Waitin' for the Bus

Kickstart your playlist with ZZ Top's iconic 1973 blues rock groover, "Waitin' for the Bus." The killer opening track from their breakthrough Tres Hombres album, this song hits hard with Billy Gibbons' legendary fuzzy guitar riff, setting a heavy, hypnotic mood immediately.

Featured on the classic 1973 album Tres Hombres, "Waitin' for the Bus" perfectly established ZZ Top's signature Texas blues rock sound. Often played seamlessly flowing into the next track, "Jesus Just Left Chicago," its simple yet powerful structure, driven by that unforgettable riff and Dusty Hill's vocals, became an instant classic.

This 1973 blues rock essential captures a raw, heavy feel with its distorted guitar tone and steady, driving rhythm section. Though lyrically sparse, "Waitin' for the Bus" creates an undeniable atmosphere, remaining a fan favorite and a prime example of ZZ Top's influential early power trio sound.

SONG MEANING: The lyrics depict the simple, mundane act of waiting for a bus, possibly in bad weather ("Waitin' for the bus in the rain"). It doesn't carry deep symbolic meaning but rather focuses on capturing a specific, relatable, perhaps slightly frustrating moment through a powerful blues rock groove and minimal lyrics ("Have mercy").