“Waiting on the World to Change” centers John and his generation’s inaction in regard to current world conditions as the youth feel powerless in this situation. They feel as though they don’t have the means to fight because they are young and to some degree ignorant and scared.

He also laments the corruption among leaders,
John confirmed this feeling of discontent between the leaders and during an interview with The Advocate, explains:

“It’s saying, ‘Well, I’ll just watch American Idol because I know that if I were engaged in changing anything for the better, or the better as I see it, it would go unnoticed or be completely ineffective.’ A lot of people have that feeling.”

The song is the first single released from John Mayer’s 2006 studio album, Continuum. It won the Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Grammy Awards.