Waiting on a War

{{Infobox song

| name = Waiting on a War

| cover =

| caption =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Foo Fighters

| album = Medicine at Midnight

| released = {{Start date|2021|01|14}}

| recorded = 2019

| studio = Unnamed house in Encino, Los Angeles

| genre = Rock{{cite news |last=Trapp |first=Philip |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://loudwire.com/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war/ |title=Listen to Foo Fighters' 'Waiting on a War,' a Song Written for Dave Grohl's Daughter |publisher=Loudwire |access-date=January 14, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2112998/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war/music/ |title=Foo Fighters – "Waiting On A War" |publisher=Stereogum |access-date=January 14, 2021}}

| length = 4:14

| label = RCA

| writer = * Dave Grohl

| producer = * Foo Fighters

Greg Kurstin

| prev_title = No Son of Mine

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title = Making a Fire

| next_year = 2021

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|CJd82T1_o1A|"Waiting on a War"}}}}

}}

"Waiting on a War" is a song by American rock band Foo Fighters. It was released as the third single off of their tenth album Medicine at Midnight.

Background

The song was first released on January 14, 2021, as the third single from their tenth studio album, Medicine at Midnight, after "Shame Shame" and "No Son of Mine".{{cite news |last=Hussey |first=Allison |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-foo-fighters-new-song-waiting-on-a-war/ |title=Listen to Foo Fighters' New Song "Waiting on a War" |publisher=Pitchfork |access-date=January 14, 2021}} The date was chosen to celebrate frontman Dave Grohl's 52nd birthday. The band debuted the song live on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the same date.{{cite news |last=Deriso |first=Nick |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war/ |title=Foo Fighters' New Single 'Waiting on a War' Ponders a Dark Future |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=January 14, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Kohn |first=Daniel |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://www.spin.com/2021/01/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war/ |title=Foo Fighters Release 'Waiting on a War' |publisher=Spin |access-date=January 14, 2021}}{{cite news |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=January 15, 2021 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/foo-fighters-waiting-war-kimmel-1115034/ |title=Foo Fighters Debut 'Waiting on a War' on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 16, 2021}}

Themes and composition

Lyrically, the song was described as the Foo Fighters' modern approach to a "Give Peace a Chance" type song, with Grohl pondering the possibility of a dark future.{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9511169/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war |title=Peace is the Only Answer on Foo Fighters Emotional 'Waiting on a War' |publisher=Billboard |access-date=January 14, 2021}} The lyrical content was inspired by bleak conversation Grohl had had with his own daughter Harper Grohl, in 2019,{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Sam |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war-new-song-2856147 |title=Listen to Foo Fighters' new single 'Waiting On A War' |publisher=NME |access-date=January 14, 2021}} which reminded him of his own worries about the world: {{quote|"Last fall, as I was driving my daughter to school, she turned to me and asked 'Daddy, is there going to be a war?'. My heart sank as I realized that she was now living under the same dark cloud that I had felt 40 years ago. I wrote "Waiting on a War" that day. Everyday waiting for the sky to fall. Is there more to this than that? Is there more to this than just waiting on a war? Because I need more. We all do.}} Grohl later explained that he himself had feared the effect of the Cold War while growing up in Washington DC. Upon the completion of the song, Grohl felt it was one of the best songs the band had ever written.{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Emily |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/listen-to-foo-fighters-new-single-waiting-on-a-war/ |title=Foo Fighters celebrate Dave Grohl's birthday with powerful new song, Waiting On A War |publisher=Kerrang! |access-date=January 14, 2021}}

The song was described as an "acoustic-driven tune" and "aching ballad" that "explodes with rock fury in the home stretch".{{cite news |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=January 14, 2021 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/foo-fighters-new-song-waiting-on-a-war-1114131/ |title=Foo Fighters Drop New 'Medicine at Midnight' Song 'Waiting on a War' |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 14, 2021}} Most of the song is composed primarily of Grohl singing over an acoustic guitar, bass, and drums, and strings, before building in intensity in its second half, and moving into an energetic, full-band rock sound with electric guitars for the last minute. The song was noted to have a more traditional Foo Fighters sound than prior singles from the album.

