I Don't Want to Wait
Paula Cole Lyrics

So open up your morning light
Begin your day with positivity and hopefulness

And say a little prayer for I
Send positive thoughts my way

You know that if we are to stay alive
It is essential for us to remain hopeful and positive

And see the peace in every eye
To achieve peace, we must see it in everyone around us

She had two babies
The subject of the song had two children

One was six months one was three
One child was six months old and the other was three years old

In the war of '44
The song is referring to a real-life war

Every telephone ring
The sound of the phone ringing causes anxiety and fear

Every heartbeat stinging
Even something as simple as a heartbeat feels painful

When she thought it was God calling her
The subject of the song felt like she was being tested by a higher power

Oh, would her son grow to know his father
The subject of the song was concerned about her children growing up fatherless

I don't want to wait
The subject of the song is becoming impatient

For our lives to be over
The subject of the song doesn't want to wait until it's too late to find out the truth

I want to know right now
The subject of the song wants to have answers immediately

What will it be
The subject of the song is referring to a decision that needs to be made

Will it be yes or will it be sorry?
The subject of the song is wondering if the decision will be positive or negative

He showed up all wet
Someone the subject of the song cares about arrived in a physical state of discomfort

On the rainy front step
He arrived at the front door in bad weather

Wearing shrapnel in his skin
He has physical reminders of past trauma

And the war he saw
The person who arrived has experienced war

Lives inside him still
He is still deeply affected by what he has experienced

It's so hard to be gentle and warm
It's difficult for him to show affection and care because of the trauma he has experienced

The years passed by and now
Time has moved on since the previous lines of the song were sung

He has a granddaughter
The person who arrived now has a granddaughter

Oh, so you look at me
The subject of the song is being addressed by someone else

From across the room
The person addressing the subject of the song is not close by

You're wearing your anguish again
The person addressing the subject of the song has visible signs of emotional distress

Believe me I know the feeling
The person addressing the subject of the song can relate to how they are feeling

It sucks you into the jaws of anger
Emotional distress can lead to anger and out of control emotions

Oh, so breathe a little more deeply my love
The person addressing the subject of the song suggests breathing exercises to calm down and relax

All we have is this very moment
Everything we have is limited to the present time

And I don't want to do what
The person addressing the subject of the song doesn't want to repeat past mistakes

His father and his father and his father did
Previous generations made mistakes that led to lasting problems

I want to be here now
The person addressing the subject of the song wants to focus on the present moment

And see the love in every eye
When looking at others, the subject of the song wants to see the good in them