View of junk, Hong Kong Harbour. Music, lyrics and musical arrangement by Kennie Ting. Photography and artwork design by Kennie Ting.

WAITING is the only track on the 2019 version of the album that I did not master. It sounds exactly as it did 10 years ago and I’m completely pleased with it.

The song is a straight-up, throw-back, soft-rock power-ballad about love and longing, and from the demo artwork, the reader can probably guess that it was inspired by Cantopop and the timeless waters of Hong Kong Harbour.

The song itself is actually an update of a much earlier song I wrote, when I was in college in 1999 (it was then called “Migratory”). Then, I was part of a capella group, and this was a song I wrote and which I performed, with a fellow singer, as a duet, at a concert our group did at a beautiful barn in the outskirts of Seattle, as part of our West Coast Tour.

So yes, this is the oldest song, technically, on the album, though of course I updated the lyrics and the music and added arrangements to the a capella original.

There’s not much to explain about the song, except that it’s a hopeful one.

Our protagonist – a wanderer at heart – rejects settling down and this decision costs him the relationship. He decides he has made a mistake and reaches out to declare his love for the Beloved, and to ask for a second chance.

And so THE FACTS OF LIFE ends on a hopeful note. Sorta-kinda.

This is the final track from the album. Next month, the full album “drops”, with a bonus track.

I’m done.  =)

LYRICS:

When you left that day, I knew I’d ask you back. / Everything that happened was my fault. / Like a migratory bird, searching for the warmth / I fly around, and never find a home. 

Didn’t think I’d feel such emptiness inside. / I thought I would be strong, but I was wrong. / I was so sure before that I’d never fall again / But now my life will never be the same. 

CHORUS: Let me be the one to tell you all the routes to take. / Let me be the place your tired wings will lead you to. / Let me be the stone that paves the path under your feet / Only say you’ll be mine always / And I’ll be waiting… 

And I’ll be waiting.

Spent my weekend crying on the bed for you. /  Did you ever think I’d be this weak? / I went from hating you, to knowing you’re the one / I left ten messages on your answer phone.

Pity me and give this boy a second chance. / We all make mistakes, for heaven’s sakes. / I know I’ll never be your perfect kind of guy / But I promise you, from now on, I will try! 

CHORUS

And I’ll be waiting…

And I’ll be waiting!

Waiting!   

Waiting

© 2010 / 2019 Kennie Ting. All Rights Reserved.