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The Jayhawks — Waiting for the Sun
Album: Hollywood Town Hall
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2153








Released: 1992
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 1
I was waiting for the sun
Then I walked on home alone
What I didn't know
Was he was waiting for you to fall

So I never made amends
For the sake of no one else
And for the simple reason
That he was waiting for you to fall

Chorus:
It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walking on down the road
Looking for a friendly handout
Somebody ease my soul

So I kept my spirits high
Entertaining passers-by
Wrapped in my confusion
While he was waiting for you to fall

(Chorus)

It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walking on down the road
Walking on down the road
Walking on down the road
Walking on down the road
Comments (181)add comment
 waterwench21 wrote:

Love this entire album!  



me too. i cannot believe it's from 1992. wow. that's a long time ago. i still remember hearing it then for the first time. geez i'm old.
Love this entire album!  
Good triple, sometimes you get the Chili Peppers, sometimes you get the John Butler Trio, sometimes you get The Jayhawks, sometimes you get what you need
While he was waiting for you to fall
YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED
 
(cut to Rolling Stones)
 dischuckin wrote:

she grew up in an Indiana town... oh, nope.



Yes you are right, its the rythm....
 DocStrangelove wrote:
Amazing — sounds like a cross between Rush and Crowded House.




Literally zero Rush in it.
 IrieTom wrote:

Dani California -> Waiting for the sun.  Is Last Dance next?



Company Sin before that. The comments for that one are 15 years worth of, "sounds like RHCP".  I think we're being invited to draw a straight line from Jon Butler Trio to Tom Petty... nvm, Yeah Yeah Yeahs?
she grew up in an Indiana town... oh, nope.
 TerryS wrote:

Can't improve on that.


I find myself saying that a lot about many of Cynaera's posts. 
Miss Ab Fab......
Last band I saw before slipping into  pandemic mode - March 5, 2020, Homer, New York. 
second only to the mats for mlps rock n roll!
Every time I hear this song I think it's Lawrence Gowan. 
Yay or nay?
 IrieTom wrote:
Dani California -> Waiting for the sun.  Is Last Dance next?
 
Either that or something by Van Halen, because Bill is CRAAAAZZYYYY!!!!
Dani California -> Waiting for the sun.  Is Last Dance next?
 Pedro1874 wrote:
I love the Jayhawks and their "Americana" music.  I tried to upload a great track from their 2016 album but Rebecca said "sorry" {#Ask}
 
Quiet corners and empty spaces  from the album "Paging Mr Proust" 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjoFrhU5ikU

 

Try the Tiny Desk version of Quiet Corners instead..  


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5XmnmEyaKQ
Whaou , played right after Dani California, it's no coincidence, in my opinion. 7, and not an 8, for RHCP ! 
I thought this was Blind Melon. A nice tune for a Friday morning at the ol' desk job!
See also Victoria Williams "You R Loved" circa 1994

Great riff
Wow, did Tom Petty borrow that guitar chord hook for Mary Jane tune?
 ddstanford wrote:

I agree, that's the first thing I told my friend when it came on.  Lucky Tom is not as litigious as The Chiffons.
 
Lucky thing this album was released a year before Tom released "Last Dance...".  It's just a strumming style, likely not protected by copyright laws anyhow.
Interesting....the song name is a Doors Album (and song) and yet the tune itself sounds like a James Blunt song (the one I like, called "So Long Jimmy" which is a tribute to Hendrix and MoJo, and has a similar melody.  So 7+1 to the Jayhawks for doing it in 1992!
RIP Dan Fogelberg {#Heartkiss}
 
Gary Louris on guitar ~


I love the Jayhawks and their "Americana" music.  I tried to upload a great track from their 2016 album but Rebecca said "sorry" {#Ask}
 
Quiet corners and empty spaces  from the album "Paging Mr Proust" 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjoFrhU5ikU

