Wait So Long
Trampled By Turtles Lyrics


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I could never pretend that I don't love you
You could never pretend that I'm your man
That's exactly the way that I want it
That's exactly the way that I am

And you call me in the morning with your troubles
Takin' it downtown every night
I could never place the stars at night above ya
I got my hands on the ground
And you know I'm right

You wait so long
You wait so long
You wait so long
You wait so long

It's a coffee stained earth ever time it happens
Liven up honey it ain't that bad
Any afterthought rose to recognition
Like every other coffin that I had

And your Buick broke down in Winnemucca
Fall to your knees and you pray to the lord
Then you take up hope at the politicians
Nothing happens in this burnt out town anymore

You wait so long
You wait so long
You wait so long
You wait so long

And your heart rolls on like a frozen freight train
You know that I help you if I can
But I'm just a raindrop in a river
Just a little itty-bitty grain of sand

And you know that I'm doomed to repeat this
With all the bad habits that I've learned
But it's better than your fiber 'n fornication
And all the dirty money that you earn

You wait so long
You wait so long
You wait so long
You wait so long

You wait so long
You wait so long




You wait so long
You wait so long

Overall Meaning

Trampled By Turtles' song "Wait So Long" is a catchy folk rock tune that is an intricate look into the life of the singer and his romantic relationship. The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer confesses his deep love for someone he knows he cannot fully possess. He acknowledges that they both know the situation and accept it for what it is. The second verse shows the struggles that the two characters face, with the woman having constant troubles and regularly going out at night. The singer realizes he cannot solve all her issues, but still supports her in whatever way he can. The chorus emphasizes the idea of waiting, with the repetition of "you wait so long" highlighting the idea of patience in the midst of difficulties.


The song continues with descriptions of the characters' struggles, culminating in a reference to a broken-down car in a forgotten town. Despite the bleakness of their situation, the singer's love for the woman remains steadfast, and he offers to help in any way he can. However, he also acknowledges his own flaws and bad habits, which threaten to drag him down as well. The final chorus brings the song full circle, repeating the idea that the waiting is ongoing, but it is still better than succumbing to greed and temptation.


Overall, "Wait So Long" is a song about perseverance and the challenges of maintaining a relationship in spite of life's difficulties. The lyrics are open to interpretation and can be related to many struggles people face in their daily lives, making it a relatable and impactful song.


Line by Line Meaning

I could never pretend that I don't love you
I can't deny that I have feelings for you


You could never pretend that I'm your man
You can't pretend that we're in a romantic relationship


That's exactly the way that I want it
It's perfect the way things are between us


That's exactly the way that I am
I can't change who I am


And you call me in the morning with your troubles
You confide in me about your problems


Takin' it downtown every night
Going to the city every night


I could never place the stars at night above ya
I can't compare you to the stars in the night sky


I got my hands on the ground
I'm practical and down-to-earth


And you know I'm right
You know that I'm correct in my opinions or beliefs


It's a coffee stained earth ever time it happens
The world seems dirty and imperfect sometimes


Liven up honey it ain't that bad
Cheer up, things could be worse


Any afterthought rose to recognition
Any idea that wasn't taken seriously before now has value


Like every other coffin that I had
Referring to past failures or losses


And your Buick broke down in Winnemucca
You encountered a problem while traveling


Fall to your knees and you pray to the lord
You turn to religion for help or guidance


Then you take up hope at the politicians
You have hope that politicians can bring change


Nothing happens in this burnt out town anymore
The town is uneventful and lacks opportunity


And your hollows on like a frozen freight train
Your feelings weigh on you heavily


You know that I help you if I can
I'm here to support you if possible


But I'm just a raindrop in a river
I'm insignificant in the grand scheme of things


Just a little itty-bitty grain of sand
I'm small and insignificant


And you know that I'm doomed to repeat this
I'm likely to make the same mistakes again


With all the bad habits that I've learned
I have unhealthy behaviors and tendencies


But it's better than your fiber 'n fornication
My habits may not be perfect, but they're better than immoral behavior


And all the dirty money that you earn
Referring to someone who earns money through unethical means


You wait so long
You've been waiting for something for a long time


You wait so long
You continue to wait for something


You wait so long
You've been waiting for something for a long time


You wait so long
You continue to wait for something




Lyrics © TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Patrick Carroll, David Paul Simonett, Erik Robert Berry, Ryan David Young, Timothy Powell Saxhaug

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@daveeastcott9323

Masterpiece. Wow. How have I never heard that?! It's awesome that at 40 with a lifetime of music behind you, U can still find something new and wonderful.

@spartan02elite

Music is such a gift to humanity

@zackb6045

Give us another example

@tjzj91

How I’m feeling right now

@user-je6xu9em8f

I used to rock this on 7 mile doing hoodrat things like a degenerate

@everennui1

I got to see these guys in 2005 at Green Man festival. They sat around a campfire and played songs until 6:00am the next morning non-stop. Such a great memory.

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@snakeops

I love that the music is so urgent, but the lyrics are so patient. Great.

@lascoehooten4479

Well put!

@cmarie2573

really well said. in the arts that's called juxtaposition! Or contrast. its a brilliant move

@saraeyob6168

Thats 1 of the most unique/thought provoking observartions ive heard in art/music. I never noticed music from that perspective. Little things like that make art so much better 4real. The diff patterns

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