"The Waiting" is the lead single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' album Hard Promises, released in 1981.

Frontman Tom Petty explained that the song's title was inspired by a quote from fellow musician Janis Joplin, who once said of touring, "I love being onstage and everything else is just waiting.

[4]Record World praised Petty's vocal performance and said that "Those guitars ring, soar & jingle-jangle with enough rock n' roll passion to warm the most jaded heart.

"[5] The song was used in The Simpsons episode "The Cartridge Family", during a sequence where Homer was subjected to a five-day waiting period after buying a gun.

When the Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series, the song was played on FOX after the trophy presentation.