Feelin' the guitar anyway ~
Love this album, never really noticed back when it came out how much the guitar sounds like Neil Young?
Segue from Tom Petty.
I see what you did there, Bill.
I see that album cover again in late Sept., and all I can think of is (regrettably):


WINTER IS COMING!
 ziggytrix wrote:
I don't like this Waterboys Jayhawks mashup at all. :P

(edit: for those not listening right now there was a good chunk of The Waterboys — The Raggle Taggle Gypsy (Live) playing at the same time as this song)

 
:)
Quite interesting, wasn´t it?
Was searching an open Safari tab where maybe some video started on its own ;) 
Amazing — sounds like a cross between Rush and Crowded House.
{#Bananajam}
 ziggytrix wrote:
I don't like this Waterboys Jayhawks mashup at all. :P

(edit: for those not listening right now there was a good chunk of The Waterboys — The Raggle Taggle Gypsy (Live) playing at the same time as this song)

 
and again. :(
I don't like this Waterboys Jayhawks mashup at all. :P

(edit: for those not listening right now there was a good chunk of The Waterboys — The Raggle Taggle Gypsy (Live) playing at the same time as this song)
 nutrod42 wrote:
One of my favorite albums.

 
'Tis very fine.

                        The guitar saves the day here. 


 

Adored this whole album when it came out in 1992 and still adore it now!


 Cynaera wrote:
I love Jayhawks. 'Nuff said. {#Sunny}

 
Can't improve on that.
One of my favorite albums.
 h8rhater wrote:
Just saw the Jayhawks last weekend at the Lockn music festival in Virginia.  They were excellent in their late afternoon set (preceding Tedeschi/Trucks Band and Robert Plant).  

 
seems like the mid-Atlantic east coast always gets the best shows
nice Bill, I like them the more you play them
 
nice. puts one in the mood for some Burrito Bros, howzabout Cody, Cody?
 
 h8rhater wrote:

If you read the history on this thread you will find that Tom lifted this from the Jayhawks, who opened for him on the tour immediately preceding the release of this single.  That being said, there is nothing wrong with lifting a riff and I believe that the Jayhawks would think that Tom was welcome to it.  The Red Hot Chili Peppers also used this riff for the opening chords of Danny California in '06. 

It's a great riff.  Who knows... maybe someone else used it prior to the Jayhawks.

 
Tom should have whipped out the General Electric death lasers on RHCP for Dani California and other instances of their stoned hipster pointlessness. 

Love this song and the Jayhawks' sound.  
 dwlangham wrote:
Opening riff psyched me out. Sounded like "Last Dance With Mary Jane". 

 
Yup same here 
Just saw the Jayhawks last weekend at the Lockn music festival in Virginia.  They were excellent in their late afternoon set (preceding Tedeschi/Trucks Band and Robert Plant).  During the set they featured two solid tracks off of their upcoming CD that sounded as good as anything they have done over the last 30 years.  Looking forward to the release.
 ddstanford wrote:

I agree, that's the first thing I told my friend when it came on.  Lucky Tom is not as litigious as The Chiffons.

 
If you read the history on this thread you will find that Tom lifted this from the Jayhawks, who opened for him on the tour immediately preceding the release of this single.  That being said, there is nothing wrong with lifting a riff and I believe that the Jayhawks would think that Tom was welcome to it.  The Red Hot Chili Peppers also used this riff for the opening chords of Danny California in '06. 

It's a great riff.  Who knows... maybe someone else used it prior to the Jayhawks.
 dwlangham wrote:
Opening riff psyched me out. Sounded like "Last Dance With Mary Jane". 

 
I agree, that's the first thing I told my friend when it came on.  Lucky Tom is not as litigious as The Chiffons.
 h8rhater wrote:

You're both wrong. This band has 8 albums and many great songs.  They have charted 6 songs in all over the last 20 years.

