Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Encyclopedia
"Waitin' on a Sunny Day" is a song by Bruce Springsteen
that was first released in a recording with the E Street Band
on his 2002 album The Rising
. Although the song was not released as a single in the United States, it was released as a single in Europe, and was a hit in Sweden. It has subsequently become an audience favorite of Springsteen and the E Street Band's concert performances.
, "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" was written earlier. Springsteen wrote and recorded the song in 1998 or 1999, but that recording has not been released. On June 17, 1999, during the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour
, Springsteen and the band played the song for a soundcheck
, but they did not play it during any of the actual shows on the tour. The song was finally recorded again in Atlanta during the Rising sessions and was released on that album.
The song combines a simple, bouncy melody and arrangement powered by drums, acoustic guitars, and Soozie Tyrell
's violin with a lyric that describes optimism in a couple's relationship:
The words of the chorus are deliberately simple, to the consternation of some critics:
Instrumental breaks during the middle and end of the song feature Clarence Clemons
's saxophone set against a glockenspiel and a backing vocal chorus singing "oohs" and "aahs".
Although "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" was written prior to the September 11 attacks, the song's theme of wanting to be happy again takes on additional meanings within the context of the album's explicitly themed September 11 songs. In his book The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen, author Jeffrey Symynkywicz views the song as a reflection of the simpler world prior to September 11.
"Waitin' on a Sunny Day" is one a few songs on The Rising that recall the E Street Band's R&B roots. Spingsteen has described it as "a good example of pop songwriting" and also as the type of song he tends to "want to throw out...directly into the trash can" until former producer Jon Landau
talks him out of it. Springsteen has also stated that he wrote the song in the style of Smokey Robinson
.
It also charted in Australia. There, it was released as part of a four-track single:
The three live tracks were culled from 2000 Reunion Tour shows featured on the Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live in New York City
DVD; the latter two had not appeared on the parallel Live in New York City CD release.
This four-track configuration was also released as an EP titled Waitin' on a Sunny Day in 2004.
, often played immediately after the somber "Empty Sky" and "You're Missing" to lift the crowd's spirits. From the beginning, his performances of it featured crowd interaction, with the song's simple chorus making it easy for the audience to assimilate and sing along en masse. A Rising Tour performance documented on the 2003 Live in Barcelona
concert DVD features a rearranged, drum-less opening section, a chorus given to sideman Steve Van Zandt, and Springsteen walking along the front row of the pit and then stopping the band to allow the crowd to sing by itself.
"Waitin' on a Sunny Day" received a segment during Bruce Springsteen's appearance on the VH1 Storytellers
television program in 2005 (later released on his VH1 Storytellers
DVD), then appeared in a few encores during the subsequent 2005 solo Devils & Dust Tour
. It was then played intermittently during Springsteen and the band's 2007–2008 Magic Tour
.
It then resumed a full role during the 2009 Working on a Dream Tour
, appearing in virtually all of the shows. Springsteen commonly picked out one or more youngsters from the front of the pit area and had them sing along on the song. Despite still being a "new" song compared to much of Springsteen's concert repertoire, it nonetheless got a strong audience response. One such performance was included on video on the London Calling: Live in Hyde Park
concert DVD in 2010. Featuring drums, a Clemons bari sax part and a Nils Lofgren
slide guitar part all from the start, Springsteen played the song to the hilt, running along the front of the Hard Rock Calling
audience (a general festival crowd that was not all Springsteen fans), encouraging and getting singalongs at every chorus, and getting a boy sitting on his parent's shoulders to sing.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
that was first released in a recording with the E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
on his 2002 album The Rising
The Rising (album)
The Rising is the 12th studio album by American recording artist Bruce Springsteen, released in 2002 on Columbia Records. In addition to being Springsteen's first studio album in seven years, it was also his first with the E Street Band in 18 years...
. Although the song was not released as a single in the United States, it was released as a single in Europe, and was a hit in Sweden. It has subsequently become an audience favorite of Springsteen and the E Street Band's concert performances.
History and themes
While many songs on The Rising were written in response to the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" was written earlier. Springsteen wrote and recorded the song in 1998 or 1999, but that recording has not been released. On June 17, 1999, during the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour
The Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour was a lengthy, top-grossing concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place over 1999 and 2000....
, Springsteen and the band played the song for a soundcheck
Soundcheck
A soundcheck is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House" and stage monitor sound...
, but they did not play it during any of the actual shows on the tour. The song was finally recorded again in Atlanta during the Rising sessions and was released on that album.
The song combines a simple, bouncy melody and arrangement powered by drums, acoustic guitars, and Soozie Tyrell
Soozie Tyrell
Soozie Tyrell, , formerly known as Soozie Kirschner, is an American violinist and vocalist, most known for her work with Bruce Springsteen in the E Street Band.-Biography:...
's violin with a lyric that describes optimism in a couple's relationship:
- It's rainin', but there ain't a cloud in the sky
- Musta been a tear from your eye
- Everything'll be okay ...
The words of the chorus are deliberately simple, to the consternation of some critics:
- I'm waitin', waitin' on a sunny day,
- Gonna chase the clouds away
- Waitin' on a sunny day.
Instrumental breaks during the middle and end of the song feature Clarence Clemons
Clarence Clemons
Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. , also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the tenor saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985, had a hit single with "You're a...
