Arlo Parks released the deluxe edition of her album Ambiguous Desire on 9 October. I am not the most familiar with Parks’ music, so I didn’t anticipate enjoying ‘waiting for me’ as much as I did. However, I am always partial to a song that mentions waiting (‘Waiting Room’ by Phoebe Bridgers being a personal favourite).
Listeners tend to divide their focus pretty singularly to either the lyrics or the beat of a song; for me, it’s the lyrics. After my first play of the track, I thought Parks appeared awfully repetitive and lacked a certain depth. However, after a few more listens, subtle linguistic nuances, such as “but my heart’s not in it” serve as a microcosm for the relationship or her desire for recovery. The first verse reflects on her use of running as a coping mechanism, mentally and physically travelling as far as possible, before moving to the chorus where Parks finally asks: “are you waiting for me?”.
Is her partner waiting for her to recover, or preparing to leave? I found that this song pulls on the heartstrings and is a genuinely enjoyable listen. It is a track I didn’t expect to like but would recommend to anyone, especially those looking for their next relatable anthem.
“Parks performing in 2022 at Somerset House” by Raph_PH is licensed under “C.C. BY 2.0“
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