Wait Until Tomorrow


"Wait Until Tomorrow" is a song by the Jimi Hendrix Experience from their 1967 second album . Written by Jimi Hendrix, the song details the scenario of a male protagonist addressing his female love with whom he plans to leave home, only to be shot dead by her father. Despite not being released as a single, "Wait Until Tomorrow" has been recognised as one of the strongest songs on the album.

Background and style

"Wait Until Tomorrow" was one of the first "situation song" written by Hendrix and is said to be influenced by soul artists such as the Isley Brothers and stylistically similar to guitarist Steve Cropper. A "head-on boy–girl song", "Wait Until Tomorrow" was one of the final songs recorded for the album on October 26, 1967, before the album was completed with the recording of title track "Bold as Love" three days later. In an AllMusic review, Matthew Greenwald described the progression and style of the song:

Reception

Reviews of Axis: Bold as Love have generally mentioned "Wait Until Tomorrow" in a positive light. Matthew Greenwald of allmusic identifies the "playful song" as "one of the low-key highlights" of the album, while Parke Puterbaugh of Rolling Stone describes it as a "taut, funky, could've-been-hit." In reviewing the album for the BBC, Chris Jones summarised "Wait Until Tomorrow" as "a wry, funky little tale," while Sputnikmusic reviewer "Broken Arrow" comments:

Personnel

;The Jimi Hendrix Experience
;Additional personnel
American blues-rock band the John Mayer Trio have performed "Wait Until Tomorrow" a number of times, with live performances featured on their 2005 live album Try! and lead vocalist and guitarist John Mayer's 2008 live album .
Brazilian musicians and social activists Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso covered "Wait Until Tomorrow" on their 1994 CD, Tropicalia 2. Gil's & Veloso's adaptation takes the song outside its original timing and puts it into Brazilian rhythm. While the lyrical spirit of the song is consistent with the original, Gil's & Veloso's history of activism in Brazil adds a social element to the personal "situation song" style that Hendrix was experimenting with in his writing at the time.
Prog rock pioneers The New York Rock and Roll Ensemble covered "Wait Until Tomorrow" on their second album, 1969's Faithful Friends. Jack DeJohnette included the song in his 2017 album Hudson.