Waiting for the Day
Rafferty Gerry Lyrics
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Just as the night is comin' down
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
Lie here waiting for the day.
Sleep won't come, I need a drink
Stop my head, don't wanna think
But I know you're so far away
And I'm here waiting for the day.
Water of life pour your light down on me
Take me out of this darkness, sweet star of the sea
Water so sweet you can open my eyes
You can bring down the rain on this desert so dry.
Out on the street, shadows fall
Silence speaks, I hear it call
City of the living dead
Count the lights on the motorway
Lie here waiting for the day (alright).
Water of life pour your light down on me
Take me out of this darkness, sweet star of the sea
Water so sweet you can open my eyes
You can bring down the rain on this desert so dry.
Yes here I am, back in town
Just as the night is comin' down
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
Lie here waiting for the day (alright)
In Gerry Rafferty’s song Waiting for the Day, the singer is back in town, lying awake at night and waiting for the day to arrive. He’s looking for a distraction from his thoughts and wants to be with someone who is far away from him. He’s restless and can’t sleep without thinking about the distance between them. The night feels long and endless, and he feels alone in the city with the shadows of the street and the silence of the living dead.
The song speaks of the singer's need for spiritual light to help him through the darkness of the night. He asks for the “water of life” to pour its light down upon him and help lift him out of the darkness. The imagery of the “sweet star of the sea” and the “water so sweet” is an allusion to the Virgin Mary and the power of prayer. The rain that follows this imagery is a metaphor for emotional release.
The song Waiting for the Day is an expression of loneliness and longing. It speaks to the emotions many people feel when they are alone and waiting for someone important to arrive. There is a sense of longing and desperation that is palpable throughout the song, and it is something that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
Well here I am, back in town
I have returned to this place
Just as the night is comin' down
As the darkness is settling in
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
Gentle breeze moves the leaves
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
I observe the branches move back and forth
Lie here waiting for the day.
I'm resting while anticipating the light.
Sleep won't come, I need a drink
I am unable to sleep and want to consume alcohol
Stop my head, don't wanna think
I am attempting to silence my mind
Wishing I could be with you
I desire to be in your presence
But I know you're so far away
However, I know you're quite distant
And I'm here waiting for the day.
Thus, I remain here looking forward to the light.
Water of life pour your light down on me
Bestow me with your divine grace
Take me out of this darkness, sweet star of the sea
Liberate me from the obscurity with your radiance, great sea's pearl
Water so sweet you can open my eyes
Your sweetness could cure my blindness
You can bring down the rain on this desert so dry.
You can shower life on this arid place
Out on the street, shadows fall
In the open, darkness creeps in
Silence speaks, I hear it call
In the absence of sound, I sense its call
City of the living dead
Metropolis full of lifeless beings
Count the lights on the motorway
I keep checking the lights on the highway.
Lie here waiting for the day (alright).
Resting while awaiting the bright light.
Yes here I am, back in town
Undoubtedly, I have returned to this locality
Just as the night is comin' down
Similar to the earlier reference, night has set
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
A soft current of air, moving the branches
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
I observe the motion of the boughs
Lie here waiting for the day (alright)
Again, I rest with hope for the dawn.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERALD RAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garyjarvis2796
Waiting for the day. Quite possibly the best rock ballad ever. Comes from quite possibly the best album ever.
@doreenjefferson1151
yes
@stevefrasier8269
An every-track-is-magical album. What a f'n album. Listening to City to City "gets at" me each time.
@DCHurlford1
Rafferty at his very best, with an epic "water of life......" break. He opened with this classic number when i caught him in concert back in 1993.
@SmallPersonRoo
You can find the CD of that concert on YouTube
@DCHurlford1
@@SmallPersonRoo The show i was at was the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
@scifizydeco
ironically in Rafferty's case, the Old Irish word for whisky is Uisce beatha - literally 'water of life'.
@DCHurlford1
@@scifizydeco He was also partial to Apple Brandy. His old friend the Big Yin (Billy Connoly) said he was having lunch with him and he downed about 10 Calvados.
@markthompson9914
YOU LUCKY SOD 👍
Still least I have all his stuff on vinyl and a rocking set of equipment too spin em on ✌️🇬🇧
@jimmyjohnston4750
The "thumbs-down" shouldn't even listen to music? Much less Gerry Rafferty!