FAWM: "Who We've Been"

Who We've Been

2025 by @dr_griff

Liner Notes

In thinking about what my nation may look like in a few years, the line "it may look familiar, but it will not be the same" came to mind. And this song snuck in on the last day of FAWM.

Lyrics

4/4, slow, fingerpicked

(Capo 2)

Verse 1 C G What did it say again - Am My country ’tis of thee? C G What did we used to sing - Am This land for you and me?

The purple mountains’ majesties C Am The amber waves of grain F What is the point of singing G That worn-out old refrain?

CHORUS Em Empires will rise Am Empires will fall Em We know what it was like Am ‘Cause we used to have it all F When the dust has settled C Am We will re-stake our claim F And it may look familiar G Am But it will not be the same

Verse 2 Be prepared - the marching song Of every scouting child Every kid who knew these songs And sang them while they smiled

We are not prepared for this We could never be When you’ve been the leader It’s impossible to see

CHORUS

Verse 3 All good things come to an end But now we have a start We will find a newer way With courage and with heart

Hope will spring eternal We will rise again We’ll rise up from the ashes And remember who we’ve been

CHORUS

OUTTRO When the dust has settled We will re-stake our claim And it may look familiar G C Though it will not be the same

Comments

@audrey 2025

Poignant, and sad lyric that will hit home for many. Lovely melody and gentle, heartfelt performance. Beautiful song!

@janeg 2025

Given the current threat’s to my country’s independence, I can only hear this in terms of the relationship between countries, which will certainly never be the same. Regaining trust will take generations. I am sorry that there will be ashes before rebirth. I really hope some of the people alive now will be part of the rebirth.

@wylddandelyon 2025

Yeah. Things always keep changing. I'd love to think that they will be better, eventually. This song is lovely.

@dotsandlines 2025

The darkness in the melody and the brightness at the end are just right. Whatever happens next won't be easy, but there's still hope of making something good.