"One hit wonder" is an antiquated term that goes back to the time when everyone got all their music from the radio.  Most of us look for our "hits" elsewhere (e.g. RP) these days.

 
"One-hit wonder" is also a misused term.  It used to mean a band or artist which had one hit and then faded away into obscurity - artists like The Champs, Mungo Jerry, Starland Vocal Band, Hot Butter, Zager & Evans, Steam, etc.  It was not supposed to mean artists who may have only had one Top 40 hit during a twenty-or-thirty-year career.  By the latter definition, many highly successful artists could be called "one-hit wonders".
Opening riff psyched me out. Sounded like "Last Dance With Mary Jane". 
Minnesota love ❤️
Can't go wrong with Louris, Olsen et all! Love me some 'Hawks!
Just listened to this album today.  Still like "Tomorrow The Green Grass" better, but this one sure has some high points, including this cut.
 lunatic wrote:
Erm, did Tom Petty rip off this song for 'Mary Jane's Last Dance'? 
 
Probably, they did tour together.
 treatment_bound wrote:


Yeah, "Blue" should be added here to the mix at RP.

 

Big Agree!!
 sirdroseph wrote:


Their biggest hit is Blue.

 

Yeah, "Blue" should be added here to the mix at RP.
 sirdroseph wrote:


Technically they are 2 hit wonders.  Their biggest hit is Blue. I like them though, good group.

 
You're both wrong. This band has 8 albums and many great songs.  They have charted 6 songs in all over the last 20 years.

"One hit wonder" is an antiquated term that goes back to the time when everyone got all their music from the radio.  Most of us look for our "hits" elsewhere (e.g. RP) these days.
Erm, did Tom Petty rip off this song for 'Mary Jane's Last Dance'? 
  jen3005545 wrote:

Kind of reminds me a little of Carly Simon for some reason.

 
 DrLex wrote:

Yes, it has definite hints of “You're So Vain”.

 
Not at all, imo.
 bill-1956 wrote:
Nice one hit wonder.

 

Technically they are 2 hit wonders.  Their biggest hit is Blue. I like them though, good group.
 jen3005545 wrote:
Kind of reminds me a little of Carly Simon for some reason.  {#Neutral}
 
Yes, it has definite hints of “You're So Vain”.
+ 25 years of fine tunesmithin'
bill-1956 wrote:
Nice one hit wonder.
 


Nice one hit wonder.
This is an awesome song!
Pint of Guiness please
damn, i haven't heard this in forever. love it. thanks!
Kind of reminds me a little of Carly Simon for some reason.  {#Neutral}
 Rickvee wrote:

And while I truly love Petty its not the 1st time he "borrowed" from an opening act. In the late 80s The Replacements opened for TP & The Heartbreakers. One of The Replacements' songs, "I'll Be You", had the lyric "a rebel without a clue" in it. well on Tom's next album he used that exact same lyric on one of the hit singles from that album.
 

In the meantime, The Replacements' are still waiting for that first "hit single".  It's been a long wait.

I did hear "Can't Hardly Wait" from '87 on the way in to work today on 'XRT in Chi., and the production with the horns still sounds great & timeless.  I guess there is a silver lining in never having any hits, in that nobody ever gets sick of hearing your music...
Excellent tune.
 fingerpin wrote:
Hello cowgirl in the sand....
 
Oh, so true! I hear that, too.
Great band... I saw them last month and they sounded great!  Many songs sounded just like the studio version which is good and bad.

They're a tough band to watch though.
 Aud wrote:


Ooooh! That sounds like a great show! Add on Semisonic, Solid Gold & LCD Soundsystem and it would be a great day!
 
A couple guys from Trip Shakespeare were in Semisonic, so I've got part of your list completed.  :)  And yes, it was a great day.  
Hello cowgirl in the sand....
 hmulhall wrote:
A great Jayhawks record. The new record hits the shops next Tuesday. Louris & Olson back together again.
 
