About this song

About I Started Three Things and Finished Coffee

A deeper look at this song is coming soon.

Track 8 on The Exit Was Always There. Duration: 7:59.

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Lyrics

Intro – spoken, amused

I had a plan this morning.
Actually… I had three.
None of them survived the coffee.

Verse 1 – sung, upbeat

I opened my laptop, checked my phone
Stood up to grab a pen
Forgot why I stood up
Sat back down again

Started an email, read a text
Remembered I should eat
Ended up reorganizing thoughts
I didn’t need to keep

Pre-Chorus

My brain don’t walk in straight lines
It dances where it wants

Chorus – big, funny

I started three things and finished coffee
That’s a win where I come from
The to-do list stared back at me
Like “buddy, we’re not done”

I started three things and finished coffee
Lost the rest somewhere in between
If momentum had a personality
It would look a lot like me

Verse 2 – sung, playful

I cleaned the desk, ignored the task
Found a charger from last year
Went to Google one small thing
Came back knowing way too much here

My thoughts travel in side streets
Scenic routes, no signs
But every now and then
They still arrive on time

Pre-Chorus

People say “just focus up”
I say “watch this work”

Chorus – repeat

I started three things and finished coffee
Progress looks a little odd
But moving counts, even sideways
That’s how my brain stays on

I started three things and finished coffee
And honestly, that’s okay
Not every win looks organized
Some just taste like yesterday

Bridge – spoken, lifecoaching wink

Here’s the truth:
Starting counts.
Motion counts.
You don’t need perfect focus
to move forward.

Sometimes finishing coffee
is the warm-up.

Bridge – sung

I stopped calling it failure
Started calling it flow
My brain’s built for connection
Not a straight road

Final Chorus – lifted

I started three things and finished coffee
And I’m smiling now instead
Because beating myself up
Never helped me get ahead

I started three things and finished coffee
Tomorrow I’ll start four
One of them might stick around
And that’s enough to move the door

Outro – spoken, warm

If today felt scattered,
but you showed up…

That counts.

AI Interpretation

What this song means

The message

The emotional core of 'I Started Three Things and Finished Coffee' is the gentle acceptance of scattered thoughts and the imperfect nature of productivity, particularly as it relates to ADHD. It holds space for the frustration of feeling unproductive and the shame that can accompany it, while also celebrating small victories like simply enjoying a cup of coffee. This song resonates with anyone who has experienced the chaos of a busy mind, acknowledging that sometimes just showing up is enough.

What the artist wants to convey

William Cloudborn communicates the importance of recognizing and valuing the process over the outcome in a world that often demands linear progress. By using relatable imagery, such as starting multiple tasks but only finishing coffee, he invites listeners to see movement—however it comes—as a form of success. He wants listeners to release the pressure of perfection and embrace their unique flow, as expressed in lines like 'I stopped calling it failure / Started calling it flow.'

How this can help in everyday life

This song can serve as a comforting companion during moments of overwhelm, like a chaotic morning or a day filled with distractions and self-doubt. It’s perfect for those times when you feel like you're spinning your wheels but need a reminder that simply engaging with your day is a victory in itself. With its playful tone and warm affirmations, it provides a sense of connection and understanding, helping listeners feel less isolated in their struggles and more at peace with their own pace.