Track 2 · Not Fixing, Just Listening
I was you once
Track 2 from Not Fixing, Just Listening.
About this song
About I was you once
The emotional core of 'I was you once' is rooted in empathy and understanding, capturing the complexity of growing up and making mistakes. It holds space for the feelings of uncertainty, stubbornness, and the desire for freedom that accompany youth, as expressed in lines like 'I remember how it feels to be you' and 'you’ll fall sometimes. That’s not the end.' This song speaks directly to anyone feeling overwhelmed by their choices, offering a gentle reminder that they are not alone in their journey.
Track 2 on Not Fixing, Just Listening. Duration: 3:09.
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Lyrics
The way you hesitate,
then do it anyway.
Yeah…
I know that move.
You think this is your idea.
That look on your face says
“I got this”
even when you don’t yet.
half-smile like I’m cute.
I don’t push it.
I remember how it feels
to be you.
Same stubborn spark.
Same belief
that consequences are negotiable.
I don’t judge.
I recognize.
I stood right there.
Certain I knew better,
certain I didn’t care.
I won’t rush you,
won’t tell you you’re wrong—
I was you once.
That’s why I’m calm.
lean past the line.
Pretend you don’t hear me,
but you hear me every time.
You laugh it off,
call it “no big deal,”
same way I did
back when everything felt unreal.
adults worried too much.
Thought love meant freedom,
not someone watchin’ your touch.
Turns out both things can be true—
but that took me a while.
Some lessons don’t land
until you walk a mile.
I made that face.
Said “I’ll be fine”
and picked up the pace.
I don’t need to stop you,
don’t need to be strong—
I was you once.
That’s why I’m here, not gone.
That’s not the end.
You’ll learn which roads bend back
and which ones don’t mend.
I won’t count your mistakes,
won’t mark your score.
I just want you to know
I’ve opened this door before.
it’s not that I don’t care.
It’s that I trust you
enough to let you get there.
And if you stumble,
I’ll already be close—
not to say “I told you,”
but “I know.”
is like meeting myself again—
with better shoes
and less fear.
I see you clear.
I won’t rush your becoming,
I’ll stay right here.
You don’t have to listen,
you don’t have to agree—
just know when you look back,
you’ll recognize me.
You’re making memories.
I did too.
AI Interpretation
What this song means
The emotional core of 'I was you once' is rooted in empathy and understanding, capturing the complexity of growing up and making mistakes. It holds space for the feelings of uncertainty, stubbornness, and the desire for freedom that accompany youth, as expressed in lines like 'I remember how it feels to be you' and 'you’ll fall sometimes. That’s not the end.' This song speaks directly to anyone feeling overwhelmed by their choices, offering a gentle reminder that they are not alone in their journey.
William Cloudborn communicates a profound sense of patience and acceptance in 'I was you once.' Through the lens of shared experience, he seeks to convey that the struggles of youth are universal, as reflected in the lines 'I just want you to know I’ve opened this door before.' He wants listeners to feel seen and understood, allowing them to navigate their own paths without the weight of judgment, encapsulated in the reassurance that 'you’re not making mistakes. You’re making memories.'
This song can serve as a comforting companion during moments of self-doubt or reflection, such as a hard morning, a challenging conversation, or a quiet drive where one grapples with their choices. It invites listeners to embrace their experiences and mistakes with compassion, providing solace with the reminder that growth comes from stumbling and learning. By affirming that 'I was you once,' it creates a safe space to acknowledge feelings without the pressure to rush through them, offering grounding in the shared human experience of becoming.