John Mayer is a sharp, well-spoken guy. So if he wants to bite from Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" for his new single "Waiting on the World to Change" (Columbia/Aware), that's cool. He can probably come up with some pretty good reasons for it. He can probably even defend watering down one of soul music's greatest breakthroughs into pandering, pre-packaged blandness.
But the lyrics for "Waiting on the World to Change" are ridiculous, especially when he tries to speak like the voice of a generation. "We see everything that's going wrong with the world and those who lead it," he sings. "We just feel like we don't have the means to rise above and beat it. So we keep waiting, waiting on the world to change." Is he serious? Can he really be advocating that even though he and all his friends are against the war in Iraq, they should not speak out, but simply do nothing and wait on the world to change? Music is filled with great protest songs urging people to stand up for what they believe in. Mayer may hold the shameful title of being the first to encourage people to sit down.
Listen to "Waiting on the World to Change" here.
Comments (8)
Actually, I think Mayer is calling the world to stand up in this song. Just like you said, so many people have written anthems of a generation. The irony in his song is that when he went to write an anthem for our generation, this is what he got. So by juxtaposing Mayfield's 60's anthem "People Get Ready" against the anthem of the new millennium, he actually ends up calling us to stop waiting for the world to change so that he can write a song that represents our generation in action and not just in apathy. It's a unique, roundabout way to write an anthem, so I give him kudos for creativity and intellect.
i love john mayer.
he actraully ripped off curtis mayfields were a winner
I think you misinterpreted the song. The fact is, if look at a later verse, he sings, "Now if we had the power/To bring our neighbors home from war/They would have never missed a Christmas/No more ribbons on their doors/And when you trust your television/What you get is what you got/’Cause when they own the information, oh/They can bend it all they want."
Basically, the media is screwing us over and he's being a realist. Do what you want, but the government isn't listening..we just have to wait it out.
Really, re-think that one. Even if you don't like John Mayer, you don't have the right to misconstrue his meaning.
I think 'waiting on the world 2 change is an excellent song regardless of what u guys think!
Pretty much, if you rub the sand out of your eyes, this song has more meaning than the last 15 years of main stream media. I'm too old to appreciate this cat musically, but the lyrics, hey...read between the lines. The CORVOMENT(corporation/government ) has you by the ipods. Sit back and enjoy your downfall while Bush, the Saudi's, and China eat your lunch. Ever been hungry? Stay tuned and wait for the world to change. Me? Forget MTV. I've dropped out and turned on- but like heck if I'm going to wait for the world to change! What the who? Revolutions have stormed forward at the drop of a hat. Are you with me? For the record, I can be considered an "Enemy of the State" for this activity. I am a tax paying, flag waving US patriot who says your Uncle Sam is a sickly psychopath (Democrats included) and must be defeated! Are you with me or still "Waiting for the World to Change". Next Question: Paper or Plastic? Who cares, the revolution is here!
I'm pretty sure the idea behind the song is that we're waiting for the world to change... which we are... that's what this generation is doing, waiting, rather than acting on it. by drawing attention to this he has called people to take action.
and yeah it totally s***s me he ripped off curtis mayfield for this.
This song is not literally saying Wait on the world to change. He is calling out our generation and say stop WAITING. There is stuff going on that should not be and we are not doing anything to stop it. He is not waiting for a revolution he is asking for action.