A 4 song 7” E.P. led by the track “I Think I Need You” was released on Elefant Records of Madrid (Camera Obscura, Au Revoir Simone et al), in June 2009.
Their most recent album, Flashbacks mixes their earlier upbeat brit-pop with a repertoire of horns, strings, and background vocals.
Time To Wait
The Lodger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for the evening call
Will I get the break
Or will they fail to see what i
Have got in great supply?
I might be moving far away
On some wet and rainy day
Stick with my anxiety
Or join society
We need to time to wait
And leave it all a little late
And find ourselves and make a mark
on them
But when?
And now the world keeps spinning round
Your chance has gone
Your chips are down
And time just has a knack of ticking
On and on
I need one more chance to do
All the things I promised you
On that drunken night
When you took me by the throat
And you began to quote
We need time to wait
To reminisce and recreate
Our old mistakes before we have to grow
But you would like to paint the town
And someone burned our playground down
And time just has a knack of ticking
On and on
The Lodger's song "Time To Wait" is a reflection of the internal struggle one goes through when they are waiting for something to change. The lyrics are filled with uncertainty and anxiety, as the singer talks to a "kitchen wall" while waiting for an "evening call." The call can be interpreted as an opportunity, a chance to break out of the monotony of life, but the singer is unsure whether they have what it takes to seize the opportunity. There is a sense of unease in the lyrics as the singer wonders whether they will "get the break" or whether their talents will be overlooked.
The second verse is about the agony of choice. The singer imagines a future where they might have to "move far away" and make a choice between "stick[ing] with [their] anxiety" or "join[ing] society." There is a sense that the singer is torn between their desire to break free from their current situation and their fear of the unknown. The chorus reiterates the need for "time to wait" and the existential question of "but when?"
Line by Line Meaning
Talking to the kitchen wall
Feeling isolated and unheard; expressing feelings to no one in particular
Waiting for the evening call
Anticipating a response or opportunity to arise
Will I get the break
Hoping for a chance to succeed or prove oneself
Or will they fail to see what i
Anxiety around not being recognized or considered valuable
Have got in great supply?
Self-awareness of possessing valuable skills or talents
I might be moving far away
Contemplating a major life change or relocation
On some wet and rainy day
Thinking about the unknown and unpredictable future
Have to make a choice
Feeling the pressure of needing to make a decision
Stick with my anxiety
Considering staying in a familiar, albeit uncomfortable, state
Or join society
Considering taking a risk and being more socially involved
We need to time to wait
Recognizing the importance of patience and self-discovery
And leave it all a little late
Acknowledging that life experiences may not come on a set timeline
And find ourselves and make a mark
Having a desire to find one's true identity and make meaningful contributions
on them
Referring to the people or world around them
But when?
Uncertainty about when or how this self-discovery will take place
And now the world keeps spinning round
Feeling overwhelmed or lost amidst the chaos of everyday life
Your chance has gone
Feeling regret or disappointment about missed opportunities
Your chips are down
Experiencing hardship or misfortune
And time just has a knack of ticking
Acknowledging the relentlessness of time and its ability to keep moving forward
On and on
Continuously and without end
I need one more chance to do
Desperately seeking an opportunity to follow through on promises or desires
All the things I promised you
Referring to commitments made to oneself or others
On that drunken night
Reminiscing about past events or experiences
When you took me by the throat
Metaphorically feeling held back or suffocated by circumstances
And you began to quote
Referencing something someone said in the past
To reminisce and recreate
Taking time to reflect and learn from past mistakes
Our old mistakes before we have to grow
Awareness of the need to learn valuable lessons before moving forward
But you would like to paint the town
Referring to someone else's desire to live in the moment and have fun
And someone burned our playground down
Feeling a sense of loss or disorientation due to unexpected events
And time just has a knack of ticking
Reinforcing the relentlessness of time and the need to prioritize self-improvement
On and on
Reemphasizing the continuous nature of time
Contributed by Hailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.