FAWM: "What Remains Of Me?"

What Remains Of Me?

2025 by @andybalham · @johnrupe

Liner Notes

Big thanks to @johnrupe for the lyrics in Round #2 of the random collaboration challenge. The song is from the viewpoint of an older gentlemen ruminating on life, the internet, and his place in the world.

#folkpop #melancholy #randomcollaborations

Lyrics

I sit here staring at the walls I seem to fade away My kids would call me for advice Now they just stare at screens

PRE I used to be needed, my wisdom was gold Now it’s just data as I grow old

CHORUS What I’ve said is saved somewhere But I don’t know if I’m still there If my time runs out but my stories still live What remains of me? What remains of me?

VERSE 2 All the lessons I’ve passed down. But the people in my life are gone I gave them pieces of my soul And now I’m holding on

PRE + CHORUS

The poem that I wrote The trick to start the car Memories of a sunset How to remain calm So much much more wisdom lives on but the man, the source will soon be gone

CHORUS

Comments

@cathreu 2025

Oooh I love the guitar in this one. The production is quite good, and the overall atmosphere and energy is very Doors-esque. Extrwemely catchy! This is a painful and well-described subject matter: to me it asks, "do the stories die if nobodies asking any more? If the stories die, then do I?" Very very cool collab!

Love those background chants

@cts 2025

Though I'm not THAT much of an older gentleman, I do ponder all that has taken place in the years that I have lived. There is a bit of sadness here and it's not to be ignored actually. I think the arrangement brings it out. I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs by The Police - Omega Man. That song really makes me ponder my existence as does this one. Nice work!

@williamjames 2025

How very real and very sad. These are the times we live in. Human contact wanes as the digital world seems so much more appealing. Maybe in a decade we see the pendulum swing the other way and people will reminisce about the lost contacts during the digital eclipse. Heavy stuff.

@ampersandman 2025

The lyrics touch an important point that I never thought about. Very poignant lines. "Wisdom lives on/ but the man, the source will soon be gone" – that breaks my heart, argh. The song is very well written, I like the shift to major in the chorusses.