[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Bob Marley — Waiting in Vain
Album: Exodus
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2148









Released: 1977
Length: 4:06
Plays (last 30 days): 2
1, 2, 3:

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 Jah 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.
Comments (133)add comment
 Bert7 wrote:

most emotional concert I have ever been to, the whole place was dancing out of control...


very jealous
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Another great tune from BM.
I used to think the lyrics were "I don't want no wedding cake for your love".  Yes, really.   ; )


It is a great tune from one of the giants. Speaking of misunderstandings, throw out a few more characters to avoid any association with a BM. Peace
 kh808 wrote:
Proposed to my wife with this song ....{#Heartkiss}

Awesome on many levels.  
Is this the only song lyric that uses the word "feasible"? 
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Another great tune from BM.
I used to think the lyrics were "I don't want no wedding cake for your love".



Good one  O_T_B!
Bob Marley is one of the most charismatic stage performers I have ever seen. His  concerts just crackle with energy.
Bob's wiki photo is epic...
In 1980 I bought my fiirst turntable with integrated amplifier. Nothing fancy but enabled me to enjoy music as never before. To celebrate the purchase I bought 3 albums: Exodus, LZ III and Rod Stewarts' Greatest Hits.  Still enjoy all three.   
they lost their edge when they lost Peter Tosh
It's like the Beatles losing John
they were left with just Three Little Birds,  and the "oy oy oy" cruise ship crap
Time machine. I'm stationed in Ft. Ord California, 1975 I think. One of my barracks mates is a bright light; a short Jamaican kid
named Aloysius Barkley. I love that name. He didn't smoke weed or anything else. Turned me on to Bob Marley And The Wailers. I had never heard reggae. I'm not yet 20 years old...
 Bert7 wrote:
most emotional concert I have ever been to, the whole place was dancing out of control...

 
I'm only a little jealous....he's one of the guys I never had a chance to see that I WOULD HAVE for sure.  Long Live RP!!
most emotional concert I have ever been to, the whole place was dancing out of control...
''I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;'' What gives?
Proposed to my wife with this song ....{#Heartkiss}
100% pure
 oldsaxon wrote:

There was a scene in "Smoke" where a man was looking at the photos another man had taken every day at the same time in front of his smoke shop.

"They all look the same"
"That's because you're going through them too fast"

Slow it down and listen to the details. 

 
Nice story, but even listening to it several time and trying, I block. Something in me cringes and tenses every time reggae is playing.... 
 astapen wrote:
Zzzzzzz, I agree.  Monotony....is there some rabid group of reggae fans out there who are pressuring you to play this? 

 
There was a scene in "Smoke" where a man was looking at the photos another man had taken every day at the same time in front of his smoke shop.

"They all look the same"
"That's because you're going through them too fast"

Slow it down and listen to the details. 
Godlike !

Oh, that warm bass sound that can only be created with high humidity !

 
 rockpommel16 wrote:
....reggae.......

 
Deep groove. Always, always happy to hear this!
Zzzzzzz, I agree.  Monotony....is there some rabid group of reggae fans out there who are pressuring you to play this? 
ZzzzzZZZZzzzzzzZZZzzzzzz
In addition to Clash's Train In Vain, Annie Lennox also did a respectable version of this song on the Medusa album.

When we're 5 miles off the west coast of Bermuda, anchored among the coral reefs...Robert Nesta Marley always goes onto the CD player, blasting out across the piss-warm, impossibly turquoise waters....

