RJMarmol.com – Since 2008.

Waiting In Vain

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Yeah, I know — another song. I’ve been sick for a long time and I need a break from all the seriousness around me, so please, indulge me on this.

Another one of my favorites — “Waiting In Vain”. This is a sad song that was originally done by Bob Marley. The one I’m putting up for your listening pleasure is an Annie Lennox cover, wonderfully and soulfully done. This has been covered locally by M.Y.M.P (Make Your Momma Proud) as well but I prefer and cry over Annie Lennox’s version. Annie Lennox’s version was used as the soundtrack for the 2001 movie “Serendipity” starring Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack. As the title suggests, this is a love story about “a talent for making fortunate discoveries while searching for other things” or making fortunate discoveries by accident” or “the randomness of fate”. It is the act of finding something valuable or delightful when you are not looking for it.  A stroke of luck. Destiny.

That is my favorite love story of all time. I swear.  First time I heard Annie Lennox’s version (which came out in her album “Medusa”),  I knew I needed to have that song.

This song is obviously about waiting in vain, waiting to be loved, never given that love, and waiting some more, and knocking some more. Some love, huh? :)

Believe me when I say that some people would rather wait in vain than not wait at all.

The movie, on the contrary has a more audience-pleasing outcome as opposed to the premise of this song.

Click here to listen to Waiting In Vain by Annie Lennox

“Waiting In Vain” — by Annie Lennox

From the very first time I rest my eyes on you, boy
My heart said follow through.
But I know now that I’m way down on your line
But the waiting feeling’s fine

So don’t treat me like a puppet on a string
‘Cause I know how to do my thing
Don’t talk to me as if you think I’m dumb
I wanna know when you’re gonna come

See-
*I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love
I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love
I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love
‘Cause summer is here
And I’m still waiting there
Winter is here
I’m still waiting there

Like I said-
It’s been three years since I’m knocking on your door
And I still can knock some more
Ooh, boy, ooh, boy, is it crazy? Look, I wanna know now
For I to knock some more

You see-
In life I know
That there is lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn
Tears in my eyes burn
While I’m waitin’
While I’m waitin’ for my day
You see-
(*Repeat)

Like I said-
I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna wait in vain
I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna wait in vain

It’s been three years since I’m knocking on your door
And I still can knock some more
Ooh, boy, ooh, boy, is it crazy? Look, I wanna know now
Like I said-
Tears in my eyes burn
Tears in my eyes burn
While I’m waiting
While I’m waiting for my day

You see-
Ooh, boy, ooh, boy, is it crazy? Look, I wanna know now
For I to knock some more
In life I know there is lots of grief
But your love is my relief

4 responses to “Waiting In Vain”

  1. Professional Web Design Company USA Avatar
    Professional Web Design Company USA

    The movie was the one that I enjoyed but the song went out of my mind before I came to this post. BTW, it’s true that even waiting in vain has its own sweetness rather than not waiting at all. Of course, for some people, that wait seems an endless one and never gives them that what they desire for so strongly.

    Like

  2. daydreamerping Avatar
    daydreamerping

    i love the song… =)

    Like

  3. Ding Gagelonia Avatar
    Ding Gagelonia

    the song was in Serendipity also, right?

    Like

  4. RJ Marmol Avatar
    RJ Marmol

    @ding, wow, i have the honor of getting my first comment from no less than ding gagelonia. :) and for a personal post at that. yes, ding, “waiting in vain” is part of the movie’s soundtrack. :)

    Like

● About Me
Cecilia Regina Aquino Blanquera Marmol aka RJ Marmol profile picture

I’m RJ Marmol — writer, musician, and independent creator based in Manila.

I write songs, essays, and books about the messy overlap between money, overwhelm, creativity, identity, and rebuilding. Much of my work circles around what happens when life stops feeling manageable — and how we try to think clearly, make decisions, and keep moving anyway.

I’m also the author of Rebuilding Under Debt: Thinking Clearly When Everything Is a Blur, a nonfiction book published under Steady Hand Press. The paperback edition is listed under my full publishing name, Cecilia Regina Aquino Blanquera.

On the music side, I release work as HeyRJ. On the writing side, this site is where I gather my books, essays, notes, and whatever I’m building next.

Music

HeyRJ is my sonic soul project. I create raw, minimalist-style and deeply personal music interpretations that feel like a late-night conversation with your truest self.

By blending lo-fi acoustic textures with poetic honesty, my work explores love, loss, grief, healing, and the quiet in-betweens of life. Each song is a letter — a journal entry — a gentle companion for when the world feels too loud or too quiet.

While my catalogue began with intimate cover renditions, my work is increasingly being shaped by original writing, drawing from years of poems, lived questions, and emotional survival.

“Stuck Home Syndrome” released on March 20, 2026 is my first original 20-track album written during a period when time felt compressed and days began to blur into each other. The songs came from sitting with thoughts that had nowhere else to go — unfiltered, repetitive, and sometimes uncomfortable. It’s a concept album that isn’t built around singles or polish. It’s closer to a continuous inner monologue, recorded with minimal production and very little ornamentation and meant to be listened to as one cohesive body of work. The goal wasn’t to resolve anything, only to document how it felt while it was happening.

On May 29, 2026 I released new original singles – “Rapturous”, “Uh Huh”, “Look At You”, “All That” and “Blew Print”. I continue to release both original and cover songs and intend to so for as long as I can so check back every once in a while — you might. just find something you’ll like.

For business inquiries relating to music, email me at: heyrjmusic[at]gmail[dot]com or my personal email at: rjmarmol[at]gmail[dot]com.

Books

Rebuilding Under Debt: Thinking Clearly When Everything Is a Blur

A nonfiction book about what debt does to the mind — and how to begin functioning again when financial stress has made everything feel blurred, urgent, and overwhelming.

Rather than treating debt only as a financial math problem, the book explores the emotional and cognitive realities of financial distress: shame, decision fatigue, avoidance, panic, relationship strain, and the difficulty of making sound decisions while mentally depleted.

Published under Steady Hand Press. It’s available worldwide in ebook and paperback formats on Amazon. Bookstores and libraries can also be order it wholesale via Ingram.

Contact

For book-related inquiries, media requests, bookstore questions, or discussion-group invitations, you can reach me through the contact page on this site or send me an email to rjmarmol[at]gmail[dot]com or hello[at]steadyhandpress.com

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