The band's 2003 album Up All Night reached the top five of the Australian Albums Chart, it achieved double platinum status and won four ARIA Awards in October. Two further top five albums were issued, Sun Dirt Water in 2007 and Temptation in 2011. The Waifs have three top fifty singles, "London Still" (2002), "Bridal Train" (2004) and "Sun Dirt Water". The band supported Bob Dylan on his 2003 Australian tour and then his 2003 North American tour, including a gig at the Newport Folk Festival.
The Waifs founded the independent label Jarrah Records in July 2002, co-owned with fellow musician John Butler, and their common manager Phil Stevens, which handles their Australian releases.
Stuck
The Waifs Lyrics
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Girl you can't see a thing.
I can see your hands are tied,
Just as sure as they're behind your back.
Been putting up with him putting you down for too long now,
It's given him the upper hand.
You mistake it for love, but you don't feel a thing,
You don't feel a thing.
Stuck, in the wrong place,
Stuck, at the wrong time.
Stuck, you're in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Move on move on move on,
You'd be better off on your own.
Cut the ties that hold you strong
What's the point in hanging on?
The feeling left you long ago,
Now there's a space where nothing grows.
Stuck, in the wrong place,
Stuck, at the wrong time.
Stuck in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
How many times have you said to yourself,
I feel like I'm doing this for somebody else?
Not getting enough of the things I need,
This love is bleeding me,
Every word I speak is true,
Believe me when I say that you are
Stuck in the wrong place,
Stuck in the wrong place,
Stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time, time time time.
Stuck in the wrong place,
Stuck, in the wrong place,
Stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You're in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Stuck in the wrong place,
Stuck in the wrong place,
At the wrong time.
The Waifs's song "Stuck" talks about a woman who is trapped in a toxic relationship. The singer is a friend who can see the situation clearly, while the woman in question is blinded by her feelings for her partner. The singer recognizes that the woman is being emotionally and perhaps even physically abused, and urges her to cut ties and move on. The woman, however, mistakes the abuse for love and is unable to let go.
The lyrics use vivid imagery to convey the woman's state of mind. Her hands are tied, which suggests that she feels powerless and unable to escape. The man has the "upper hand," which reinforces the power dynamic. The singer points out that the woman's love is "bleeding" her, which implies that the relationship is causing her emotional pain and draining her of energy.
The chorus repeats the idea that the woman is "stuck" in the wrong place at the wrong time. This reinforces the feeling of entrapment and helplessness. However, the final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope, as the singer tells the woman that she would be "better off on your own." This suggests that the woman has the power to break free and move on with her life.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been blind since you met him,
You haven't seen things clearly since you started your relationship with him.
Girl you can't see a thing.
You're unaware of the truth because you're blinded by your love for him.
I can see your hands are tied,
I can tell that you feel trapped and powerless.
Just as sure as they're behind your back.
It's as obvious as the fact that your hands are physically tied behind your back.
Been putting up with him putting you down for too long now,
You've tolerated his belittling behavior for a significant amount of time.
It's given him the upper hand.
He's taken control of the relationship because of his negative treatment towards you.
The woman in you can make him cry he begs for more,
He enjoys when you express your emotions, but he continues to hurt you and make you cry.
You mistake it for love, but you don't feel a thing,
You believe that his destructive behavior is a form of love when in reality, it's tearing you apart emotionally.
Stuck, in the wrong place,
You're stuck in a negative situation that's not beneficial for you.
Stuck, at the wrong time.
You're in a time in your life where you should be experiencing happiness and love, but instead, you're stuck in a toxic relationship.
Stuck, you're in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
You're in a wrong and harmful relationship at a time in your life where you should be experiencing joy.
Move on move on move on,
You need to leave and move on with your life.
You'd be better off on your own.
You would be happier and healthier if you were alone than in your current relationship.
Cut the ties that hold you strong
You need to end the relationship that's keeping you emotionally paralyzed.
What's the point in hanging on?
There's no benefit to staying in a relationship that's causing you emotional harm.
The feeling left you long ago,
You no longer have the positive feelings you once had towards him.
Now there's a space where nothing grows.
Because of the negative relationship, there's now a void where there's no possibility for growth or love.
How many times have you said to yourself,
You've thought this many times before and yet haven't made any changes.
I feel like I'm doing this for somebody else?
You feel like you're in the relationship for his benefit and not your own.
Not getting enough of the things I need,
You're not receiving what you need from the relationship.
This love is bleeding me,
The relationship is emotionally draining and is causing you harm.
Every word I speak is true,
You truly mean what you're saying.
Believe me when I say that you are
Trust me when I say that you are
Stuck in the wrong place,
You remain trapped in a relationship that's not beneficial for you.
Stuck in the wrong place,
You're in a negative place emotionally.
Stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time, time time time.
You feel trapped and stagnant in a relationship that is negatively impacting your life.
You're in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
You're in a harmful emotional state and are in a negative relationship.
Stuck in the wrong place,
You feel powerless to escape the situation.
Stuck, in the wrong place,
You're in a negative headspace due to the relationship.
Stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You're in a harmful place emotionally due to the relationship and are stuck in a bad situation.
At the wrong time.
This negativity is happening at a time in your life where you should be experiencing joy.
Contributed by Andrew Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.