Waiting In Vain
The Wailers & Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics


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One, two, three

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love

From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
My heart says follow t'rough
But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line
But the waitin' feel is fine
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
'Cause I know how to do my thing
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
I wanna know when you're gonna come, see

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
'Cause if summer is here
I'm still waiting there
Winter is here
And I'm still waiting there

Like I said
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
And I still can knock some more
Oh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
I wanna know now, for I to knock some more
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn
See

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
No I, no I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)




I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain

Overall Meaning

"Waiting in Vain" by Bob Marley and the Wailers is a mournful song about unrequited love. The singer doesn't want to wait any longer for his beloved to return his affection. He sings about how he knows deep down that he's not a priority for the woman he loves, and he's just "way down on her line." Despite this, he can't help but wait for her because he's so in love with her. He's been waiting for three years already, but he's still knocking on her door and hoping that she'll reciprocate his feelings.


The lyrics are filled with a sense of longing and sadness. The singer is asking for some kind of sign that his love will be returned, or at least some indication of when he can expect her to come around. He's also trying to assert himself, telling her not to treat him like a puppet on a string and that he knows his own mind. Despite this, he's clearly very vulnerable, and his tears are burning with the agony of waiting for something that may never come. Ultimately, the song is about the agony of waiting for love and the hope that it will someday be returned.


Line by Line Meaning

One, two, three
Counting down to express anticipation for the song to begin.


I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
The singer is tired of waiting for their love interest to reciprocate their feelings.


From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
The singer has been in love with this person since they met them for the first time.


My heart says follow t'rough
The singer's heart is telling them to pursue a relationship with this person.


But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line
The singer realizes that they are not a priority for the person they love.


But the waitin' feel is fine
Although the singer is tired of waiting for love, they find solace in the feeling of anticipation.


So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
The singer is frustrated with being controlled by the person they love.


'Cause I know how to do my thing
The singer is confident in their abilities and wants to be seen as an equal partner.


Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
The singer feels disrespected and underestimated in their relationship.


I wanna know when you're gonna come, see
The singer wants to know when their love interest will reciprocate their feelings.


'Cause if summer is here
The singer is using the changing seasons as a metaphor for time passing.


I'm still waiting there
Even though time has passed, the singer is still waiting for their love interest to love them back.


Like I said
The singer is reiterating the point they made earlier.


It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
The singer has been trying to pursue this person for three years.


And I still can knock some more
Despite their efforts so far, the singer is still willing to try again in pursuit of love.


Oh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
The singer is questioning whether their love interest is capable of loving them back.


I wanna know now, for I to knock some more
The singer wants an answer before they continue to pursue this person.


Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
The singer acknowledges that there is sadness in life, but love is a source of comfort.


But your love is my relief
The singer finds solace in the idea of being loved by this person.


Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn
The singer is crying as they wait for love.


While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn
The singer is still waiting for their love interest to reciprocate their feelings.


It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
The singer wants the love of the person they are pursuing.


It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
The singer believes that their love interest is avoiding them.


No, I don't wanna (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
The singer is expressing their unwillingness to continue waiting for love without reciprocation.


It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
The singer reiterates that they want the love of the person they are pursuing.


It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
The singer believes that their love interest is avoiding them.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bob Marley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@davepruyn8703

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
From the very first time I rest my eyes on you, girl
My heart says follow t'rough
But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line
But the waitin' feel is fine
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
'Cause I know I have to do my thing
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
I wanna know when you're gonna come - soon
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
'Cause if summer is here
I'm still waiting there
Winter is here
And I'm still waiting there


[Guitar solo]


Like I said
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
And I still can knock some more
Ooh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
I wanna know now, for I to knock some more
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn - tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting - while I'm waiting for my turn
See!


I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh!
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna (I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna
I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain)
No I - no I (I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't
Wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain)
No, no-no, I, no, I (I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna
I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna - I don't wanna
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's me love that you're running from
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna - I don't wanna
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's me love that you're running from



All comments from YouTube:

@Def65-479

Don't wait for anyone. Move on if they don't feel the same way. Life is too short because there are so many people who will give you love. Be your best, be confident, and strive forward. Trust me, I once thought the same as this song conveys

@roses4me451

"Time waits for NO man. Neither does a good woman."

@frensunited3748

Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn - while I’m waiting while I’m waiting for my turn
⛈️⛅️🌤️☀️🕊️🪶

@OfMiceAndMegabytes

Truest song ever written and my favorite Marley tune. Don't take his love for granted he can't wait forever...

@bjj1028

Alan Q. Wake yup!!! I hope to see them at the queen mary one love Cali reggae fest

@user-yt6ok7uv1k

@@bjj1028 did you make it to the concert?

@elizaisabelle5427

🙏🏽

@markmurray5816

Waiting in vain ..

@TheStrangeAeon

Thank you, wise peanut.

7 More Replies...

@RedWh1teWizard

The best Bob marley song every time what a legend

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