He was an accomplished instrumentalist and composer, who played keyboards, guitars, drums, bass and cellos, as well as singing vocals. His talents also extended to producer. He toured with Eddie Money before winning the Yamaha songwriting competition with his progressive rock group Giraffe. Producer Patrick Leonard was impressed with Gilbert's performance at the competition and invited him to join him in forming a new band which became Toy Matinee. During this time, Gilbert worked on the projects of several established pop musicians, including Madonna, Michael Jackson and produced Keith Emerson's album Changing States.
The lone Toy Matinee album was released in 1990 but effectively shelved by the record company, so Gilbert assembled a new backing band to promote the album, eventually getting two successful singles released: "The Ballad of Jenny Ledge" and "Last Plane Out".
Later, Gilbert was part of a songwriting collective (called "The Tuesday Music Club") that met at producer Bill Bottrell's studio in Pasadena, California. After he began bringing his then girlfriend Sheryl Crow to the sessions, the result was Crow's debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club. Gilbert co-wrote many of the songs on that album, including 1995 Grammy Record of the Year "All I Wanna Do." Crow later acrimoniously split with most of the musicians in the collective and only Bottrell was involved in her follow-up album. Meanwhile the remainder of the collective worked with singer-songwriters Susanna Hoffs and Linda Perry on two more albums.
Gilbert continued to work in television and movie soundtrack work as well as studio work and producing and eventually released his first solo album Thud(1995) as well as partially reforming Giraffe to perform the Genesis masterpiece "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" at Progfest 94. Gilbert's manager sent a copy of the recording to Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford who were searching for a new Genesis front man to replace Phil Collins. His manager was coming to Gilbert's home to tell him that he had managed to get him an audition when he discovered him dead.
Gilbert's second solo album, The Shaming of the True was released posthumously. The album was largely incomplete, but Gilbert's estate asked Spock's Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio to complete it based on the extant tapes and Gilbert's notes. A live album (composed mostly of songs from Thud), and a compilation of Giraffe material that Gilbert had been working on and an "industrial" album with Gilbert's latest group, Kaviar have also been released in the years since his death. His estate has promised two more posthumous studio albums and a live performance from Gilbert's promotional group for Toy Matinee.
Discography:
N.R.G. - No Reasons Given (1984)
Giraffe - The Power Of Suggestion (1987)
Giraffe - The View From Here (1989)
Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (1990; remastered & rereleased 2001)
Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
Kevin Gilbert - Thud (1995)
Giraffe - Giraffe (1999)
Kevin Gilbert & Thud - Live at the Troubadour (1999)
Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)
Kaviar - The Kaviar Sessions (2002)
Kevin Gilbert - Nuts (2009)
Kevin Gilbert - Bolts (2009)
Kevin Gilbert - Performs Toy Matinee Live (2010)
Kevin Gilbert - Toy Matinee Acoustic Rehearsal (2014)
Waiting
Kevin Gilbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm waiting for a renaissance to electrify us all
I'm waiting for the mailman to bring me news of friends
I'm waiting through the middle just to see how it will end
I'm waiting for the confidential files to be released
I'm waiting for the index on my fear to be increased
I'm waiting for the judgment of the living and the dead
I'm waiting for the show to start, the one I paid to see
I'm waiting for the good things that are coming back to me
I'm waiting for the man made gods to do the will of men
I'm waiting for the CIA to cover up again
I'm waiting for the militants to lighten up a bit
I'm waiting for the mafia to make this song a hit
I'm waiting in the shadows with a chain around my wrist
I'm waiting with my best friend held firmly in my fist
I'm waiting for my heroes to tell me what to dream
I'm waiting for my neighbors to tell me what's obscene
I'm waiting for the apple, I'm waiting for the fall
I'm waiting for a renaissance to electrify us all
I'm waiting for love to come
I'm waiting for you to run
and I'm waiting for wonder to return.
The lyrics of Kevin Gilbert's song "Waiting" portray a sense of anticipation for various events and changes to occur, both on a personal and societal level. The repetition of the phrase "I'm waiting" throughout the song emphasizes the feeling of being stuck in a state of waiting, perhaps for something that may never come. The first verse expresses a desire for a new beginning, represented by the fall and a renaissance that can potentially electrify everyone. The second verse speaks to a search for truth and justice, with a hope for confidential files to be released and for the judgement of living and dead.
The third verse brings a touch of humor, with the waiting for man-made gods to do the will of men and for the mafia to make the song a hit. The fourth verse portrays a sense of oppression, as the singer is waiting in the shadows with a chain around their wrist, and waiting for someone to tell them what is offensive. The chorus brings everything together, emphasizing the singer's overarching desire for love, for someone to run towards, and for wonder to return.
Overall, the lyrics of "Waiting" can be interpreted as a commentary on the human experience of waiting, both for personal fulfillment and societal progress, all while being tied down by societal expectations and personal struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waiting for the apple, I'm waiting for the fall
I'm eagerly anticipating the arrival of the fall season and all the changes it brings.
I'm waiting for a renaissance to electrify us all
I'm yearning for a cultural awakening that will inspire and invigorate everyone.
I'm waiting for the mailman to bring me news of friends
I'm hoping to receive updates from loved ones who are far away in order to feel more connected.
I'm waiting through the middle just to see how it will end
I'm enduring a difficult period in my life with the hope that it will eventually lead to resolution.
I'm waiting for the confidential files to be released
I'm eager for classified information to be made public so that the truth can be revealed.
I'm waiting for the index on my fear to be increased
I expect to become even more anxious and worried as time goes on.
I'm waiting for the judgment of the living and the dead
I'm expecting a reckoning or evaluation of our actions that will impact us even after we die.
I'm waiting for the Pagan times that surely are ahead
I anticipate a return to more ancient or non-Christian ways of living and worshiping in the future.
I'm waiting for the show to start, the one I paid to see
I'm impatiently waiting for the performance or event I have invested time and money in to begin.
I'm waiting for the good things that are coming back to me
I'm hopeful that positive outcomes or rewards that I deserve will eventually come my way.
I'm waiting for the man made gods to do the will of men
I'm cynical about the power and influence of organized religion and the way it is used for human purposes.
I'm waiting for the CIA to cover up again
I suspect that the intelligence community will engage in covert activities to hide information or protect national interests.
I'm waiting for the militants to lighten up a bit
I hope that extremist groups or individuals will become less violent and more willing to negotiate and compromise.
I'm waiting for the mafia to make this song a hit
I'm jokingly suggesting that someone with criminal connections could make my work more successful or lucrative.
I'm waiting in the shadows with a chain around my wrist
I feel trapped or confined in some way, and am hiding or biding my time until I can break free.
I'm waiting with my best friend held firmly in my fist
I'm fiercely loyal to someone I care about and will protect them at all costs.
I'm waiting for my heroes to tell me what to dream
I'm looking up to role models or influential individuals for guidance and inspiration in my aspirations and ambitions.
I'm waiting for my neighbors to tell me what's obscene
I'm critical of the conformity and narrow-mindedness of those around me who try to dictate what is acceptable or normal behavior or expression.
I'm waiting for love to come
I'm hoping to experience romantic or deep emotional connection with someone.
I'm waiting for you to run
I'm anticipating that someone I care about or am interested in will make a move, take a risk, or pursue their own desires.
and I'm waiting for wonder to return.
I long for the sense of awe, mystery or magic that I feel has slowly disappeared from my life or the world around me.
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.