Waiting Room | Phoebe Bridgers Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Publish date: 2024-05-19

Waiting Room
Phoebe Bridgers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴If you were a teacher, I would fail your class
Take it over and over 'til you noticed me
If you were a waiting room, I would never see a doctor
I would sit there with my first aid kit and bleed
I wanna be the power ballad that lifts you up and holds you down
I wanna be the broken love song that feeds your misery
And I can wish all that I want, but it won't bring us together
Plus I know whatever happens to me, I know it's for the better
And when broken bodies are washed ashore
Who am I to ask for more, more, more?
But you're breathing in my open mouth
You're the gun in my lips that will blow my brains out
I wanna make you drive all night just because I said maybe you should come over
Wanna make you fall in love as hard as my poor parents' teenage daughter
She'll be the best you ever had if you let her

I know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better

Know it's for the better
Know it's for the better


Overall Meaning

In Phoebe Bridgers's song Waiting Room, the lyrics express the singer's desperate desire to be noticed and loved by someone who seemingly does not care for them. The first stanza shows the singer's willingness to put in the effort to be noticed by this person who they view as unattainable. They are willing to work tirelessly to impress them, even if it means failing repeatedly. The second stanza exposes the singer's plans to be the type of love song that drowns the listener in their own misery. The singer wants to make the person feel as if their love is the only thing that can save them but realizes that they cannot control how that person feels.


The bridge shifts the focus from the singer's desperation to a more morbid realization. They acknowledge that, in the grand scheme of things, their problems are small compared to those who have lost their lives. The last stanza reiterates the singer's want for the person to notice them, but this time the tone is less desperate, and they offer up someone else. The singer's words further highlight their insecurities, suggesting that they are not good enough to be loved on their own merit. The final line, "I know it's for the better," could be seen as the singer trying to convince themselves that what they are feeling will eventually pass.


Line by Line Meaning

If you were a teacher, I would fail your class
I know I won't meet your expectations and I'll fall short of what you think I should achieve.


Take it over and over til you noticed me
Despite my failures, I'll keep trying over and over again in the hope that one day you'll see me for who I am.


If you were a waiting room, I would never see a doctor
I'm stuck in a place where I need help and support, but I feel like I'll never get it, that I'm stuck in this limbo.


I would sit there with my first aid kit and bleed
I'll try to patch myself up alone, but it's not enough, I need help from you. Because the pain I'm feeling inside is too much to handle alone.


I want to be the power ballad that lifts you up and hold you down
I want to be there for you through thick and thin; to lift you up when you're down, and to be with you through the dark moments.


I wanna be the broken love song that feeds your misery
I want to be the song that you turn to when things are rough. I hope that I can ease your pain even a little bit.


And I can wish all I want, but it won't bring us together
No matter how much I want us to be together, sometimes it just isn't meant to be.


Plus I know whatever happens to me
I've accepted that whatever happens, I'll be okay. Even if it's not what I wanted, I'll learn and grow from the experience.


When broken bodies are washed ashore
In hard times, it's easy to get caught up in the pain and suffering; and these lines serve as a reminder that life is fragile and fleeting.


Who am I to ask for more, more, more?
It makes me reflect and question if I'm selfish for wanting more during our brief existences on earth.


But you're breathing in my open mouth
You've become a part of me in a way that goes beyond the physical representation of two bodies next to each other.


You're the gun in my lips that will blow my brains out
When I'm sad or hurt, I have this self-destructive tendency that's hard to fight. You're the one tempting me to give in to that pain.


I want to make you drive all night just because I said maybe you should come over
I want to have a better connection, and inspire you so much that you're willing to put in extra effort to see me.


I want to make you fall in love as hard as my poor parents teenage daughter
I want to experience that feeling of being in love so deeply that it's almost all-consuming, like when I was a teenager.


She'll be the best you ever had if you let her
I know I have a lot to offer someone in a relationship, so if you give me a chance, I won't let you down.


I know it's for the better
I may not know why, and perhaps I'll never know, but I trust that things always turn out for the best, in the end.


Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Phoebe Bridgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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