Wait

Pain of Salvation's song "Wait" delves into the emotional turmoil of unfulfilled promises and the agony of waiting for change that may never come. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is caught in a cycle of hope and disappointment, waiting for their partner to change and become the person they need them to be. The repetition of being left in the rain symbolizes the recurring pain and neglect experienced by the person who waits. The rain can be seen as a metaphor for sadness and the passage of time, emphasizing the emotional weight of the situation.

The chorus, with its repetitive plea to "wait another day, wait another night," highlights the endless nature of this waiting. It underscores the frustration and helplessness felt by the person who is constantly asked to be patient, while life continues to pass them by. The lyrics suggest a deep internal conflict within the person who is supposed to change; they acknowledge their partner's importance, yet they struggle to figure out how to make the necessary changes. This internal struggle is poignantly captured in the lines, "I will always try to change for you, but I can seem to figure out how to."

The song also touches on the theme of time and its relentless march forward. The repeated lines about waiting for days, weeks, months, and years serve as a stark reminder of how much time is being lost in this state of limbo. The final lines, "My life will pass you by," drive home the tragic reality that while one person waits, their life is slipping away. Pain of Salvation uses this song to explore the painful dynamics of relationships where one partner's inability to change leads to a cycle of hope, disappointment, and wasted time.