Mother Love Bone was established in 1988 by former Green River members Jeff Ament, Bruce Fairweather and Stone Gossard, former Malfunkshun frontman Andrew Wood and former Ten Minute Warning and Skin Yard drummer Greg Gilmore. Initially, the group was formed in 1987 out of the cover band Lords of the Wasteland which featured Wood, Gossard, Ament and Malfunkshun drummer Regan Hagar. By early 1988 the band had added Fairweather, replaced Hagar with drummer Greg Gilmore and changed its name to Mother Love Bone.
This new line-up quickly set about recording and playing area shows and by late 1988 had become one of Seattle's more promising bands. Wood's exuberant on-stage personality, outlandish clothes and dreamy lyrics helped bring attention to the band. In the 1996 grunge documentary, Hype!, Seattle engineer Jack Endino called Wood "the only stand-up comedian frontman in Seattle," a reference to Wood's playful style of interacting with Mother Love Bone fans.
In early 1989, the band signed to PolyGram subsidiary Mercury Records. As part of its contract PolyGram also created the Stardog Records imprint exclusively for the band. In March 1989, the group issued its debut EP, Shine, becoming the first of the new crop of Seattle bands to have a release on a major label. The record sold well and rapidly increased the hype surrounding the band. John Book of Allmusic said the "record contributed to the buzz about the Seattle music scene."
In late 1989, the group returned to the studio (this time in San Francisco, California) to record its debut album, Apple. Despite some initial difficulties, the record was on-time for its projected March 1990 release. By this point interest in the band had hit a fever pitch and it seemed destined that the band were going to make it big. Only days before Apple was slated to be released, however, frontman Andrew Wood, who had a long history with drug problems, overdosed on heroin. After spending a few days in the hospital in a coma, Wood died, effectively bringing the group to an end. The album would see release later that year on July 19, 1990. Kim Neely of Rolling Stone said that the album "succeeds where countless other hard rock albums have failed, capturing the essence of what made Zep immortal – dynamics, kids! – and giving it a unique Nineties spin."
Waiting for You
Mother Love Bone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
White boy runnin from daylight
A clean slate they said and he laughs
A blood stain on my gazebo
For backseated woman with the cash
Shake it
I'll never forget the love I had
When this world gives me it's shoulder
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it in the ass, boy
I'm ready tonight
Heart's sad and crimson blue
You need me poor sucker
Hats off to you, sure do
It's a Friday night
And I'm waiting for showdown
I'm lookin for my fight yeah
I'm just waitin
I said a white boy runnin from daylight
Clean slate they say and he laughs
A blood stain on my gazebo
For backseated woman with the booku bucks, baby
Hold me close my heart is pounding
I'll never forget the love I had
When this world gives me it's shoulder
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it motherf**ker
Yeah yeah yeah
Cause I'm ready tonight
My heart's sad and crimson blue, boy
You need me poor sucker
Hats off to you, sure do
One more
It's a Friday night
And I'm waiting for showdown
And if you're paying me right
I'm still waitin
Waitin motherf**ker
Yeah yeah yeah
Cause it's a Friday night boy
And I'm waitin
I'm waitin for you
I'm waitin
I'm waitin for the showdown
Im waitin
I'm waiting for the showdown
I'm waitin waitin waitin for you
I'm waitin
I'm waitin for you
Drinkin scotch, baby
Drinkin scotch, baby
Drinkin scotch, baby
The lyrics to Mother Love Bone's song "Waiting For You" evoke a sense of restlessness and yearning for something more. The opening lines describe a white boy running from daylight, suggesting a desire to live outside of the constraints of the typical 9-to-5 life. The reference to a "clean slate" speaks to the idea of starting fresh and leaving behind past mistakes.
The mention of a blood stain on the gazebo adds a darker, more sinister element to the lyrics. It's unclear what the backstory is here, but it hints at a possible violent act or crime. The line "backseated woman with the cash" suggests a robbery or deal gone wrong, adding to the sense of danger lurking in the background.
As the song continues, the singer declares that they're "ready tonight," which could mean they're ready for anything - love, adventure, or even danger. The repeated refrain of "I'm waiting" suggests a sense of anticipation for something to happen, perhaps a confrontation or a chance encounter with someone important.
Overall, the lyrics of "Waiting For You" paint a vivid picture of someone on the cusp of something bigger, yearning for adventure and a break from the monotony of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
A kick it
Let's get ready, let's do this
White boy runnin from daylight
A young man on the run from his problems and fears
A clean slate they said and he laughs
People thought he had a fresh start, but he knows that his past is still with him
A blood stain on my gazebo
A reminder of past violence and chaos
For backseated woman with the cash
The woman who helped him escape but only for her own gain
Shake it
Get pumped and ready to fight
Hold me close my heart is pounding
Feeling anxious and scared, but holding onto love and hope
I'll never forget the love I had
Remembering the love and support from someone who is no longer with him
When this world gives me it's shoulder
When the world turns its back on him and offers no help or support
I'll just a kick it
He'll just push through and keep going
I'm ready tonight
He's prepared to face whatever comes his way
Heart's sad and crimson blue
Feeling brokenhearted and hopeless
You need me poor sucker
Others may take advantage of him, but he's still willing to help
Hats off to you, sure do
Acknowledging someone's greatness and respecting them
It's a Friday night
Ready for a night out, looking for excitement
And I'm waiting for showdown
Ready for a fight or confrontation
I'm lookin for my fight yeah
Seeking out a challenge or obstacle to overcome
And if you're paying me right
He'll do what it takes for the right price
I'm still waitin
He's determined to face his challenges head on
Cause it's a Friday night boy
Ready for excitement and adventure
I'm waitin for you
Waiting for someone to join him in his adventures
Drinkin scotch, baby
Taking a moment to unwind and enjoy life
Contributed by Ryan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Bloody.Kisses
White boy runnin from daylight
A clean slate they said and he laughs
A blood stain on my gazebo
For backseated woman with the cash
Shake it
Hold me close my heart is pounding
I'll never forget the love I had
When this world gives me it's shoulder
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it in the ass, boy
I'm ready tonight
Heart's sad and crimson blue
You need me poor sucker
Hats off to you, sure do
It's a Friday night
And I'm waiting for showdown
I'm lookin for my fight yeah
I'm just waitin
I said a white boy runnin from daylight
Clean slate they say and he laughs
A blood stain on my gazebo
For backseated woman with the booku bucks, baby
Hold me close my heart is pounding
I'll never forget the love I had
When this world gives me it's shoulder
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it
I'll just a kick it motherf**ker
Yeah yeah yeah
Cause I'm ready tonight
My heart's sad and crimson blue, boy
You need me poor sucker
Hats off to you, sure do
@canaldecomentariosfalados2842
Só eu fiquei
Só eu parti
Só eu fiquei
Longe de você
Que é o mundo que quero viver
Que quero viver
Você
Continua longe de mim
É assim
Desejar não é conseguir
É pedir, é sonhar
Com você aqui
Com você a amar
Alexandre P. Kaffer
@wayneannese2694
The talent that came outta this whole scene..