That's what this makes me think about. 
 Proclivities wrote:

My memories of fifty years ago are a little vague, but this song is nowhere near the top of the list of overplayed songs, in my experience, unlike these fine, familiar themes:

Stairway To Heaven 
Layla
Dream On
Money (Pink Floyd)
Smoke On The Water
All Along The Watchtower
Rock and Roll (Part 2)
Sweet Home Alabama
Baba O'Reilly
Takin' Care Of Business
Crocodile Rock
All Right Now (Free)
I Will Survive
More Than A Feeling

Let It Be
Imagine

I Will Always Love You
Hotel California
Brown-Eyed Girl

 
I tire so easily of Bob Marley. Have to agree with Proclivities on this list though. I would add any tune by Steve Miller to the list...most notably "The Joker" or "Jet Airliner". Ugh.
 Duffalo wrote:
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
 
My memories of fifty years ago are a little vague, but this song is nowhere near the top of the list of overplayed songs, in my experience, unlike these fine, familiar themes:

Stairway To Heaven 
Layla
Dream On
Money (Pink Floyd)
Smoke On The Water
All Along The Watchtower
Rock and Roll (Part 2)
Sweet Home Alabama
Baba O'Reilly
Takin' Care Of Business
Crocodile Rock
All Right Now (Free)
I Will Survive
More Than A Feeling

Let It Be
Imagine

I Will Always Love You
Hotel California
Brown-Eyed Girl


....reggae.......
 Duffalo wrote:
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
 

Nonsense - I can think of at least three other Marley songs that play more often, Three Little Birds, One Love and No Woman No Cry - all four great songs by the way
 jagdriver wrote:
Great bass!
 
probably using one of these, then! ...mmmm...that's good bass!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQFv83QJ2Y  
Bob transcends
 Duffalo wrote:
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
 

Hardly. This is just middle of the road saturation. Great song. 8
Wow twice in the same morning!  Annie Lennox first and now Bob.  Thanks!  Ok let's hear the Chrissie Hynde version!
if this song can't put you at ease, then there is no help for you...
this song defines mellow and should be used as a benchmark.

 Luna2 wrote:
Bob Marley is delicioius.

 
I saw him in the last concert he did before he died.  I barely remember it,
but everything was good!!!!!

 Duffalo wrote:
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
 

Free Bird.
It was a profound moment when I first heard Bob sing this song.  I thought only women went through this!  :)
 ThePoose wrote:
If Bob Marley is God, then God is dead.
 
As the old joke goes:

"God is dead" - Nietzsche
"Nietzsche is dead" - God

I'll get me coat...

...
gernick wrote:
it's been said here before but Bob Marley is God! there are many more incredible songs by this man/god but any of his songs will make your day better.

praise be to bob almighty
(significant other) "gernick, have you seen the spacecakes? I just baked a dozen for the big Terry Pratchett con this weekend"
(gernick, very muffled) "nee, ik heb niet"
(significant other)"gernick, you ate all of those spacecakes?"
(gernick, quietly) "nee"
(significant other)"
G E R N I C K ! "
(gernick) "ja"

Kiddies, let this be a lesson to you: drugs derived from natural sources are fun, but combined with the influence of fundamentalist religious dogma they can make you say all kinds of questionable stuff, and even attribute the qualities of high art to mundane half effort. If you're going to serve a sacred cow, make sure it's medium rare with a side salad.


 MannAudioltd wrote:
perfect!
 
It's All Good!

perfect!
Bleh, mahn.
 gernick wrote:
it's been said here before but Bob Marley is God! there are many more incredible songs by this man/god but any of his songs will make your day better.

praise be to bob almighty
 

If Bob Marley is God, then God is dead.
I always loved the story behind this song and this album.
{#Bounce}cool maaaaaan

