In the realm of love songs, certain phrases resonate with a timeless truth. “Don’t make me wait for love” is one such plea, capturing the impatience and longing that often accompany the search for romantic connection. Josh Ritter’s song “Wait for Love” masterfully explores this very sentiment, delving into the complexities of waiting, desire, and the ever-present companion of time. But in today’s fast-paced world of dating apps and instant gratification, the idea of waiting for love can feel particularly poignant, and perhaps, even outdated. Is patience still a virtue in love, or is there a point where waiting becomes detrimental to our emotional well-being? Let’s explore this through the lens of Ritter’s insightful lyrics and the timeless wisdom of love poetry.
The Repetitive Plea: Decoding “Wait for Love”
Josh Ritter’s “Wait for Love” is built upon a striking lyrical structure, dominated by repetition. The phrase “Wait for love” echoes throughout the song nineteen times, morphing in tone and meaning with each iteration. Sometimes it’s a vulnerable question, other times a firm command, and often, it feels like a mantra, a way for the speaker to grapple with his own feelings about love and time.
I wait for love I wait for love
Wait for love Wait for love Wait for love Wait for love Wait for love
This repetition isn’t just a stylistic choice; it mirrors the cyclical nature of waiting itself. The speaker is caught in a loop of desire, constantly circling back to the central theme of waiting for love. He acknowledges the presence of someone else, referred to as “she,” who offers a different dynamic:
I got someone on my mind
And she don’t make me wait the way you do
But time, Oh she holds me all the time
And she don’t make me wait the way you do
Here, we encounter the central tension of the song. There’s “time,” a constant and reliable presence, and then there’s “you,” representing love, who “makes me wait.” This “you” is elusive, unpredictable, and the source of both longing and frustration. The speaker is drawn to love, but finds himself stuck in a state of waiting, a state he clearly doesn’t relish. This tension is further emphasized in the chorus:
Wait for love Wait for love
Sometimes babe we all have to wait for love
This line introduces a note of reluctant acceptance. “Sometimes babe we all have to wait for love” suggests a universal experience, a shared understanding that waiting is an inevitable part of the romantic journey. However, the insistent repetition of “Wait for love” also hints at a growing impatience, a simmering desire to break free from this state of perpetual waiting.
Josh Ritter's "Wait for Love" lyrics highlighting the repetition of "Wait for love"
Two Sides of Waiting: Track 8 vs. Track 14
Interestingly, Josh Ritter’s album Historical Conquests features two versions of “Wait for Love,” track 8 and track 14, titled “Wait for Love (You Know You Will).” These two tracks offer contrasting perspectives on the experience of waiting, embodying different emotional responses to the passage of time in the absence of love.
Track 8 opens with a chaotic soundscape – “a stuck car horn, a whirring siren, lazy guitar strums, audible shooting stars.” The tempo is slow and deliberate, reflecting a patient, almost resigned approach to waiting. This version evokes a sense of hopeful anticipation, a belief that love will eventually arrive, even if the waiting is prolonged. It’s the sound of romantic patience, finding a certain melancholic beauty in the quiet moments of solitude.
Track 14, however, takes a different approach. It begins with “dark, urgent, sultry chords,” and a faster tempo. This version is impatient, restless, even defiant. It’s the sound of someone who is tired of waiting, who is actively pushing against the perceived slowness of love’s arrival. The addition of “raucous harmonies, new instruments, and some errant sounds—knocking, giggling” suggests a communal energy, a sense of seeking support and perhaps even playfully challenging the waiting game.
Track 8 sighs, while track 14 sneers. Track 8 is ethereal, track 14 is grounded. This duality reflects the complex emotional landscape of waiting for love. Sometimes we are patient and hopeful, other times we are frustrated and restless. Both versions are valid responses to the longing for connection, highlighting the internal conflict between acceptance and the desire for immediate fulfillment.
