Wait
White Lies Lyrics

The lyrics of White Lies's song Wait express a longing for Heaven and its unknown wonders, as well as a certain skepticism and doubt about its nature. The repetition of the phrase "Heaven wait" is like an invocation to a deity or a plea to a lover, suggesting that the singer is uncertain whether Heaven is an idyllic paradise or a cruel illusion. The question "Is your light always on?" implies a sense of hope and desperation, as if the singer is searching for a beacon of hope in a desolate landscape. The image of "the ashen wake" hints at some kind of apocalypse or disaster from which the singer wishes to be saved. The words "I'll swim with the saved to your door" suggest a sense of communion with other believers or souls, as if the journey to Heaven is not a solitary one.

However, the next stanza introduces a note of cynicism and irony. The question "Are you but a bruise on the sky?" implies that the singer sees Heaven as a wounded or damaged entity, something that is not perfect or sacred but rather a human construction, flawed and prone to decay. The phrase "A moral ache?" suggests that the concept of Heaven is not just a source of joy or comfort but also a source of guilt or doubt, a reminder of one's own imperfections and failures. The final line of the stanza, "A reason to live or to die?", echoes the existential dilemma of whether life has a purpose or meaning, and whether death is a release or a punishment.

The chorus of the song serves as a plea to Heaven or to a higher power, asking for help and guidance. The repetition of the phrase "Wait for me" sounds like a confession of weakness and vulnerability, as if the singer cannot face the challenges of life without divine assistance. The line "Take this weight up from me" suggests that the singer is burdened by some invisible force or guilt, and needs to be relieved of it.

The final stanza of the song is perhaps the most enigmatic and ambiguous. The phrase "If change is a world of regret" suggests that the singer is afraid of change or transformation, as if the only alternative to the present state of existence is a world of sorrow and remorse. The reference to "shallow faith" implies that the singer is not fully committed to any particular belief or ideology, but rather seeks some kind of superficial comfort. The line "My lip hooked" is a peculiar expression that could suggest either a physical gesture (a person biting their lip in frustration or anxiety) or a symbolic one (a fish being caught by a hook). The final line "How mild I'll ascend!" is like a whispered promise or a confession, hinting at the hope that the journey to Heaven will not be as harsh or difficult as feared.

Overall, White Lies's song Wait is a haunting and introspective meditation on the nature of faith, doubt, and longing. Its poetic language and haunting melody convey a sense of mystery and beauty, even as they evoke a world of uncertainty and pain.