital downloads, becoming the 103rd song to top the two million mark in paid downloads. It is Mayer's first song to reach that plateau. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA, a distinction for downloads and sales in excess of one million. The song has found success internationally as well. It peaked at number 17 on the Australian ARIA Digital Singles Chart. It also peaked at number 36 on the New Zealand RIANZ Top 40 Singles Chart.
Waiting on the World to Change
John Mayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, three
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
We just feel like we don't have the means
To rise above and beat it
So we keep waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (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 on (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now if we had the power
To bring our neighbors home from war
They woulda 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)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (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)
Waiting on the world to change
And we're still waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
One day our generation
Is gonna rule the population
So we keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
Now I keep on waiting (waiting)
Waiting on the world to change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
We're waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
Waiting on the world to change
John Mayer's song "Waiting on the World to Change" speaks to the frustration and powerlessness that many young people feel when they see the issues and problems of the world around them. The song touches on themes such as social justice, politics, and apathy. The first verse sets the stage for the song, expressing frustration with the current state of things and a sense of being misunderstood. Mayer sings, "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."
The second verse highlights the disconnect between the people who make decisions and those who have to live with the consequences. Mayer suggests that if those in power were forced to live with the same consequences as those who are directly affected by their decisions, things might be different. He sings, "Now if we had the power to bring our neighbors home from war, they woulda 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."
Overall, "Waiting on the World to Change" is a lament about the struggles of young people to make a difference and effect change in the world. The song acknowledges the deep-seated problems in society without offering any solutions, which may be part of why the song continues to resonate with so many people.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two
The song is about to begin
One, two, three
The song has begun
Me and all my friends
I have a group of friends who share my feelings
We're all misunderstood
People don't understand us or our intentions
They say we stand for nothing and
People think we don't believe in anything important
There's no way we ever could
People don't believe we have the power to make a real change
Now we see everything that's going wrong
We recognize the problems in the world and the people responsible for them
With the world and those who lead it
We blame the leaders and systems for the problems in the world
We just feel like we don't have the means
We feel powerless to make significant changes
To rise above and beat it
We can't overcome the problems and system on our own
So we keep waiting (waiting)
We continue to wait for others to make meaningful changes
Waiting on the world to change
We are hoping for a positive change in the world
It's hard to beat the system
The system and people in power are difficult to overcome
When we're standing at a distance
We are far from the centers of power, so it's challenging to influence change
Now if we had the power
If we had the authority to make meaningful changes in the world
To bring our neighbors home from war
We would come up with a way to stop the violence and destruction caused by wars
They woulda never missed a Christmas
We wish soldiers can return home to their families and loved ones during the holidays
No more ribbons on their door
We wouldn't have to see signs of mourning and tragedy at every corner
And when you trust your television
We can't rely on the media to tell the truth and show the reality of the world
What you get is what you got
What we see on TV and media shapes our reality
'Cause when they own the information, oh
The media and people in power control the information we see and share
They can bend it all they want
They can manipulate the information and paint a misleading picture of the world
It's not that we don't care
We care deeply about the world's issues and problems
We just know that the fight ain't fair
We acknowledge the unfairness and the challenges we face in achieving meaningful change
We're waiting on the world to change
We continue to wait on meaningful changes in the world
One day our generation
The future generations who will inherit the world
Is gonna rule the population
Will hopefully take the reins and make meaningful change
Now I keep on waiting (waiting)
I personally continue to hope for and wait on a positive change
We keep on waiting (waiting)
We as a collective keep hoping and waiting for a positive change
Waiting on the world to change
Our hope for the world to change remains steadfast
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: John Mayer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevecash83
One of the greatest songs of all time. I love the message here! :) :) :)
@trusttrust8472
Yes. One of my all time favourites. Absolutely loving it ❤❤❤🥰🌞🌞🙏🌠🌠🌠🙏😇
@lucacianflone4128
God. I used to watch the hell out of the shenanigans of Sylvester and the gang.
@orginalchimp7963
Nah
@trusttrust8472
@@orginalchimp7963 whatever works for you in your life. I see no reason to value your opinion more than my own
@orginalchimp7963
@@trusttrust8472 omg this ordinal commen was made 4 years ago and I wanted to see if u guys were still alive. Aldo, Adele is amazing, listen to someone like you please.
@lindaswole
I remember my teacher showing this to us in 4th grade. The teacher’s assistant put up 2 posters that said,
“Are you changing the world…
or waiting on the world to change?” and that has always stuck with me ever since. Been graduated for almost 4 years now and it’s still with me. Hope I can change the world some day one way or another.
@chichiluli
4 sho
@MOTIVATIONAK4723
Dont worry just be good ,do good and pray
@TruthDissident
@@MOTIVATIONAK4723 Most people on the left don't believe in God, homie.