WHY ARE YOU WAITING
(Words and Music by Rick Springfield)

What can I do I'm at the door
I've tried turning back there's no point in that now
What should I say, what should I do
Should I fix my hair oh why am I scared now, now

Facing the world is so hard
do you know what I mean
People are so often hard
and far too ready to say...hey...ohhh

Why Are You Waiting?
Why Are You Waiting?
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail)
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail, you won't fail)

Look at me stand outside the door
Like a frightened child with a nervous Smile see
What should I do, what should I say
Should I speak at all 
Am I much too small now

Facing the world is so hard
do you know what I mean
People are so often hard 
and far too ready to say...hey...ohhh

Why Are You Waiting?
Why Are You Waiting?
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail)
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail)
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail, you won't fail, you won't fail)

Why Are You Waiting?
Why Are You Waiting?
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail)
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail)
Why Are You Waiting?
What if I fail (you won't fail, you won't fail, you won't fail)

(total playing time: 4:00)

Song Facts: This can be found on Comic Book Heroes.

According to US

The pace of the music starting off the song reminds me of someone in a panic, with their mind racing, which seems to reflect the words and the mood of the song.   This song seems to be about Rick facing his chance of fame/success and being afraid to take the step.  Maybe the step of moving to America, or leaving Zoot and going solo.  For some reason it reminds me of a child standing on a diving board, but afraid to jump in and everyone is telling him to jump, but he's afraid, and of course it's so easy for everyone to yell at him to jump, because they aren't the ones jumping. - rlh

This was the song that really caught me first from cbh. A few of us have NOT stood in those shoes. Should I go forward or back? What can I do to put off the moment? (should i fix my hair? lol! oh, the foreshadowing of years to come!) and the music, especially the strings, really reflects the beginnings of fear, w/ one instrument, then building to a full panic w/ the rest of the orchestra. the background chorus is a group of people, not just one voice, a whole multitude pressing him on.

People are so often hard, far too ready to say, why are you waiting? you won't fail. the last part of the idea, why are you waiting, you won't fail, that seems encouraging. things that friends and moms say. seems like a good thing.
***but he starts the idea by saying that people are "hard", too ready to say that you won't fail. why?***
either they don't know what he's risking, or they are just saying it, they don't know that he won't fail, they don't care that he might fail, and maybe, just maybe, they are egging him into it, pushing him before he's ready, just to watch him fall. i think that rick the perfectionist must feel this quite often. it's easy for those of us on the sidelines to say "go for it" because we aren't the ones who are risking it all. to be a performer, especially one who writes and produces and puts so much of oneself into the performance, it is a huge risk.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the next song on the album talks about 'everyone using him up and leaving him to die', basically. it's a nasty business he's in, and it's not unheard of for young ones to be used up and thrown away. - sgeorge