Countless bands an so much amazing talent..
Late 80s... to the mid to late 90s. What an era..
So much musical talent
From that seattle area..
SCREAMING TREES
ALICE IN CHAINS
PEARL JAM
MOTHER LOVE BONE
MUD HONEY
CHRIS CORNELL
CURT COBAIN..
THE LIST IS NEVER ENDING.. SUCH AN AMAZING ERA...
SADLY MISSED
IT WAS GREAT..
GLAD TO HAVE LIVED AN EXPRIENCED IT
THANK YOU... 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@canaldecomentariosfalados2842
E o que oarecia ter sido
Foi sem ser visto
Sem ser sentido
Sem ter sentido
E o dia que parecia claro
Era noite
Por longo tempo era cinza
E em cinzas me tornará
E por mais aue doa
Não valeu a pena
Fui bom demsis
Confiei demais
E em troca
A Traição
Alexandre P. Kaffer
@canaldecomentariosfalados2842
Não há mais tempo
O Futuro não chegará mais
Ele já passou
E você nào percebeu
A Vida acabou
E o amor que sentia
Se desfez
Deixou apenas o vazio
E estar vazio é tão deprimente...
Reaja !
Se esqueça
A Vida é tua sentença !
Desperte e aguarde um novo amor
Alexandre P. Kaffer
@jointhe505
THIS! THIS IS IT! In my high school days I had a bootleg cassette of a bunch of unreleased MLB stuff and to my young ears THIS veesion of Showdown was the crown jewel of all things Love Bone ... I have goddamned goose bumps blaring right now - loud enough for Andrew to hear this shit in Mount Olympus in the heavens! THANK YOU for posting this!!! A part of my heart is whole again!
@jacobsimpson5986
Fuck yeah bro. This is one of the most ultimate songs of all time. Andrew truly was a rock star, I envision like a music video when I hear this song and Andrew is just the epitome of coolness. That solo!! So much passion! If I ever get a band together we have to play this song!!
@makersmike2959
I'd love to see a movie about these early Seattle music days focusing on Andrew Wood and his early friendship with Chris Cornell and others. Stone Gossard said Andrew always knew that he'd be a star, and he made them all believe it could happen to them too.
@sleepingdogpro
That doc about Andy is called Malfunkshun, like Guero mentioned. It's worth a look.
@srujan00
Malfunkshun is mostly about Andy and his brother, and Andy when he was young - being influenced by Elton John, T-Rex, KISS, the on/off drug addiction and counseling, and etc. If memory serves, towards the very end for a bit it talks about his relationship with Cornell, and how they waited for Chris to come to the hospital to see him a last time before they switched the machine off.
@SoulShines4U
@srujan00 - Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story is a fantastic documentary and is not solely about Andrew and his brother at all, it's about Andrew's entire life. The doc goes into great detail over all of Andy's life, from childhood to his tragic death, as well as the history of both his bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone. There's incredible interviews with everyone who was close to Andy: his family & friends, his fiance Xana, his bandmates from Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone and of course with his former roommate and best friend Chris Cornell. If you're a fan of Andrew Wood, Malfunkshun, Mother Love Bone and even Pearl Jam (to understand the roots and history of the band pre Eddie Vedder) this documentary is an absolute must see!!
@srujan00
@LYacky1 I've seen it, just not recently
@tiffanyhouchin6055
Andy knew how to grab an audience by the soul and jump into your heart. This song is way ahead of its time. If you didn't know what yer it was from you would probably guess the wrong year by at least four years. Andy had a prolific, rich, sultry voice that really speaks to your soul. Andy could not be replaced. No wonder Eddie Vedder picked up Stone And Jeff from Mother Love Bone and made Pearl Jam. I think that Mother Love Bone would have been HUGE, and that the Loss of Andy had a Gigantic impact on later Grunge into Alternative and Alternative rock. Pearl Jam would not have existed had Andy not died. These guys seemed to really belong together. More so than even Pearl Jam. What a Talented, beautiful Boy Andy was. What a tragic Loss for all of us. Rest in Peace and Light Andrew..
@momluv103
+Tiffany Houchin actually stone & jeff picked up eddie
@xtonyhenryx3489
Kaitlyn Price, you took the words right out of my mouth. On another note, I am deeply displeased to hear or read when people call this type, era, or genre of music grunge. The bands and individual artists didn't call it that the media coined the term. I guess they needed a name for this style of music so they picked what we know today. FFT