Yes! Thanks for that reminder...looking for that something that might ease my soul

I saw the Jayhawks at First Avenue in 1992. I'd never heard of them so a friend took me to see them. Great show. I expected them to hit big after that, but alas.
A great Jayhawks record. The new record hits the shops next Tuesday. Louris & Olson back together again.
 gatorade wrote:
Long time waiting a long time for this band to "make it".
 Agreed. With anthems like Blue and super tight production, you'd think...
but frequent RP play is something of a touchstone of success, yes?



 nicolewe wrote:
Thought it was Tom Petty! Similar guitar rift there...this one grows on you.{#Wave}

 
She grew up in an Indiana town...

Or Neil Young: Hello cowgirl in the sand...

Great band. One more week until the Chicago show!
As an expat Minneapolitan, I've been a long time fan of the Jayhawks, too... For all those interested, here's the latest Jayhawks news according to Wikipedia:

"On May 18th, 2010, the initial release The Jayhawks was digitally remastered from reel-to-reel and reissued on Lost Highway Records. The re-release features an eleven-page booklet designed by Mark Olson. At its release, it was also featured as a $4.99 digital download from Amazon.

As of November 15, 2010, the Jayhawks have returned to the recording studio and expect to have a new album out by spring or early summer 2011."

More band news is at: https://www.jayhawksofficial.com

 Ericac wrote:
Another great song from the Minnesota band.  (I'm such a homer!)
 
Me too!!  I was lucky enough to see the Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and Trip Shakespeare all at the same event back in college before any of them got big.  Good times. 

Seeing them in Chicago this month. Original lineup!
These guys were really, really good songwriters.  Perhaps time will give them their due.
 nicolewe wrote:
Thought it was Tom Petty! Similar guitar rift there...this one grows on you.{#Wave}


It does indeed.  The Jayhawks didn't get near their due when they were around.  Here's hoping for a reunion.

I love Jayhawks. 'Nuff said. {#Sunny}
Long time waiting a long time for this band to "make it". 

Thought it was Tom Petty! Similar guitar rift there...this one grows on you.{#Wave}

Just love this station.....just one great song after the other Thanks the Goldsmiths...By the way how du yu do 24 hours a day for the 2 years me been listenin..?...dont sleep if you produce such good compolations....and thanks....I would listen 24 hours a day but alas....
I am a lesser mortal...{#Sunny}     {#Daisy}   {#Sunny}
Suddenly hearing this from RP makes me so happy about this great band. I like all their stuff, but Rainy Day Music was the one to kick me off my feet... 
 Bosami wrote:
Under-appreciated band. Great record - but their other, less popular releases are even better.
 
uh huh

 dmax wrote:
"I been a bad bad girl..."

Fiona Apple wants her song back.

 

Not sure, but I'd guess that this song predates Fiona's.
OK, checked and now I'm sure. Predates it by 4 years.
I've always really liked this song. I have an acoustic version of it on a benefit CD that 99X (in Atlanta) put out around 15 years ago that's excellent, as well.

Under-appreciated band. Great record - but their other, less popular releases are even better.
S'ok.
yea, I have always dug this one.
 Emesa805 wrote:

The guitar riff sounded like a Tom Petty rip off in the the beginning but looking at the date of this release.... maybe it was the other way around.

 
The Jayhawks opened for TP the year before that riff appeared on Last Dance with Mary Jane.  Coincidence?

Then again the Red Hot Chili Peppers lifted it for Danny California too. 

A good riff is a good riff.

The Jayhawks are a great band and this is a great tune.
 Ericac wrote:
Another great song from the Minnesota band.  (I'm such a homer!)
 
Ja!  Suure!  You betcha!

 crockydile wrote:
a little repetitive {#Think}
 
The guitar riff sounded like a Tom Petty rip off in the the beginning but looking at the date of this release.... maybe it was the other way around.

a little repetitive {#Think}
This okay. I don't know if it is derivative, or just my imprecise ear, but everytime this comes on I think "Crowded house...no...the Samples... no... Toad the Wetsprocket..." 

