Waite was born in Lancaster, and was educated at Lancaster Art College (The Storey Institute).
Waite first came to attention as the lead singer and bassist of The Babys, a British rock band which had moderate chart success, including two pop hits that both coincidentally peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Isn't It Time" (1977) and "Everytime I Think of You" (1979), and a solid following of their concert tours. Over the course of five years, the band produced five albums ending with the final album On the Edge in October 1980, after which the group disbanded.
Waite subsequently launched his solo career with his 1982 debut album Ignition, which produced the hit single "Change". The Chrysalis 45 failed to chart on Billboard's Hot 100 during its initial release (June 1982) but was a top track on AOR radio stations, as well as a very popular music video on MTV as the 'new' cable channel celebrated its first full year of operation. The song was originally recorded in 1981 by another band, and in 1985 was included on the platinum selling Vision Quest soundtrack. When the single was reissued, it reached the Top 50 on the Hot 100. "Going to the Top" was released as the original follow-up single to "Change".
His next album, No Brakes, resulted in international attention. It was a Top 10 Billboard album in the US due to the smash hit "Missing You" which went to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[4] It knocked Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It?" out of No. 1. For that very reason, Turner later recorded and released Waite's smash song herself. (Turner's single peaked at No. 84 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1996.) "Missing You" also hit No. 1 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks as well as the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. No Brakes sold over a million and a half US copies yet has never been certified above the RIAA Gold standard (a record company must apply to the RIAA for such certification). Two more singles from No Brakes followed, including "Tears" which was a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.
The next album Mask of Smiles followed in 1985 featuring the hit single "Every Step of the Way". Another single, "If Anybody Had a Heart", was released from the soundtrack of the 1986 film About Last Night.... In 1987, Rover's Return was released with the single "These Times Are Hard For Lovers". Waite would have another soundtrack appearance in 1990 from Days of Thunder with "Deal for Life"
In 1988, Waite joined former Babys bandmates Jonathan Cain and Ricky Phillips, along with Neal Schon from Journey and drummer Deen Castronovo, to form the supergroup Bad English. In 1989, the Bad English ballad "When I See You Smile" (penned by Diane Warren) went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and earned a Gold-certified single. Its parent album reached Billboard's Top Five and sold nearly two million copies in the United States alone. Bad English released two albums before tensions amongst the members led to the band's dissolution by 1992.
Waite returned to solo work. He released the album Rough And Tumble. He has continued to tour, such as in 2003 with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
In 2006, "Missing You" was released as a duet with Alison Krauss and reached the Top 40 on the Country Charts in the United States. Waite appeared with Krauss on The Tonight Show on 5 February 2007 to perform the song. Waite's songs have reappeared in other media as well: 2013 saw "Missing You" featured heavily in the movie Warm Bodies, and "Change" is on the soundtrack of the US movie Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.
In 2008 he recorded a guest vocal on the track "In God's Shadow" from the Keith Reid Project's The Common Thread.
Waite appears as himself and performs two songs in the 2010 feature film, New Day, from L'Oiseau Blanc Films.
In 2011 the title track from his tenth solo album Rough and Tumble went number one on Classic Rock radio.
A longtime resident of New York City, Waite now lives in Santa Monica, California. John Waite is divorced.
Head First
John Waite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You looked down and out
And I had my doubts
About you
But baby since I've come to know ya
I ain't got no doubts
What it's about
Me and baby
She's gonna treat me right
Ooh yeah
Me and sugar
We've got it all sewn up
She fills my loving cup
We're going head first
Well the second time that I saw ya
Man you'd really improved
I was really moved
How I wanted you
I'm knocking at your door
To see if you're alone tonight
Cause I need some more
Of what you got
Me and baby
We're going out tonight
She's gonna treat me right
Ooh yeah
Me and sugar
We've got it all sewn up
She fills my loving cup
We're going head first
Baby baby baby
Take me in your arms and love me
Cause you know what I am anyway
You got me on my knees
I'm gonna say please if you want me
Cause I want you so
I'm never gonna let you go
Me and baby
We're going out tonight
She's gonna treat me right
Ooh yeah
Me and sugar
We've got it all sewn up
She fills my loving cup
We're going head first
Me and baby
We're going out tonight
She's gonna treat me right
Ooh yeah
Said me and baby
We've got it all sewn up
She fills my loving cup
Ooh yeah
Me and baby
Me and baby gonna rock and roll
She fills my loving cup
It's gonna be alright
Me and baby
We're gonna rock and roll
We're gonna rip it up
We're fallin' head first
The song Head First by John Waite is a love song that talks about how the singer initially had doubts about his lover but has come to know her and trusts her now. The lyrics are filled with romantic undertones as the singer sings about how he’s going out with “sugar” tonight and how they have got it all sewn up. The chorus emphasizes how they are going “head first” and how they are going to “rock and roll” and “rip it up.”
From the first two verses, it’s clear that the singer and his love interest have already met twice. The first time he saw her, she looked down and out, and he had his doubts about her. But after getting to know her, he’s now sure about what they have together and is looking forward to going out with her. He says that they have it all sewn up, which implies that he’s sure about their relationship and where it’s headed.
The bridge is a plea from the singer to his lover. He tells her to take him in her arms and love him and that he will never let her go. The chorus ends the song on a high note with the singer and his lover, ready to have a great night out.
Overall, the song is a great representation of the romantic feelings of new love, where the singer is excited, filled with hope, and trust for his new love interest.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the first time that I saw ya
When I first saw you, you looked unhappy, and I wasn't sure about you.
You looked down and out
You appeared unhappy or in a difficult situation.
And I had my doubts
I wasn't sure about you or what to expect from you.
About you
About your character or personality.
But baby since I've come to know ya
After getting to know you, I don't have any doubts.
I ain't got no doubts
I have complete confidence in you now.
What it's about
What our relationship is all about.
Me and baby
Referring to himself and his girlfriend.
We're going out tonight
We have plans to go out together tonight.
She's gonna treat me right
His girlfriend is going to be kind and respectful towards him.
Ooh yeah
Expressing excitement or enthusiasm.
Me and sugar
Referring to himself and his girlfriend affectionately.
We've got it all sewn up
We have everything taken care of and under control.
She fills my loving cup
She provides him with love and happiness.
Well the second time that I saw ya
When he saw her again for the second time.
Man you'd really improved
She looked much better or happier than the first time he saw her.
I was really moved
I was deeply touched or affected by seeing her again.
How I wanted you
He desired her.
I'm knocking at your door
He is visiting her at her home.
To see if you're alone tonight
He wants to know if she is free and available to spend time with him tonight.
Cause I need some more
He wants to spend more time with her and get to know her better.
Of what you got
He is attracted to her and wants more of her attention.
Baby baby baby
Addressing his girlfriend affectionately and lovingly.
Take me in your arms and love me
He wants her to embrace him and show him love and affection.
Cause you know what I am anyway
She knows him for who he is, including his flaws and weaknesses.
You got me on my knees
He is begging for her love and attention.
I'm gonna say please if you want me
He is willing to ask for her love and attention if she wants it.
Cause I want you so
He desires her deeply and passionately.
I'm never gonna let you go
He is committed to her and won't let her go.
Said me and baby
Referring to himself and his girlfriend again.
It's gonna be alright
He is confident that everything will turn out well with his girlfriend.
Me and baby gonna rock and roll
He and his girlfriend are going to have a good time and enjoy each other's company.
We're gonna rip it up
They are going to have a wild and crazy time.
We're fallin' head first
They are completely committed to each other and their relationship.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY LEON, LEO TOWERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind