Meaning and Lyrics of Waste Of Space by Steven Lee Olsen

Steven Lee Olsen’s “Waste Of Space” is a quintessential modern country love song, but it’s more than just a simple plea for intimacy—it’s an ode to the physical and emotional gravity that pulls two people together. Let’s break it down and see how Olsen builds this masterpiece of longing and desire.

Verse 1 opens with what feels like a vast emotional landscape: “Might as well be an ocean, be a mile apart.” Right away, Olsen captures the sense of distance between two people sitting next to each other, almost painting a picture of a chasm that feels as wide as an ocean. The bench seat of a car, often a confined space, becomes a metaphor for emotional distance. Olsen’s usage of colloquial language like “Yeah, why are we waiting? Baby, just say it” not only humanizes his lyrical voice but makes it relatable. When he croons about throwing “this thing in park,” he’s setting the stage for what is both a literal and metaphorical pause—a moment that could shift the status of their relationship.

The Chorus drives the song’s central thesis—physical distance as a “waste of space.” Olsen masterfully uses terms like “cut this distance” and “slide over” to emphasize not just a physical closeness but an emotional and psychological unity. The line, “Jealous of the rebel tattoo on your shoulder,” stands out for its vivid imagery; it’s not just about proximity, but an intimate knowledge of the other person—knowing the details that others don’t.

Verse 2 escalates the tension with the “law of attraction” working overtime. Here, Olsen pulls out a card from the playbook of classic country motifs, invoking the side road—the archetypal lovers’ lane where countless romances have blossomed. The verse pushes the theme of inevitability: “There’s way too much room between me and you / And we both know that just ain’t right.” It’s a declaration that their separation is not just undesirable; it’s a cosmic misalignment. Olsen’s assertion that “space is just meant for the sky” reinforces the idea that physical and emotional gaps between lovers are unnatural.

Returning to the Chorus, the repetition solidifies the song’s emotional core, making it almost like a mantra. The chorus’s structure, with its cascading lines, mimics the tumbling emotions and escalating urgency. The repeated “Oh-ohh, space” serves both as a musical hook and a poetic lament, the elongated vowels mimicking the ache of that very space they disdain.

The song shines in its relatability and simplicity. Olsen cleverly incorporates elements that modern listeners can identify with—bench seats, tattoos, side roads, and jeans. But what makes “Waste Of Space” truly compelling is its existential musing hidden beneath the country pop sheen: it’s about recognizing the waste in missed opportunities for connection, about the human need for closeness in an ever-fragmented world.

In sum, “Waste Of Space” succeeds not just as a catchy tune but as an emotionally charged narrative that navigates the universal struggle for intimacy. It’s a reminder that, in the fleeting moments of life, the distance between us and the ones we love truly is a waste of space.