Everyone's Waiting by Missy Higgins Meaning

 I know all the lines to say
The part I’m expected to play
But in the reflection I am worlds away

As I put my costume on
Eyelashes one by one
Been doing this so long I can tie the knot
Behind my back

And everyone’s waiting
But it’s getting harder to hear what my heart is saying
'Cause everyone’s waiting

Just swallow and breathe, she says
Remember this ain’t for you it’s for them
And all of those painful lessons you’ve had to learn
You gotta use them now or never

'Cause everyone’s waiting
But it’s getting harder to hear
What my heart keeps saying
Turn it off, I wanna turn it all off

When everyone’s waiting
It makes it harder to hear what my heart keeps saying
Turn it off, I wanna turn it all off

But everyone’s waiting
I hear that answers appear when you just stand still
But make it all, how do you make it all stop
When everyone’s waiting?

Songwriters: Daniel Dodd Wilson / Melissa Morrison Higgins

Everyone’s Waiting lyrics © Words & Music A Div Of Big Deal Music LLC

This song is so fitting for all of us who struggle with overwhelming. Its the perfect song for when you want to hear something that echoes the sentiment of shutting things off in your head, in your life. This song is about boundaries. How far can you push yourself before you fall?

Missy Higgins, the very talented Australian singer made this song at a point in her career, when she wanted to rest. She had been singing, touring since the early millennium, and wanted a break.

She is on a beach, having a fearful, worried look on her face. She is soul searching. As the water laps around her feet, she smiles a little, and goes out in it.

It implies everyone wants her to go on with it:

Just swallow and breathe, she says
remember this ain't for you, its for them
and all of those painful lessons you have to learn..

I like how in this part of the song, she heads out in the turbulent ocean, carefully stepping. As the song progresses on in its frustration, the waves hit her in the face, hit her repeatedly. It flashes back to her lowering her head in anguish on the beach.

Suddenly, beautiful piano brings her underwater, then she stops. Its quiet. There is a soft, rolling sound of the ocean, and you see it from underwater, and she turns to look at it. As she appears refreshed, the song becomes optimistic as...I hear that answers appear if you just stand still...

She smiles as waves gently go over here. It ends as she embraces a wave that swallows her.

It's so powerful, I can't get enough of this song.

I want to turn it off...how do you make it all stop?

The feeling of wanting to run away, put pillows over your head, scream. When does it get to be over?

Video: Everyone's Waiting


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