Ever since I heard this band on our alternative radio station in Nashville…Lightning 100 I’ve liked them. The Jayhawk’s writing and voices won me over with songs like Blue and I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.
This song opens up their Hollywood Town Hall album. The album peaked at #192 in the Billboard Album Charts and #11 in the Top Heatseekers Charts.
Benmont Tench, Charley Drayton, and Nicky Hopkins plays on the album with the Jayhawks.
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul music scene in the mid 80s. Minneapolis had a strong scene for bands in the 80s. The Replacements, Husker Du, Soul Asylum, and of course the big one…Prince.
The song, like most of The Jawhawks early cuts, is credited to the band’s guitarist Gary Louris and frontman Mark Olson.
Gary Louris: I didn’t know there was a song called “Waiting for the Sun,” I was not a Doors fan. I like them now, but I didn’t know there was a song called that. Maybe in my subconscious I did.
From Songfacts
According to Mark Derning of Allmusic.com, the song details, “a man who has lost his love under unpleasant circumstances and has hit the road, looking for something better from life and hoping a fair deal from the fates.”
Waiting For The Sun
I was waiting for the sun
Then I walked on home alone
What I didn’t know
Was he was waiting for you to fall
So I never made amends
For the sake of no one else
For the simple reason
That he was waiting for you to fall
It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walkin’ on down the road
Looking for a friend to handout
Somethin’ might ease my soul
So I kept my spirits high
Entertaining passers-by
Wrapped in my confusion
While he was waiting for you to fall
It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walkin’ on down the road
Looking for a friend to handout
Somethin’ might ease my soul
It was not lost on me
It was not lost on me
Walkin’ on down the road
Walkin’ on down the road
Walkin’ on down the road
Walkin’ on down the road
…
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Well this group did get some radio play in my area, but not this song, which I really like. It was their next album when I started hearing them. I need to check out their earlier songs. They have great harmonies, and their melodies never go where I think they are heading.
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I really like them a lot. I heard “I’m Going To Make You Love Me” in the late 90s early 2000’s I believe and have been hooked ever since. “Blue” is probably my favorite by them.
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My favorites are Blue and A Break in the Clouds from their Smile album. But this one you posted is a new contender for my fave.
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Glad you like it…I do want to post more about them. They are such a great find.
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I’m not familiar with them. Will be sure to give them a listen….
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I like their sound a lot, have liked everything you’ve posted by them so far… a sound I like but that never seems to catch on in any big way.
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It can be in between power pop and country…they are good…in the seventies they probably would have made it.
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Absolutely love the Jayhawks! I was at my local library back in the day and picked up Tomorrow The Green Grass knowing nothing about them and was hooked! My favorite is either Blue or I’d Run Away. But this is a great one as well
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Yes I love them… everything they do is at least likable. I love the harmonies…especially from Blue.
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You think that pic was taken in my town Pal. I have read quite a bit about these guys over the years.
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That is cool dude… They are a cool band that has been around forever but just never hit
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Funny how some bands had no problems getting press but couldn’t sell. Tbone’s younger brother loves Wilco and I think they fall into the same category. I could be wrong though
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That is a great comparison….Wilco and this band…very close in popularity and music.
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Well, look at what the old metalhead could think up of. lol
I even amazed myself that I figured that out lol
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I’m with you dude…I’m about as dense as can be most of the time…getting old sucks.
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hahaha…agreed!
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I got one of their later records out of a bargain bin and didn’t really like it, but this is their most celebrated one I think.
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Another really good band Max. Good stuff.
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I remember this song. You pulled a good one out of obscurity here, Max.
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Thanks Lisa!
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You’re most welcome, Max.
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Great tune. I really dig their sound!
I also remembered and just reconfirmed I previously covered a song from their most recent album XOXO released in July 2020.
This makes me want to listen to more of their music!
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They are a great band…power pop mixed with alt country
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I like The Jayhawks, I bought their Grand Funk cover Bad Time in 1994-ish, great version that one in the tradition of jangly 60’s harmony guitar pop.
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The band’s name sounds familiar to me, but I couldn’t name any of their songs. This is a good one though. And ‘Benmont Tench’ is a terrific name.
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You may have seen them in the charts a couple years ago…they released an album in 2018…Benmont Tench oh yea…and a great keyboard player to boot.
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