's saxophone set against a glockenspiel and a backing vocal chorus singing "oohs" and "aahs".
Although "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" was written prior to the September 11 attacks, the song's theme of wanting to be happy again takes on additional meanings within the context of the album's explicitly themed September 11 songs. In his book The Gospel According to Bruce Springsteen, author Jeffrey Symynkywicz views the song as a reflection of the simpler world prior to September 11.
"Waitin' on a Sunny Day" is one a few songs on The Rising that recall the E Street Band's R&B roots. Spingsteen has described it as "a good example of pop songwriting" and also as the type of song he tends to "want to throw out...directly into the trash can" until former producer Jon Landau
Jon Landau
Jon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
talks him out of it. Springsteen has also stated that he wrote the song in the style of Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
.
Release
Although the song was not released as a single in the United States, it was released as a single in Europe, and reached number 15 in Sweden. It also charted in Germany and the Netherlands.It also charted in Australia. There, it was released as part of a four-track single:
- "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" [studio version]
- "Born to RunBorn to Run (song)"Born to Run" is a song by American singer songwriter Bruce Springsteen, and the title song of his album Born to Run.- Songwriting :Written at in Long Branch, New Jersey in early 1974, the song was Bruce Springsteen's last-ditch effort to make it big. The prior year, Springsteen had released two...
" [live] - "Darkness on the Edge of Town" [live]
- "Thunder RoadThunder Road (song)"Thunder Road" is a song written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, and the opening track on his 1975 breakthrough album Born to Run. It is ranked as one of Springsteen's greatest songs, and often appears on lists of the top rock songs of all time.Rolling Stone magazine placed it as #86 on its...
" [live]
The three live tracks were culled from 2000 Reunion Tour shows featured on the Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Live in New York City
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band: Live In New York City is the name of a concert film done by HBO, featuring the first ever major televised Bruce Springsteen concert...
DVD; the latter two had not appeared on the parallel Live in New York City CD release.
This four-track configuration was also released as an EP titled Waitin' on a Sunny Day in 2004.
Chart performance
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 51 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
41 |
| German Singles Chart | 85 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 15 |
Live performances
The song has become a standout in concert performances by Springsteen and the E Street Band. It was a centerpiece of The Rising TourThe Rising Tour
The Rising Tour was a lengthy, worldwide, top-grossing concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place in arenas and stadiums over 2002 and 2003...
, often played immediately after the somber "Empty Sky" and "You're Missing" to lift the crowd's spirits. From the beginning, his performances of it featured crowd interaction, with the song's simple chorus making it easy for the audience to assimilate and sing along en masse. A Rising Tour performance documented on the 2003 Live in Barcelona
Live in Barcelona
Live In Barcelona is a full concert video DVD of a performance by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band of their Rising Tour performance of October 16, 2002 at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain....
concert DVD features a rearranged, drum-less opening section, a chorus given to sideman Steve Van Zandt, and Springsteen walking along the front row of the pit and then stopping the band to allow the crowd to sing by itself.
"Waitin' on a Sunny Day" received a segment during Bruce Springsteen's appearance on the VH1 Storytellers
VH1 Storytellers
Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
television program in 2005 (later released on his VH1 Storytellers
VH1 Storytellers (Bruce Springsteen)
VH1 Storytellers is a concert and discussion DVD by Bruce Springsteen, expanded from the airing of an episode of the VH1 television series VH1 Storytellers on April 23, 2005...
DVD), then appeared in a few encores during the subsequent 2005 solo Devils & Dust Tour
Devils & Dust Tour
The Devils & Dust Tour was a 2005 concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen performing alone on stage on a variety of instruments. It followed the release of his 2005 album Devils & Dust.-Approach:...
. It was then played intermittently during Springsteen and the band's 2007–2008 Magic Tour
Magic Tour (Bruce Springsteen)
The Magic Tour was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2007–2008 concert tour of North America and Western Europe.The tour began October 2, 2007, in Hartford, Connecticut, and concluded August 30, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
.
It then resumed a full role during the 2009 Working on a Dream Tour
Working on a Dream Tour
The Working on a Dream Tour was a concert tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which began in April 2009 and ended in November 2009...
, appearing in virtually all of the shows. Springsteen commonly picked out one or more youngsters from the front of the pit area and had them sing along on the song. Despite still being a "new" song compared to much of Springsteen's concert repertoire, it nonetheless got a strong audience response. One such performance was included on video on the London Calling: Live in Hyde Park
London Calling: Live in Hyde Park
London Calling: Live in Hyde Park is a full concert video of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band in their Working on a Dream Tour performance of June 28, 2009, at the Hard Rock Calling music festival in Hyde Park, London. It was released a year later, on Blu-ray and DVD.The work takes it name...
concert DVD in 2010. Featuring drums, a Clemons bari sax part and a Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
slide guitar part all from the start, Springsteen played the song to the hilt, running along the front of the Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling is an annual music festival held in Hyde Park, London, which first took place on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2, 2006. The music played is primarily rock music, and various performers, including Bon Jovi, The Who, Aerosmith, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have played at the...
audience (a general festival crowd that was not all Springsteen fans), encouraging and getting singalongs at every chorus, and getting a boy sitting on his parent's shoulders to sing.