"Wait for Life" is a song by Emile Haynie featuring Lana Del Rey, written by Haynie, Del Rey and Thomas Bartlett, also known as Doveman.[1] It is featured on Haynie's album We Fall, and was released as a promotional single on January 19, 2015.
Background[]
In October 2014, rumors circulated that Del Rey would be featured on a track from Haynie's upcoming album. Later, on December 19, Haynie uploaded a snippet of the song on Instagram, confirming its inclusion on his album.[2] The song as part of a trio of singles released from the album; the other two being "Falling Apart" and "A Kiss Goodbye".
During an interview with The Fader, Haynie stated that both him and Del Rey met in an afternoon for an Ultraviolence session, but the two got to talking about relationships instead, and spontaneously recorded a demo.[3]
The song's instrumental leaked on March 14, 2015, followed by the studio a cappella leaking on November 27, 2022.
Critical reception[]
"Wait for Life" was received positively among music critics. Gigie Hall of Collide cited the song as the standout track from the album, saying: "The scope is cinematic, but the instrumentation hits close to home with some sliding lap string gold, rich tear-jerking strings and a bluesy piano progression that leaves you with the slightly queasy feeling that at any moment someone might come along and break your heart".[4] Elie Shechet of Jezebel described the track to have a feeling of lush nostalgia, a hint of twang, and a dollop of melodrama.[5]
Cross-references[]
- The song's melody was partially reused in "Sweet".
- The line "to put on that evening show" is similar to "let me put on a show for you" from "Yayo".
- Del Rey also describes herself "falling" in "Cherry".
- Del Rey sings about being lonely in "National Anthem" and "Last Girl on Earth".
- Working hard is also mentioned in "Swan Song".
Official versions[]
- Album version — 4:52
- Instrumental version — 4:53
- A cappella version — 4:09
Lyrics[]
Mmm, mhm
Why you make me work so hard to put on that evening show
When you know that all I want is to make your money grow?
You're like a baby who don't got nowhere to go
I feel you eyeing me, you keep it on the low
(On the low, on the low)
But I can't let you in and I can't keep you out
I wait for life to win, but it never comes around
And I can't hear you call, and I can't hear me shout
I wait for it to break, but it never comes around
And I'm lonely
I'm lonely
I'm lonely
Why you make me take that shit to put on that evening show
When you know I don't need it, better than your booze and blow?
You're like a baby, don't know better, you don't know
You drag me down, you try to keep it on the low
But I can't let you in and I can't keep you out
I wait for life to win, but it never comes around
And I can't hear you call, and I can't hear me shout
I wait for it to break, but it never comes around
(Ee-ee-ee, ah-ah-ah)
Feel like I'm falling apart
(Ee-ee-ee, ah-ah-ah)
Feel like I'm falling apart
(Ee-ee-ee, ah-ah-ah)
Feel like I'm falling apart
Would you tell me?
Would you tell me?
Would you tell me?
But I can't let you in and I can't keep you out
I wait for life to win, but it never comes around
And I can't hear you call, and I can't hear me shout
I wait for it to break, but it never comes around
And I'm lonely
I'm lonely
I'm lonely
Credits[]
Personnel (adapted from the album's liner notes)
- Emile Haynie — production, additional songwriting, all instrumentation except noted
- Lana Del Rey — songwriting, vocals
- Doveman — songwriting, piano, Mellotron
- Larry Gold — woodwind, strings, horns
- Greg Leisz — pedal steele guitar
- Jeff Bhasker — Mellotron guitar
References[]
- ↑ HFA Song Code: WV7HL1
- ↑ Haynie, Emile (December 19, 2014). "#waitforlife @lanadelrey". Instagram. http://instagram.com/p/wzIT9PrxSj/. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ "How Emile Haynie Went From Hustling Beat CDs To Making Hits". The Fader. February 10, 2015. http://www.thefader.com/2015/02/10/emile-haynie-interview. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ↑ "REVIEW: Emile Haynie - We Fall". Collide. February 24, 2015. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150930104307/http://www.culturecollide.com/reviews/detail/review_emile_haynie_we_fall.
- ↑ "Lana Del Rey Drops New Track, 'Wait For Life'". Jezebel. January 19, 2015. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221205235837/https://www.jezebel.com/lana-del-rey-drops-new-track-wait-for-life-1680462508.