I Don't Want to Wait

Paula Cole

About I Don't Want to Wait

"I Don't Want to Wait" is a song written, performed and produced by Paula Cole. It was Cole's second single from her album This Fire and later served as the opening theme for the TV series Dawson's Creek. Cole wrote the song and recorded a demo in April 1991 but did not record it for release until 1996. On the US Billboard Hot 100, "I Don't Want to Wait" spent the most consecutive weeks in the top 50 without cracking the top 10, peaking at No. 11. The single ranked at No. 10 on the Hot 100 year-end chart for 1998. With a 56-week-long run on the chart, it is among the list of the 32 songs in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have had a chart run longer than 50 weeks. In Canada, it is Cole's highest-charting single, peaking at No. 5 on the RPM Top Singles chart, and it also reached No. 27 in Australia and No. 43 in the United Kingdom. VH1 ranked "I Don't Want to Wait" as one of the 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s at No. 81. 


Year:
2006
5:36
73 

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So open up your morning light 
And say a little prayer for I
You know that if we are to stay alive 
And see the peace in every eye

She had two babies 
One was six months one was three 
In the war of '44 
Every telephone ring 
Every heartbeat stinging 
When thought it was God calling her 
Oh would her son grow to know his father 

I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
I want to know right now 
What will it be 
I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
Will it be yes or will it be  

He showed up all wet 
On the rainy front step 
Wearing shrapnel in his skin 
And the war he saw 
Lives inside him still 
It's so hard to be gentle and warm 
The years passed by and now 
He has a granddaughter 

I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
I want to know right now 
What will it be 
I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
Will it be yes or will it be 

Oh so you look at me 
From across the room 
You're wearing your anguish again 
Believe me I know the feeling 
It sucks you into the jaws of anger 
Oh, so breathe a little more deeply my love 
All we have is this very moment 
And I don't want to do what 
His father and his father and his father did 
I want to be here now 

So open up your morning light 
And say a little prayer for I 
You know that if we are to stay alive 
And see the peace in every eye 

I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
I want to know right now 
What will it be 
I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
Will it be yes or will it be 

I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
I want to know right now 
What will it be 
I don't want to wait 
For our lives to be over 
Will it be yes or will it be 
Sorry 

So open up your morning light 
And say a little prayer for I
You know that if we are to stay alive 
And see the love in every eye

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Paula Cole

Paula Cole (born April 5, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter. Her single "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997, and the following year she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. more »

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Written by: Paula Cole

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Songwriting
"I Don't Want to Wait" was entirely written by Paula Cole.
Release Date
The song was released as the second single from her album "This Fire" in November 1996.
Chart Performance
The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained on the chart for 56 weeks.
Television Appearance
The song is most known as the theme song of the TV drama series, "Dawson's Creek."
Artistic Inspiration
Paula Cole has stated in interviews that the song was inspired by her grandfather who fought in World War II.
Music Video
The music video directed by Mark Seliger and Fred Woodward, features Cole singing interspersed with footage of her grandparents.
Miscellaneous
Some radio stations played a version of the song that sped up the bridge, while some cut out the bridge altogether, in order to have a more radio-friendly play time.
Success in other countries
"I Don't Want to Wait" also reached number five in Canada, number 15 in New Zealand, and number 20 in Australia.
Grammy Awards
The song helped Paula Cole earn nominations for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.
Song Meaning
Paula Cole explained "I Don't Want to Wait" is about living each moment to the fullest, since life is short and unpredictable.
Cover Versions
Over the years, the song has been covered by several artists and featured in numerous TV shows and movies.
Soundtrack
In addition to "Dawson's Creek, ""I Don't Want to Wait" was also included in the soundtrack of the 1998 film "The Longest Ride."
Cultural Impact
Despite not reaching the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100, “I Don't Want to Wait” has remained a significant part of pop culture due to its connection with "Dawson's Creek."
Challenges for the artist
According to an interview, Paula Cole wrote 50 different choruses before she was satisfied with the final version of "I Don't Want to Wait."
Sales
The song eventually became her biggest hit, achieving platinum status in the U.S. for sales exceeding one million copies.

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    I Don't Want to Wait

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1998

    Billboard #11


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