Music video

A music video directed by Paola Kudacki was released for the song on January 19, 2021. It features the band performing mixed with cinematic shots of young people whose carefree outlook on life is threatened by ominous-looking adults who have brown paper bags over their heads.{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Sam |date=January 19, 2021 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/foo-fighters-waiting-on-a-war-video-2860036 |title=Watch Foo Fighters' stirring new video for 'Waiting on a War |work=NME |access-date=April 25, 2021}}

Reception

Rolling Stone singled the song out as the standout track on Medicine at Midnight.{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=January 26, 2021 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-foo-fighters-midnight-1119349/ |title=The Foo Fighters' Throw a Party on 'Medicine at Midnight' |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=April 25, 2021 |url-access=subscription}}

Personnel

Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, production
Taylor Hawkins – drums, production
Rami Jaffee – keyboards, production
Nate Mendel – bass guitar, production
Chris Shiflett – guitar, production
Pat Smear – guitar, production

Additional Personnel

Omar Hakim - percussion
Greg Kurstin – production

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Waiting on a War" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA){{cite magazine \|date=February 15, 2021 \|title=ARIA Digital Tracks \|magazine=ARIA Report \|agency=ARIA \|page=9}} \| 33
{{single chart\|Wallonia Tip\|46\|artist=Foo Fighters\|song=Waiting on a War\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 29, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|95\|artist=Foo Fighters\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 17, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardcanadarock\|1\|artist=Foo Fighters\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 11, 2021}}
scope="row"\| Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI){{cite web\|url=https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/21/foo-fighters/waiting-on-a-war/166393\|title=CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Foo Fighters - Rescued\|publisher=IFPI Czech Republic\|accessdate=June 6, 2023\|language=Czech}} \| 3
scope="row" \| Iceland (RÚV){{cite web\|url=http://www.ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2\|publisher=RÚV\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308104702/http://ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=March 8, 2021\|title=Vinsældalisti Rásar 2 - RÚV\|access-date=July 24, 2023}} \| 11
scope="row" \| Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2021&month=02&day=15\|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas\|language=Japanese\|publisher=Billboard Japan\|accessdate=April 30, 2021}} \|style="text-align:center"\| 3
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-02-12\|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=February 15, 2021\|access-date=February 13, 2021}} \| 10
scope="row"\| Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web\|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/airplay/14-2021\|title=Schweizer Airplay Charts 14/2021 - hitparade.ch \|publisher=hitparade.ch \|access-date=February 22, 2022}} \| 98
{{single chart\|UK\|53\|date=20210212\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=February 13, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|18\|artist=Foo Fighters\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 17, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrockairplay\|1\|artist=Foo Fighters\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Waiting on a War"

! scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA){{cite magazine |date=February 15, 2021 |title=ARIA Digital Tracks |magazine=ARIA Report |agency=ARIA |page=9}}

| 33

{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|46|artist=Foo Fighters|song=Waiting on a War|rowheader=true|access-date=January 29, 2021}}

{{single chart|Canada|95|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=February 17, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardcanadarock|1|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=February 11, 2021}}

scope="row"| Czech Republic Modern Rock (IFPI){{cite web|url=https://ifpicr.cz/hitparada/21/foo-fighters/waiting-on-a-war/166393|title=CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock - Foo Fighters - Rescued|publisher=IFPI Czech Republic|accessdate=June 6, 2023|language=Czech}}

| 3

scope="row" | Iceland (RÚV){{cite web|url=http://www.ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2|publisher=RÚV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308104702/http://ruv.is/thaettir/vinsaeldalisti-rasar-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2021|title=Vinsældalisti Rásar 2 - RÚV|access-date=July 24, 2023}}

| 11

scope="row" | Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=d_and_a_overseas&year=2021&month=02&day=15|title=Billboard Japan Hot Overseas|language=Japanese|publisher=Billboard Japan|accessdate=April 30, 2021}}

|style="text-align:center"| 3

scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-02-12|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=February 15, 2021|access-date=February 13, 2021}}

| 10

scope="row"| Switzerland Airplay (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/airplay/14-2021|title=Schweizer Airplay Charts 14/2021 - hitparade.ch |publisher=hitparade.ch |access-date=February 22, 2022}}

| 98

{{single chart|UK|53|date=20210212|rowheader=true|accessdate=February 13, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|18|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=February 17, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardrockairplay|1|artist=Foo Fighters|rowheader=true|access-date=March 16, 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Year-end chart performance for "Waiting on a War" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-rock-songs/\|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 2, 2021}} \| 79
scope="row"\| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/rock-airplay-songs/\|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 2, 2021}} \| 9

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for "Waiting on a War"

! scope="col"| Chart (2021)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-rock-songs/|title=Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 79

scope="row"| US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/rock-airplay-songs/|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 9