Semi-finalist - International Songwriting Competition (Lyrics Category)
'Waiting Line' was written to capture the story of those who, in the earliest days of the pandemic, faced the unknown as they waited for lifesaving treatment for another illness starting with ‘C’ in the hallways of hospitals. While much of the world grappled with newfound isolation, and in some cases an excess of time to waste, many individuals continued to sit in line, masked up, bearing a unique burden of fear and hope, in an unprecedented time.
This song is about the human health journey, both personal and collective, reflecting on the unexpected and daunting moments we endure and the precious, human conversations we share along the way, when we are at a most vulnerable.
In life, we’re all in the ‘Waiting Line’, never knowing quite where we stand.
Waiting Line
(Writer: Jessie Che - Music & Lyrics)
Three chairs, at a social distance
Time to reflect, on my existence
Small talk fills the air
Of what we want after here
Share the weeks we have to go
Where we’re from ‘n who we know
Waiting line…. Waiting line
Conversations in the
Waiting line…. Waiting line
We’re all just counting time…
The man beside me in his mind, is fishing
The other side wants to know her grandson
Small talk fills the air
For what we want after here
One thing remains the same
We wait in hallways for our name
Waiting line…. Waiting line
Conversations in the
Waiting line………. waiting line…
We’re all just counting time…
The sea in me, churns
When they say, it’s my turn
Blue angels glide my way
Hold my hand, and dig for veins
But in my arm, the rivers dry
So I bargain with the sky
Waiting line…. Waiting line
I’ll only miss what I hear….. in the
Waiting line………. waiting line…
Everybody’s counting time…
The sky as seen from the courtyard of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in April 2020