John Mayer's 'Waiting for the World to Change' Worst Song Ever?

John Mayer’s “Waiting for the World to Change.” I cannot remember ever hearing a more frustrating and pathetic set of lyrics. Some excerpts (it’s not the whole song . . . hopefully this is cut up enough to satisty TPTB):

So, basically, all them grownups are screwing things up, but the young people, when they finally get a chance to do something, will change it. They just can’t yet. Because of all the old people.

John Mayer is 29 freakin’ years old! The only reason why someone at that age can’t make a difference is if he chooses not to. What does he think, when he turns 50 or 60, someone’ll knock on his door and say, “hey, dude, here’s the power. Do with it what you will!”?

Not only does he display an alarming degree of apathy and passiveness regarding changing his own situation, but how the heck does a guy who’s almost 30 justify complaining about how his generation lacks power? Seriously. Maybe 18 year olds have some shred of justification for feeling that way, but Mr. Mayer is pretty unbelievable.

It’s us vs. them, the Young vs. the Old. :rolleyes: Does he seriously believe that the problem (as he views it) is because of age? Because of the year people were born? That somehow all those children of the 50s and 60s, every one of them, grew up believing in ideas oposite to his? And that all of the young kids (30 year olds) in his generation are going to set things right, as soon as they get the power to vote, or . . . get older, or something?

Please. I’m sorry Mr. Mayer, but there are 20-somethings who vote republican as well, you know, and not every 50 year old is a conservative Bush-supporter.

(This is almost pit-worthy, but I can’t muster up the appropriate language to do it justice there, and since it’s about a song… here we are).

Gwen Stefani has ripped off “The Sound of Music” in one song.

In another, she opines that she can only be wealthy if she has all the money in the world.
George Harrison wrote and RELEASED “Set on You.”
There are emo songs by the dozen that are made to be hear dhwile (some are even ABOUT) rocking in the corner or standing in the rain moping about how much you’re hated.
Don’t get me wron, “Waiting on the World to Change” is a bad song. But it’s not the WORST song- it’s not even the worst JOHN MAYER song.

Give “NO Such Thing” another listen.

Oh, NOES, Johnny! Those of us with jobs and houses and cars- we’re TRAPPED by this- we didn’t CHOOSE, we were FORCED! You’re so much better than us!!!
It is… to rolleyes.

Mayer ain’t exactly Bob Dylan but it’s kind of a nice, catchy tune.

I am offended you would consider it “worst song ever” unless you are posting this from an alternate universe where “Fergilicious” doesn’t exist.

“See the tree how big it’s grown
but friend it hasn’t been too long
it wasn’t big…”

No, it’s true. You and Happy Scrappy Hero Pup are both right. I guess it’s the “worst song that plays on radio stations I listen to with regularity.”

But then again, all those other songs are just stupid little songs. This one is making a statement! A strong powerful statement! Rise up people! Let’s have a revolution where we all do nothing but sit on our asses because we can’t change things anyway! Power to the people!

This is a “political” song with a horrible (and horribly wrong) message.

He’s like the anti-Dylan, in fact, which is part of why I hate that song so very much. It is catchy, and has a deceptively counter-culture rah-rah fight the man kind of feel to it, until you listen to the lyrics. Which are, as the OP says, an anthem to apathy.

Now Neil Young, there’s a man who knows how to rouse the rabble!

The worst? Hell, no. Try these on for size.

I guess I don’t really listen to the lyrics all that much with any song (unless it’s rap where’s it’s mostly lyrics). I assume most of them are just made up because they rhyme or fit with the chorus.

When I hear that song, I just want to shoot John Mayer with a super soaker filled with fermented yak piss. That’s how much I hate it. Everything from the annoyingly jocular opening riff, to Mayer’s trademark breathy voice intoning the lame rhymes and pseudo-profound lyrics - it’s a really, really shitty song. The only circumstance I’m ever listening to a radio station that would be playing it is when my usual station has the sports show on. And it seems like whenever that happens, and I have to change the station, Waitin’ On The World To Change happens to be playing.

I haven’t really heard the song in question but that’s only because I actively try to avoid John Mayer. Listening to him is like getting hit with a tidal wave of smarm.

"You mean “Got My Mind Set on You”? He didn’t write that–it was an early-'60s vintage oldie written by one Rudy Clark.

I get high when i see you walk by, my oh my.
When you sigh, my, my insides just fly, butterfly

Is it right that you and I should fight, every night?
Just the sight of you makes nighttime bright, very bright.
A Beatle song that John claims was recorded before he was through writing it. :dubious:

Äh, questionable lyrics aside, the guy has a smooth voice and rocking & catchy melodies!