Philip James Selway (born 23 May 1967) is an English musician and songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Philip James Selway (born 23 May 1967) is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of English alternative rock group Radiohead. He also plays drums and provides backing vocals, along with occasional guitar and lead vocals for 7 Worlds Collide. Selway is known for his precision and proficiency in various styles and unusual time signatures. He has worked with Samaritans since 1991. Selway released his debut solo album, Familial, on 30 August 2010.

Waiting For A Sign
Philip Selway Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Coming back again
To what I know is not the same
It feels all out of place

Goofing days abide my time
Hope lies between the lines
It's in the cracks we wait

So let some daylight get in
Check for signs of life
There's dust on everything
I say your name
It sounds different, now you're gone
Well, this life has changed and shaped us all
And this life has changed forevermore

I couldn't be alone tonight
I need you hear by my side
I'm lost without you now
All the walls are closing in
Memories of a life has been
Traces all around

So let some daylight get in
Check for signs of life
There's dust on everything
I say your name
It sounds different, now you're gone
Well, this life has changed and shaped us all
And this life has changed forevermore

I'm crawling
Dear God, it hurts to be alone
I'm crawling
God, it's a curse to be alone

So let it show
Don't let the silence grow
I'll wait for you here

Go to sleep
And find a place to dream

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Philip Selway's "Waiting For A Sign" convey a sense of urgency and a warning against wasting precious time. The repetition of the first two lines emphasizes the importance of this message. The lyrics suggest that if the listener doesn't start taking action and making choices, they will wake up one day and find that everyone else has moved on with their lives. The question "Are you waiting for a sign?" is asked twice, indicating the importance of taking action and making choices without waiting for some external signal.

The final part of the song suggests that even if the listener chooses not to take action, things will still fall into place, but not in a way that includes other people. The repeated line "There's nobody around, they've gone their own way" suggests that if the listener doesn't take control of their life and make choices, they will be left behind.

Overall, the lyrics of "Waiting For A Sign" suggest that it is important to take control of one's life and not wait for something external to guide one's decisions.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, you're wasting precious time
You're not using your time wisely

And someday you'll wake up and find
One day you'll realize

There's nobody around, they've got their own lives
People have their own things to do

Are you waiting for a sign?
Are you looking for guidance?

The final piece falls into place
Everything comes together in the end

There's nobody around, they've gone their own way
People have moved on

Are you waiting for a sign?
Are you looking for guidance?

The final piece falls into place
Everything comes together in the end

There's nobody around, they've gone their own way
People have moved on

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Philip Selway

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it