Song Meaning

These lyrics introduce a cast of characters defined by their perpetual state of delay and unfulfilled expectation. We meet "Mr Come Lately / With Mrs Came Late," who are predictably behind schedule, and later, "The Goose and the Raisin," who despite their outward revelry, "couldn't have fun." There's an immediate sense of life happening *around* these figures, rather than *to* them. The central tension here lies in the repeated refrain: "Can't wait for their lives to begin / Oh so exciting then." This isn't just a casual observation; it's a deeply ironic statement. These individuals are clearly in the thick of life, yet they seem to be perpetually on the cusp of something more, something *real*. The lyrics suggest a profound disconnect between living and truly experiencing, a constant deferral of joy or purpose. The craft here is subtle but sharp. Notice how specific images underscore this passivity: Mr. Come Lately "stared at his wrist" during a "plot twist," suggesting a preoccupation with time rather than engagement with the unfolding drama of life. Later, the radio "spoon fed them ditties to hum," painting a picture of passive consumption rather than active participation. These small details build a powerful portrait of lives lived on standby. What makes these lyrics so effective is how the narrator eventually turns the lens inward. After observing their friends, the speaker reveals, "I've waited and waited / For a youth of my own." The stark image of hair turning "white as a bone" delivers a gut punch, transforming the earlier observations into a shared, deeply personal lament about time lost. It's a quiet, devastating realization that the wait for life to begin can, in fact, be life itself.