ZZ Top formed after Gibbons' previous band, Moving Sidewalks, disbanded in 1969. Within a year, they signed with London Records and released ZZ Top's First Album in 1971. Subsequent releases, such as Tres Hombres (1973) and Fandango! (1975), and the singles "La Grange" and "Tush", gained extensive radio airplay. By the mid-1970s, ZZ Top had become renowned in North America for their live act, including the Worldwide Texas Tour (1976–1977), which was a critical and commercial success.
After a hiatus, ZZ Top returned in 1979 with a new musical direction and image, with Gibbons and Hill wearing sunglasses and matching chest-length beards. With the album El Loco (1981), they began to experiment with synthesizers and drum machines. They established a more mainstream sound and rose to international stardom with Eliminator (1983) and Afterburner (1985), which integrated influences from new wave, punk, and dance-rock. The popularity of these albums' music videos, including those for "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Legs", gave them mass exposure on television channel MTV and made them prominent artists in 1980s pop culture. The Afterburner tour set records for the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour of 1986.
After gaining additional acclaim with the release of their tenth album Recycler (1990), and its accompanying tour, the group's experimentation continued with mixed success on the albums Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), XXX (1999), and Mescalero (2003). They most recently released La Futura (2012) and Goin' 50 (2019), a compilation album commemorating the band's 50th anniversary. By the time of Hill's death in 2021, ZZ Top had become the longest-running band with an unchanged lineup in the history of popular music. Per Hill's wishes, he was replaced by their longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis on bass.
ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2004, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked Gibbons the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time. The band members have supported campaigns and charities including Childline, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and a fundraiser for the Delta Blues Museum.
Studio albums
ZZ Top's First Album (1971)
Rio Grande Mud (1972)
Tres Hombres (1973)
Fandango! (1975)
Tejas (1976)
Degüello (1979)
El Loco (1981)
Eliminator (1983)
Afterburner (1985)
Recycler (1990)
Antenna (1994)
Rhythmeen (1996)
XXX (1999)
Mescalero (2003)
La Futura (2012)
Waitin' For The Bus
ZZ Top Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day
I got my brown paper bag and my take-home pay
Have mercy, old bus be packed up tight
Have mercy, old bus be packed up tight
Well, I'm glad just to get on and home tonight
Right on, that bus done got me back
Well, I'll be ridin' on the bus till I Cadillac
The lyrics to ZZ Top's song "Waitin' For The Bus" are a simple yet profound ode to the working-class life. The repetition of "have mercy" in the first two lines suggests the singer's weariness after a long day of waiting for the bus, a common experience for those who rely on public transportation to get to work. The brown paper bag and take-home pay signify the singer's humble status, as they likely work a manual labor job and bring their lunch to save money.
The line "old bus be packed up tight" suggests that the singer is not alone in their struggle to get home, and the relief they feel when they finally get on the bus is palpable in the line "Well, I'm glad just to get on and home tonight." The repetition of "right on" in the last two lines speaks to the singer's joy and gratitude at finally making it home after a long day.
Overall, the lyrics to "Waitin' For The Bus" speak to the common experience of those who work hard every day to make ends meet, and the profound relief and joy that comes with finally making it back to the comfort of home.
Line by Line Meaning
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day
Expressing frustration and exhaustion after spending the entire day waiting for the bus to arrive.
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day
Reiterating the impatience and weariness in the previous line.
I got my brown paper bag and my take-home pay
Carrying a brown paper bag with personal items and their hard-earned money earned from work.
Have mercy, old bus be packed up tight
Hoping that the bus is not already full and has room for more passengers.
Have mercy, old bus be packed up tight
Stressing the importance of getting on that specific bus to go home.
Well, I'm glad just to get on and home tonight
Expressing the relief and contentment of finally getting on the bus and heading home.
Right on, that bus done got me back
Celebrating the successful trip, the bus has taken them back home or to their destination.
Right on, that bus done got me back
Reiterating the happiness and gratitude towards the bus.
Well, I'll be ridin' on the bus till I Cadillac
Stating their loyalty and faithfulness to the bus, implying that they will continue to ride it until they can afford a luxury car such as a Cadillac.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Billy F. Gibbons, Joe Michael Hill
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
O P Parassni Praveen
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