#98: Wait

Written by: John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Released: December 3, 1965
Appears on: Rubber Soul
Lead vocal: John & Paul


"Wait" was included on Rubber Soul just because the original line-up was just 13 songs. While 13 songs was alright a year ago for A Hard Day's Night, it wasn't for Rubber Soul. It was recorded and completed during the HELP! sessions, but, as you can see, it didn't land on that album. Instead it was held back. When it was decided that the track would be on Rubber Soul, they overdubbed extra guitar and percussion to the recording to 'update' the song. This is another point that proves just how fast the Beatles were evolving. If a song recorded less than five months prior had to be updated, just how fast were the Beatles evolving?
The song, which features a paranoid singer who hopes that his love will wait for his return, is definitely a light-weight counterpoint to the last song, "In My Life". However, taken by itself, the song is hardly noteworthy beyond the really cool vocal arrangement and amazing percussion by Ringo. (Listen to it on headphones and you'll hear just how fast Ringo is playing that tambourine.)
"Wait" has never appeared anywhere else and was included on the American Rubber Soul. I would definitely say it's an underrated, fun little song sandwiched between two serious tracks.