I love this song. I have a greater appreciation for it now that I am familiar with Annie Lennox's take on it. I actually prefer Lennox's version (which I certainly never expected), but I still love Marley's. Mmmmm. Things are good.
Great bass!
d00kie wrote:
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
d00kie wrote:
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
.. or just about anything alse by him...
How about some Peter Tosh? I miss him, too! (Actually, Bob Marley gets a little "generic" after awhile.)
prickelpit96 wrote:
That's the shit
redfern777 wrote:
First Neil, Now Bob... What a combination! (sorry, somebody had to say it)
Howling!
First Neil, Now Bob... What a combination! (sorry, somebody had to say it)
Duffalo wrote:
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
I love this one.
I don't mean any disrespect, but this can stop now. I need to stay awake.
Bob Marley is delicioius.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Another great tune from BM. I used to think the lyrics were "I don't want no wedding cake for your love".
One of the top 10 most overplayed songs of the last 50 years. Other nominations?
Another great tune from Bob.
I used to think the lyrics were "I don't want no
wedding cake for your love"
(yes, really).   ; )
ndfan75 wrote:
Awesome song from one of my all time favorite albums.
What ndfan said.
I love the vocals on this. (really)
I third that NO. rklein wrote:
NO
Is it wrong of me to think the Annie Lennox cover on Medusa is as good as the original?
De best maaarley maan.
Just can't help but move to that back beat...
it's been said here before but Bob Marley is God! there are many more incredible songs by this man/god but any of his songs will make your day better. praise be to bob almighty
Awesome song from one of my all time favorite albums.
rklein wrote:
NO
second that NO
jlind wrote:
Someone please make this stop
NO
Great song, and one of the best "Greatest Hits" albums.
Thank the gods we had him for a while before he moved on...
Keep this groove up... Bruddah IZ next please...
mellow = waiting in vain
I love Annie Lennox's cover of this song, on the "Medusa" album.
It's not a bad little song. All he needs is a little love.
I love Bob Marley but can't stand most of Legend. This is BY FAR the finest song on Legend... a great monday morning set so far...
Bob's music is timeless for me. I think I'll still be mellowing out to his reggae in my golden years (which are a while away).
praise jah... jah_blessed wrote:
Good tune, but not his best.
Good tune, but not his best.
goodoldtoy wrote:
Last three tunes have put a big smile on my face. Thanks!
i'm right there with you, i couldn't be happier :D
This is just too boring to be really annoyed with it..
Just another dull Marley tune to me...1, again. And yes, I've thought this through, and yes, I posted this close to the end of the song, and not as soon as I saw Marley.
A long time ago, when I thought I was cool, I used to have this on my answering machine and then said "I don't want to wait in vain for your call, either, so leave a message". It always makes me smile to think of what an ass I used to be.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Bob has written numerous songs that are far more interesting than this one.
At least it's not Could You Be Loved.
Someone please make this stop
Bob has written numerous songs that are far more interesting than this one.
I've been there. Waiting . . .
it's good to hear Bob Marley any time, but especially so on a Monday morning at work!
jerseygirl wrote:
what fucking idiot gave this a one?
Which one gave it anything else? Annie Lennox's cover is a quantum improvement.
Last three tunes have put a big smile on my face. Thanks!
I honestly believe he deserves a 10, hands down. Never gave him a negative vote. The only reason I said that someone, or others have given him a low vote, is because they do not understand his works. I have heard every song of his many times, willing or unwilling, and have found that there are others out there as well. I just don't see tunnel vision with Bob Marley as others do.
moomatz wrote:
Someone who is as tired of hearing Bob Marley as everyone else is. I know his social importance is sgnificantly higher than most musicians out there, but it gets overplayed. I mean real over played. It's heard on the radio hundreds of times. Great stuff, but there are OTHERS. Yes OTHER PEOPLE that are making statements based on Mr. Marley's ideology and the like.
Ah, the ol' edit after you're replied trick. ;) Anyways, yes it is unfortuante that Bob Marley died when he was the living ambassador for Raggae music. This meant that peoples idea of the genre died with him before anyone had a chance to "widen their scope". Luckily, Peter Tosh carried the baton a little further until his death in '87.
moomatz wrote:
Someone who is as tired of hearing Bob Marley as everyone else is
