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.
The Hard Way
John Waite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the middle of some abandoned Shoney's parking lot
Ripping off the filters off her cigarettes
Crying, he loves me, loves me not
She checks her makeup in the rearview mirror and turns the radio on
It hasn't hit her yet
But all she's looking at is another lonely night coming on
The hard way about love
It's easy to think that there's something better out there somewhere
But make no mistake
Everybody learns the hard way about love
Meanwhile across town Tommy's in a dark bar
Watching some blonde girl shaking all she's got
Out on the tiles, out on the edge
He's gonna give it his best shot
All that hard earned money ever got him was all alone
It's two in the morning and the only thing that's falling is the rain
And it's a long walk home
Everybody learns the hard way
The hard way, yeah
The hard way about love
It's easy to think that there's something better out there somewhere
But make no mistake
Everybody learns the hard way about love
Everybody learns the hard way about love
And in the cold heart light of day
Romeo doesn't always get his Juliet
You take your hands off the wheel
Your eyes off the prize
You'll get a lesson that you won't forget
Down on your knees and regret
"The Hard Way" by John Waite tells the story of two people, Jenny and Tommy, who find themselves in different situations but with a shared experience of learning about love the hard way. The song opens with Jenny sitting in her car in an abandoned parking lot, pulling apart her cigarettes and crying as she contemplates her lonely night. She knows deep down that everyone learns about the harsh realities of love at some point in their lives, and that it's not as easy as she once thought it was.
The lyrics then shift to Tommy, who is in a dark bar watching a blonde girl dancing. He's giving it his best shot and trying to forget about his loneliness. He's learned the hard way in the past that his hard-earned money won't buy him love, but he's still trying. As the night wears on and the rain starts to fall, he realizes that he's alone again and faces the long walk home.
The chorus repeats the message that everyone learns about love the hard way, and that it's easy to believe that something better is out there but the reality is that it's a difficult lesson to learn. The final verse warns listeners that even Romeo doesn't always get his Juliet, and that taking your eyes off the prize of love can lead to regret.
Overall, "The Hard Way" is a cautionary tale about the realities of love and the lessons that everyone must learn. It reminds us that even when we think we have it all figured out, love can be unpredictable and challenging.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny's sitting in the car
Jenny is alone in the car.
In the middle of some abandoned Shoney's parking lot
The car is parked in an empty lot near a restaurant.
Ripping off the filters off her cigarettes
Jenny is removing the filters from her cigarettes.
Crying, he loves me, loves me not
Jenny is upset and contemplating whether her lover still loves her or not.
She checks her makeup in the rearview mirror and turns the radio on
Jenny looks at her reflection in the car mirror and starts the radio.
It hasn't hit her yet
Jenny hasn't realized what's really happening yet.
But all she's looking at is another lonely night coming on
Jenny expects another night of solitude.
Everybody learns the hard way
Lessons often come from unpleasant experiences.
The hard way about love
Love can be a difficult lesson to learn from personal experiences.
It's easy to think that there's something better out there somewhere
People often believe there is something better than what they have.
But make no mistake
There is no doubt about this fact.
Meanwhile across town Tommy's in a dark bar
Tommy is in a dimly lit bar across town.
Watching some blonde girl shaking all she's got
Tommy is observing a blond girl dancing in the bar.
Out on the tiles, out on the edge
The atmosphere of the bar is intense and exciting.
He's gonna give it his best shot
Tommy is determined to make the most of the night.
All that hard earned money ever got him was all alone
Tommy's hard work and money haven't helped him avoid loneliness.
It's two in the morning and the only thing that's falling is the rain
It's late and raining heavily.
And it's a long walk home
Tommy has a long way to go to get back home.
Everybody learns the hard way
Lessons often come from unpleasant experiences.
The hard way, yeah
It's not an easy lesson.
And in the cold heart light of day
In the sobering reality of daylight.
Romeo doesn't always get his Juliet
Not all love stories have a happily ever after.
You take your hands off the wheel
If you stop controlling your life.
Your eyes off the prize
If you stop looking at your goals.
You'll get a lesson that you won't forget
You will receive an unforgettable lesson.
Down on your knees and regret
You'll be left hopeless and full of regret.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeffrey Steele, John Waite, JOHN CHARLES WAITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
yhn1inc
Never heard this guy have an off night vocally in forty+ years. He should be on every list of best rock singers near the top.
BrooklynBabe78
Amen my dear friend and homie
Rob Plante
He is in my personal Top 5!
Anthony Russo
JW The Best!
Jacobsdad0306
I've been a fan since '83. Like most people, Missing You, got me hooked. But unlike the others, I never stopped listening or following him. And finally! I finally saw John perform last night here in Englewood, NJ. He was phenomenal. Pure class. He's such a great singer & front man. His voice is amazing & he can still belt it out to hit those high notes. Thank you, John.... for everything.
Mustafa Ghaleiw
One of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard in my life, and I've been a huge fan of him since the 80s, but unfortunately he's so underrated rock singer, and what really breaks my heart about his lack of recognition is that we saw many others "so called artists" were recognized by the Grammys and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame, however John Waite still didn't, this life couldn't be more unfair
the artist
Around 1976 or 1977 I stood in front of The Babys at the Whiskey-a-go-go and from that day forward I've bought every album he's put out and I was never disappointed once, rock on John!!!
BILL BROCK
I was a huge BABYS fan back in the late 70s. Saw them open for JOURNEY, and quite honestly, they were BETTER than the headliners! It’s sad at what you learn in a documentary. Rewind to 1980. You stand before Rock Icons belting it out onstage, assuming they don’t have a care in the world. Fast forward to 2022 to learn they were heavily, HEAVILY in debt. Such an amazingly sobering documentary.
BRAVO, JOHN!!
Denise M
Just saw his show last night and it was truly amazing. After all of these years John still sounds incredible ( he later revealed that he had a cold which you'd never know!). I'm so glad that I finally got to see see live. I can't wait to see this film!
silkyammer
I remember hearing "looking for love" by the Babys on Radio Caroline back in 76 & i was 12 years old & blown away by the sheer power of it . Ive been a fan ever since . The first four solo albums were also absolutely bloody marvelous too ! Some of his later stuff for me hasn't always floated my boat but tracks like I-95 - Godhead & Masterpiece of loneliness are as good as it gets .