32 Songs About Waiting, from The Waiting to Wait for It

What is the best song about waiting?

"The Waiting" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is the classic song about waiting, and "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer is the modern favorite. For patience in love, "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons and "Wait for It" from Hamilton are two of the most moving.

Classic songs about waiting

1. "The Waiting", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: about how the waiting is the hardest part.
2. "Waiting in Vain", Bob Marley and the Wailers: a patient love song.
3. "I'm Still Waiting", Diana Ross: still holding on to a first love.
4. "Waiting for a Train", Jimmie Rodgers: a 1929 country classic.
5. "Waiting for the Sun", The Doors: a moody 1970 song.
6. "Wait for Me", Daryl Hall and John Oates: asking a love to be patient.
7. "Waiting on a Friend", The Rolling Stones: about friendship more than romance.
8. "Waiting for a Girl Like You", Foreigner: about finally finding the one.

80s and 90s songs about waiting

9. "I'll Wait", Van Halen: a synth-driven 80s hit.
10. "I Can Wait Forever", Air Supply: a soaring ballad from the Ghostbusters soundtrack.
11. "Waiting for a Star to Fall", Boy Meets Girl: a late 80s pop favorite.
12. "Patience", Guns N' Roses: a whistled acoustic ballad.
13. "Waiting for That Day", George Michael: hoping a love comes back.
14. "Waiting on an Angel", Ben Harper: a gentle love song.
15. "Waiting for Tonight", Jennifer Lopez: the countdown to a big night.

Modern songs about waiting

16. "Waiting on the World to Change", John Mayer: hoping for a better world.
17. "I Will Wait", Mumford and Sons: a stomping promise of patience.
18. "Waitin' on a Sunny Day", Bruce Springsteen: an upbeat song about better days.
19. "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing", Jack Johnson: about a love that might not come back.
20. "I'll Be Waiting", Lenny Kravitz: a promise to stay.
21. "Wait for You", Elliott Yamin: a soulful 2007 ballad.
22. "Wait", M83: a dreamy, slow song.
23. "Waiting for Love", Avicii: an upbeat dance song about finding love.
24. "Waiting Game", Banks: a dark, moody R&B song.
25. "Waiting for Superman", Daughtry: about hoping to be rescued.
26. "Wait a Minute!", Willow: a viral bedroom pop hit.

Rock and punk songs about waiting

27. "Waiting Room", Fugazi: a punk classic about restlessness.
28. "Still Waiting", Sum 41: a fast 2002 pop punk hit.
29. "Waiting", Green Day: a bright song about what comes next.
30. "Waiting for the End", Linkin Park: about starting over.

Country and Broadway songs about waiting

31. "Waitin' on a Woman", Brad Paisley: an old man's lesson about patience in a marriage.
32. "Wait for It", from Hamilton: Aaron Burr's song about patience and timing.

Why are there so many songs about waiting?

Waiting is full of feeling: hope, doubt, impatience and longing all at once. It is also something everyone knows, from waiting for a text back to waiting years for the right person. That makes these songs easy to relate to, whether they are about love, change or simply getting through a hard season.

Waiting for someone to come home

For a partner who is deployed, working far away or in a long-distance relationship, "I Will Wait", "Wait for Me" and "I'll Be Waiting" are favorites to send. See our long distance relationship songs for more.

Waiting for a baby

For expecting parents, the months of waiting are full of excitement. "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" and "Waiting for Love" make cheerful additions to a baby shower or gender reveal playlist. Some parents also pack a playlist in the hospital bag, so the first songs their baby hears are ones they chose together. See our songs about having a baby for more.

Waiting for a better day

When life feels stuck, "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" are reminders that things can turn around. For more encouragement, see our songs about hope.

Songs about patience in a relationship

Some of the best of these songs are really about patience: giving someone time to heal, to be ready or to come back. "Patience" by Guns N' Roses and "Waitin' on a Woman" by Brad Paisley are about learning to slow down, while "I Will Wait" is a promise to stay no matter how long it takes.

Waiting for a proposal

For a couple who waited a long time to get engaged, "Wait for It", "I Can Wait Forever" and "Waiting for a Girl Like You" make sweet, funny additions to the engagement party playlist. For the big moment itself, see our proposal songs.

A song for the one worth waiting for

A personalized song can tell the story of a love that took time: the years before you met, the distance you waited through or the long road to a proposal, with their name in the chorus. It makes a meaningful anniversary, homecoming or wedding gift.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, country, acoustic and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three moments from your story together.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give the one worth waiting for a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.