Bob Marley is timeless. Everyone being tired of him doesn't explain a rating of 7.8 on RP. Thinking > Blurting
Widen? I have owned all of his published works at one point. Widening would mean that I should listen to others as well. As per my point.
moomatz wrote:
Someone who is as tired of hearing Bob Marley as everyone else is
perhaps you should widen your purview and listen to those less played songs of his. sadly RP plays more of the pop rather than the obscure of a particular artist.
Someone who is as tired of hearing Bob Marley as everyone else is. I know his social importance is sgnificantly higher than most musicians out there, but it gets overplayed. I mean real over played. It's heard on the radio hundreds of times. Great stuff, but there are OTHERS. Yes OTHER PEOPLE that are making statements based on Mr. Marley's ideology and the like.
what fucking idiot gave this a one?
his music was not just music but an expression of his relationship with this thing called GOD. JAH LOVE. nobody has touched him since!! he died way too soon and way too young
This song always reminds me of a hawaiian girl that I really liked. She had a boyfriend at the time so the lyrics really fit. BTW - Have you heard Annie Lennox sing this for the Serendipity Soundtrack? I'm not a fan of hers but it was a great cover.
Sideorder wrote:
Proof that not only was/is he an international icon (no other artist has acheived his kind of global success) but he was also one of the most important singer/songwriters ever.
What is proof of that? This song? Elevator music for a tiedye shop.
Proof that not only was/is he an international icon (no other artist has acheived his kind of global success) but he was also one of the most important singer/songwriters ever.
Skeletor wrote:
Book a flight to Jamaica. Go down to the bar on the beach. Order a Planter's Punch. Wait for the barkeep to ask you if you want some ganja. Say no, then say yes. Smoke some. Smoke some more. Go to bed. Repeat as necessary. Fly home. Put Marley on the stereo.
Ja man!
I'm wondering why "he doesn't belong here." Can you explain? I think Bob Marley has some fantastic music and reggae is just another part of eclectic. Keep it coming. Pilgrim301 wrote:
I know, we're supposed to be all eclectic n' everything, but do you have to play reggae? Marley's an amazing man, but he doesn't belong here. I know, the song's got a rating of 7.8, so I'm in the minority, but I just had to say it. I don't usually complain. Honest.
Pilgrim301 wrote:
... Marley's an amazing man, but he doesn't belong here.
why?
I know, we're supposed to be all eclectic n' everything, but do you have to play reggae? Marley's an amazing man, but he doesn't belong here. I know, the song's got a rating of 7.8, so I'm in the minority, but I just had to say it. I don't usually complain. Honest.
Good vibes, mon! The feeling is irie! :sunny.gif:
rah wrote:
a lot of people knew that.
Allways from the very beginning, even before white folks like Clapton sang it
:sunny.gif:
zenhead wrote:
A beautiful song. I've heard several good covers, Annie Lenox being the best. Sexy and romantic. Who knew reggae could be so beautiful?
a lot of people knew that.
BOB IS de bomb
rulebritannia wrote:
What can I say guys, I'm just missing the reggae gene.
Book a flight to Jamaica. Go down to the bar on the beach. Order a Planter's Punch. Wait for the barkeep to ask you if you want some ganja. Say no, then say yes. Smoke some. Smoke some more. Go to bed. Repeat as necessary. Fly home. Put Marley on the stereo. There are maybe five songs that can bring tears to my eyes in a non-altered state. This is one of them.
jmatyi wrote:
One of the best guitar solos of all time!
Marley's solo guitar is in 'Stir it up' !">
An appropriate segue from Franklins Tower to Waiting in Vain...just like finishing one doob to the next....
A beautiful song. I've heard several good covers, Annie Lenox being the best. Sexy and romantic. Who knew reggae could be so beautiful?
wxman1978 wrote:
One of the best songs marley ever did. I think most people can relate to it whether you were doing the waiting or letting someone wait for you.
That's just it about Bob Marley, you CAN relate to what he sings about. I think several of his songs would be perfect wedding songs, including this one. In fact, I had one in my wedding (guess which one); marriage did not last, but that part worked pretty damn well!
NICKNAME wrote:
THE CORRECT ANSWER IS 10
Umm, 11 I think? :goodvibes:
mille44 wrote:
Con't stond it mon!
What can I say guys, I'm just missing the reggae gene.
I was very fortunate to see Bob live in I think 1979 or 80. It was an absolutely incredible show. SEems like there's really been an upsurge in his popularity the past few years... like he's reaching a whole new audience. Would also be nice to hear some Peter Tosh sometime.
is this the stoner set or what