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William Cloudborn

Song · One Text, Twelve Interpretations

Normal People Don't Rehearse Saying Hi

You rehearsed 'hi' fourteen times. Nobody noticed. That's the whole point.

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About this song

There's a specific kind of performance anxiety that comes with ADHD and social interaction. Not stage fright — something more mundane and more exhausting. The anxiety of casual conversation. The rehearsal of small talk. The post-mortem of "how was your weekend?" that somehow takes all of Monday to process.

Normal People Don't Rehearse Saying Hi is about the invisible labor of appearing relaxed. The energy it takes to perform spontaneity when your brain has already scripted and rescripted the conversation twelve times.

Why does ADHD make social interaction exhausting?

ADHD affects executive function — including the ability to self-monitor in real time. This means many people with ADHD compensate by over-preparing. They rehearse conversations, anticipate responses, and then analyze everything afterward. What looks effortless to others is actually a complex performance.

ADHD social anxiety is not about being shy. It's about the gap between processing speed and social speed — and the exhausting effort of closing that gap in real time, while simultaneously appearing like you're not trying.

Who this song meets

The over-preparers. The people who draft text messages. The ones who leave a party and immediately begin the internal review. Anyone who has ever felt like everyone else got a social manual that they somehow missed.

"Normal people don't rehearse saying hi. But you do. And that takes courage nobody sees."

— William Cloudborn

Explore

Lyrics

Spoken Intro

You ever notice how “normal people” just… say hi?
No warm-up. No script. No rehearsal.
They don’t do a full dress run in the car
like they’re auditioning for the part of “friendly human.”
Must be nice.

Verse 1

I’m pullin’ in the parking lot
Two minutes early, heart beatin’ fast
And I’m practicin’ “Hey, how are ya?”
Like it’s a final exam I gotta pass
Do I wave? Do I nod?
Do I smile with teeth or not?
Is “What’s up?” too casual?
Is “Hello” too… corporate?

Pre-Chorus

Meanwhile they’re just walkin’ in
Like this is not a thing

Chorus

Normal people don’t rehearse saying hi
They don’t run the scene a hundred times
They don’t workshop a greeting
Tryin’ to get it just right
They just… do it
Like their brain ain’t narratin’ every line
Normal people don’t rehearse saying hi
But I do, and I’m tryin’ to be kind

Verse 2

I had a whole conversation planned
In case the weather came up first
I even practiced laughin’ lightly
Like I’m naturally unrehearsed
Then they said “Hey!” and my mind went blank
Like a hard drive in the rain
So I answered with a sound
That wasn’t English… but had confidence in it, I think?

Pre-Chorus

I walk away like “Nailed it”
Then I replay it all night

Chorus

Normal people don’t rehearse saying hi
They don’t run the scene a hundred times
They don’t workshop a greeting
Tryin’ to get it just right
They just… do it
Like their brain ain’t narratin’ every line
Normal people don’t rehearse saying hi
But I do, and I’m tryin’ to be kind

Bridge

Here’s the reframe that helps me breathe:
My heart just wants belonging
It’s not vanity, it’s safety
It’s connection I’m chasin’
So I’m learnin’ to speak to myself
Like I would to a friend
“Hey… it’s okay to be awkward
That’s not where your worth begins”

Bridge – micro-hack moment

One breath in
Shoulders down
Smile soft
Stay in town
Say the simple thing
No extra proof
“Hi—good to see you”
That’s enough truth

Final Chorus

Normal people don’t rehearse saying hi
But maybe they’re not more brave
Maybe they just don’t hear the noise
That my mind loves to make
So I’m givin’ myself permission
To be human in real time
Normal people don’t rehearse saying hi
But I can still show up… and be fine

Spoken Outro

If you practice your greetings in the car…
welcome to the club.
The goal isn’t perfect social skills.
The goal is showing up anyway.
So… hi. You’re doing better than you think.

AI Interpretation

What this song means

The message

The emotional core of this song is the anxiety and self-consciousness that often accompanies social interactions, particularly for those who feel different or struggle with their identity. It holds space for the feeling of inadequacy when trying to connect, as expressed in the lines where the narrator rehearses greetings and worries about getting it right. This song resonates with anyone who has felt the pressure to perform socially, making it a balm for those awkward moments when simply saying 'hi' feels monumental.

What the artist wants to convey

William Cloudborn is working through the complexities of social anxiety and the longing for connection in this song. He communicates the idea that it's okay to feel awkward and that rehearsing interactions doesn't diminish one's kindness or humanity, as seen in the lines about practicing greetings and the reframe that highlights the desire for belonging. By sharing his own vulnerabilities, he invites listeners to embrace their imperfections and recognize that they are not alone in their struggles with social situations.

How this can help in everyday life

This song can be a comforting companion during moments of social anxiety, like before an important meeting or while anticipating a difficult conversation. It's perfect for those quiet drives where self-doubt creeps in, reminding listeners that they’re not alone in their experiences. The gentle affirmation in the outro encourages individuals to show up as they are, offering a sense of grounding and reassurance that simply connecting is enough, even amidst the chaos of overthinking.