Waiting Room – English Lyrics

• By: Fugazi
• Album: 13 Songs

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Fugazi's powerful "Waiting Room" and unlock the raw energy of post-hardcore. This iconic song, with its driving bassline and urgent vocals, offers a compelling journey into themes of societal critique and personal agency. Learning the lyrics can reveal a powerful message of breaking free from complacency and taking action in your own life.

[English]

I am a patient boy

I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait

My time's like water down a drain

Everybody's moving, everybody's moving

Everybody's moving, moving, moving, moving

Please don't leave me to remain

In the waiting room

I don't want the news (I cannot use it)

I don't read the news (I won't live by it)

Sitting outside of town

Everybody's always down (tell me why)

Because they can't get up

(Ahh, come on and get up)

(Come on and get up)

...

But I don't sit idly by (ahh)

I'm planning a big surprise

I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be

And I won't make the same mistakes ('cause I know)

Because I know how much time that wastes (and function)

Function is the key

To the the waiting room

I don't want the news (I cannot use it)

I don't read the news (I won't live by it)

Sitting outside of town

Everybody's always down (tell me why)

Because they can't get up

(Ahh, come on and get up)

Up for the waiting room

...

Sitting in the waiting room (ahh)

Sitting in the waiting room (ahh)

Sitting in the waiting room (ahh)

Sitting in the waiting room (tell me why?)

Because they can't get up

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to remain inactive or in a state of expectation noun - a period of inactivity or expectation
patient /ˈpeɪʃ(ə)nt/ B1	adjective - able to accept delays or suffering without complaint noun - a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment
drain /dreɪn/ B2	noun - a channel or pipe carrying off surplus liquid verb - cause the water or other liquid to run out from (something)
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to go in a specified direction or manner
remain /rɪˈmeɪn/ B2	verb - continue to exist, especially after other similar things have ceased to do so
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A1	adjective - the act of staying in place in expectation of something
room /ruːm/ A1	noun - a space that is or can be occupied
news /njuːz/ A2	noun - newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent events
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government
down /daʊn/ A1	adjective - sad or depressed
sit /sɪt/ A1	verb - adopt or be in a position in which one's weight is supported by one's buttocks rather than one's feet
planning /ˈplænɪŋ/ B1	noun - the process of making plans for something
surprise /sərˈpraɪz/ B1	noun - an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ B1	noun - an action or judgement that is misguided or wrong
function /ˈfʌŋkʃ(ə)n/ B2	noun - an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing verb - work or operate in a proper or particular way

Key Grammar Structures

• I am a patient boy

  ➔ Present Simple (Statement of fact)

  ➔ Uses the simple present to state a characteristic. 'I am' connects the subject 'I' to the adjective 'patient', describing his current state. This is a fundamental sentence structure.

• My time's like water down a drain

  ➔ Simile using "like"

  ➔ Uses the simile structure "A is like B" to compare his time to water going down a drain, conveying a sense of waste or loss. 'Time's' is a contraction of 'time is'.

• Please don't leave me to remain in the waiting room

  ➔ Imperative with "don't" + Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "Don't leave" is an imperative, a command. The phrase "to remain in the waiting room" acts as an infinitive of purpose, explaining *why* they shouldn't leave him.

• I don't want the news (I cannot use it)

  ➔ Present Simple Negative with auxiliary verb "do"

  ➔ The negative form of the present simple uses "do not" (or "don't") + base form of the verb. It expresses a habitual or general negation. The phrase inside the parenthesis provides an explanation of the initial statement.

• Everybody's always down (tell me why)

  ➔ Adverb of frequency ("always") + Short imperative clause

  ➔ "Always" is an adverb of frequency, modifying the state of being "down." "Tell me why" is a short imperative asking for a reason. "Everybody's" is the contraction of "everybody is".

• Because they can't get up

  ➔ Subordinate clause of reason with "because" + Modal verb "can't"

  ➔ This is a subordinate clause that provides the reason for the previous statement. 'Because' introduces the reason. 'Can't' (cannot) is a modal verb expressing inability.

• I'm gonna fight for what I wanna be

  ➔ Future Intent (gonna) + Relative Clause with "what"

  ➔ "Gonna" is an informal contraction of "going to", indicating future intention. "What I wanna be" is a relative clause functioning as the object of the preposition "for". "Wanna" is an informal version of "want to."

• Because I know how much time that wastes

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Reason + Embedded Question

  ➔ "Because" introduces an adverbial clause of reason, explaining why he won't make the same mistakes. "How much time that wastes" is an embedded question (or indirect question) acting as the object of the verb "know".