Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “I’m Sick Of Waiting” by Citizen
The song “I’m Sick of Waiting” by Citizen puts into words what many of us experience during life — a sense of urgency, desperation, and frustration which only intensifies the longer we feel stuck in limbo. The singer acknowledges that life happens in its own time and that some things simply cannot be hurried, yet still expresses a weariness with waiting, aimlessly going through the motions when all one wants is a real change.
The desperation in the singer’s voice is evident through the repetition of the title phrase, the heavy guitars, and the increasingly frantic energy of the chorus. This allows the listener to viscerally experience the singer’s frustration, despair, and hopelessness as the song progresses.
The lyrics touch on the complexities of being in this mental state, including a sense of shame for being the one who is failing to take action: “Sick of waiting for something, something I can’t find / Sick of always letting myself down.” Additionally, they emphasize that the feelings of stagnation and emptiness are often deeply rooted and unlikely to disappear soon: “I’m stuck in all this empty feeling I can’t shake.”
Ultimately, the song is an empowering reminder that although we can’t necessarily make things happen faster, our mental attitude and resilience are a major factor in how we cope and move forward: “I can’t hold off the future, but I can fear it less / I don’t need to live in the waiting, I can do more.”
By the last chorus, the singer has come to the determination to trust in their own strength to break out of the vicious cycle of waiting: “But it’s me that holds the answer, the only one / I’m the only one I can rely on.”
At its core, “I’m Sick of Waiting” is a statement of empowerment. It assures us that although our lives may be on pause and our goals may seem far off, the most important thing we can do is to keep believing in ourselves. That is what will truly make the difference and help us break through.