It doesn't bother me, it just could have been done by anyone.  I have very few 5s because middle of the road is very rare at RP, but this one misses heads and tails and lands on the edge. 
 Rickvee wrote:
You mean The Jayhawks want THEIR riff back from Petty - i.e. "Waiting For The Sun" came out over a year before Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance". The Jayhawks opened for Petty as they toured for HOLLYWOOD TOWN HALL and Petty heard this tune every night. Safe to say he was a little influenced. And while I truly love Petty its not the 1st time he "borrowed" from an opening act. In the late 80s The Replacements opened for TP & The Heartbreakers. One of The Replacements' songs, "I'll Be You", had the lyric "a rebel without a clue" in it. well on Tom's next album he used that exact same lyric on one of the hit singles from that album.
 
Well, that's good, 'cause this song is the best of the bunch.  So close to perfect I want to give it 9.5, but not quiiiiiite 10.

ETA: AMG confirms that HTH came out in 1992, but MJLD was in 1993.  Usually I check this stuff before posting, but I musta been dreaming that day.

Another great song from the Minnesota band.  (I'm such a homer!)
 ScottishWillie wrote:
Good track from a very good album
 
From one of the most under-rated, overlooked and talented bands I'm aware of.

Sounds like something James Blunt got inspiration from.
helloooo highschool....wow
liser wrote:
Sounds a whole lot like "Sunny Came Home".
As Rickvee stated below, this song predates both the Petty song AND "Sunny Came Home" (which thankfully has dropped off the radar--I don't hear it anywhere anymore)
Hannio wrote:
A solid five if there ever was one. I'm feeling generous today.
You're a dork.
A solid five if there ever was one. I'm feeling generous today.
liser wrote:
Sounds a whole lot like "Sunny Came Home".
*DING* Thank you! I know it sounded like something I had heard elsewhere. That was going to keep me up tonight. Must say - I like this better than "Sunny Came Home."
Good track from a very good album
JsDad wrote:
If you want to rant about what's wrong with pop music these days, the fact that these guys aren't mega-stars would make an nice exhibit number one.
Exactly.
If you want to rant about what's wrong with pop music these days, the fact that these guys aren't mega-stars would make an nice exhibit number one.
sukilau wrote:
beginning sounds like a Tom Petty tune...
Oh, my, my! Oh, hell yes.
Sounds a whole lot like "Sunny Came Home".
Dave_Mack wrote:
Kicked it up from 8 to 9 this time. Still sounds fantastic. Even if Tom Petty does want his "Mary Jane's Last Dance" riff back.
You mean The Jayhawks want THEIR riff back from Petty - i.e. "Waiting For The Sun" came out over a year before Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance". The Jayhawks opened for Petty as they toured for HOLLYWOOD TOWN HALL and Petty heard this tune every night. Safe to say he was a little influenced. And while I truly love Petty its not the 1st time he "borrowed" from an opening act. In the late 80s The Replacements opened for TP & The Heartbreakers. One of The Replacements' songs, "I'll Be You", had the lyric "a rebel without a clue" in it. well on Tom's next album he used that exact same lyric on one of the hit singles from that album.
The Jayhawks are a good way to get one through a Monday morning. Thanks Bill.
Kicked it up from 8 to 9 this time. Still sounds fantastic. Even if Tom Petty does want his "Mary Jane's Last Dance" riff back.
beginning sounds like a Tom Petty tune...
Rickvee wrote:
Incredible song. Jayhawks are the most underrated band in history!
Pert darn close. I'm changing my rating from an 8 to a 9.
saya suka. very nice!
One of their many excellent albums. As to the Victoria Williams comment, I'd love to hear some of her as well. But it doesn't have to be her tribute album, one of her own songs will do just fine!