Hailing from one of America’s folk dynasties, The Chapin Sisters know how to craft a song and with those sibling harmonies they know how to make it sound wonderful too. ‘Wasting Your Time‘ is the third recent song from the sisters and makes for the first batch of new music from them in the seven years since ‘Ferry Boat‘ was released. It’s also the first music that has The Chapin Sisters working with guitarist ad producer J.J. Blair – other names you’ll recognise on the song are Benmont Tench on piano and organ, Chad Cromwell on drums, and Dan Rothchild also on electric guitar. J.J. Blair has commented on the song that: “It’s always magical when you hear family members harmonize. That was my first reaction. They’ve grown up performing together, so it’s intuitive.”
Abigail Chapin has said that “‘Wasting Your Time’ is a love song about those initial hazy love filled days when you can’t spend enough time together. There are feelings of guilt about what you should be doing, time can feel wasted. Then one day you wake up and realize that that “wasted time” has turned into a life.”
Lily Chapin adds that: “When Abigail played ‘Wasting Your Time’ for me in an early form, I immediately connected with the melody, the feel, and the theme. It lends itself nicely to harmonies. I also liked the idea that the things we do to distract ourselves, in what can feel like the way stations of our lives, sometimes become the pivotal moments in our personal histories.”
Abagail told Americana UK about one more aspect of the song: “It’s an anticapitalist love song, as all love songs should be in this day and age. What is important? What is time wasted? What is time well spent?”
And the song itself? Well, it’s a slow country-rock waltz that maybe harkens back to the ’70s in feel, but also just has a timeless, dreamy, floating feel. And, for the first time this week, we have a happy song – you’re welcome.