Petrarch’s Enduring Wait: A Timeless Perspective
To further understand the nuances of waiting for love, we can turn to the timeless poetry of Francesco Petrarch. Petrarch’s Canzoniere, a collection of 366 poems written over four decades, is a profound meditation on love, time, and desire, centered around his unrequited love for Laura.
Petrarch, like the speaker in Ritter’s song, grapples with the passage of time while yearning for love. His Poem #168, translated by David Young, captures this struggle beautifully:
Love sends me that sweet thought, the one which is a confidant of old between us two, and comforts me, says I was never closer to having what I yearn for than right now.
His words, I’ve found, are sometimes true and then are sometimes false; I don’t know what to think, and so I live somewhere between the two: no yes or no rings honest to my heart.
Meantime the days go by, and in my mirror I watch myself approximate that season that contradicts his promise and my hope.
Well, let it come. I’m not the only one who’s aging. My desire doesn’t age, but how much time, I wonder, have I left?
Petrarch expresses the uncertainty and anxiety inherent in waiting. Love’s promises are unreliable, and time marches relentlessly forward, bringing with it the awareness of mortality. Yet, in the line “Well, let it come,” there is a moment of defiance, a courageous acceptance of time’s passage. He acknowledges the inevitability of waiting, but also asserts the enduring nature of his desire: “My desire doesn’t age.”
Francesco Petrarch, a poet who explored the themes of time and love in his poetry, relevant to the concept of waiting for love.
Petrarch’s lifelong wait for Laura, who remained unattainable and even passed away, represents the extreme end of the spectrum. While his dedication is admirable, it also raises questions about the limits of waiting and the importance of self-preservation in the pursuit of love. Is there a point where waiting becomes self-destructive, hindering our ability to experience joy and connection in the present?
“Don’t Make Me Wait”: Love in the Age of Now
In today’s dating landscape, characterized by instant communication and a plethora of choices, the phrase “don’t make me wait for love” takes on a new urgency. While patience remains a valuable virtue, especially in the initial stages of getting to know someone, there’s also a valid need to communicate our desires and expectations clearly.
“Don’t make me wait for love” isn’t necessarily about demanding instant romance. Instead, it’s about setting healthy boundaries and recognizing your own worth. It’s about saying:
- Value my time: My time and emotional energy are precious. I’m willing to invest in getting to know you, but I need to see reciprocal effort and a genuine interest in connection.
- Be clear in your intentions: Ambiguity and mixed signals can prolong the waiting game unnecessarily. Open communication about intentions and desires can prevent prolonged periods of uncertainty and potential heartbreak.
- Don’t string me along: If you’re not genuinely interested or ready for a relationship, be honest. Leading someone on creates false hope and extends the waiting period in a way that is ultimately unfair and unkind.
“Don’t make me wait for love” is a call for respectful and direct communication in dating and relationships. It’s about advocating for your emotional needs while still being open to the natural unfolding of love. It’s about finding a balance between patience and proactivity, between allowing love to blossom in its own time and not settling for indefinite periods of waiting without clear direction or reciprocation.
Finding Your Balance: Patience and Presence in Love
Ultimately, navigating the waiting game in love is about finding your own balance. There will be times when patience is necessary, when allowing a connection to develop organically is the most rewarding path. But there will also be times when it’s crucial to advocate for yourself, to communicate your needs, and to recognize when waiting is no longer serving your emotional well-being.
Josh Ritter’s “Wait for Love” and Petrarch’s enduring poems remind us that the experience of waiting for love is a universal and timeless one. It’s filled with complex emotions – hope and anxiety, patience and impatience, longing and acceptance. By understanding these dynamics, and by recognizing the value of our own time and emotional energy, we can approach the search for love with both openness and self-awareness. Don’t be afraid to express your desire for connection, to communicate your needs, and to gently remind those you are interested in: “don’t make me wait for love” indefinitely. Your heart, and your time, are precious.
