"Who Was I?" by Jeremy Parsons is a long look in the rearview mirror that leaves you feeling both pangs of regret and a sense of peace. Parsons encourages you to have a conversation with his younger self in this profoundly reflective country-Americana track. He discusses the long journey he has been on from there to where he is today.
The song, included on his new EP "Life," is a confession and a reckoning. Parsons evokes the truth of his journey through life in his mid-twenties, seeking dreams, slouching toward becoming himself, and trying to reckon with the yawning gulf between his ambition and what society demanded of him. Each line carries an emotional honesty that encapsulates the universal moment when self-doubt is loud and certainty feels distant.
The story of how "Who Was I?" came to be is what makes it so fascinating. When he read a review of his 2021 album "Things To Come" that claimed the project didn't offer enough personal insight, Parsons decided not to relent. Instead, he responded with openness, and he embraced criticism, penning a song that strips away varnish and vanity to reveal growth.
The Americana textures are a perfect fit for the introspection, and the arrangement is warm in a way that's organic to the song's emotional core, ensuring that the story is always foremost. Parsons regards his past with affection and candor. It shows in the struggles of youth, in not knowing who you are and how experience teaches. As Jeremy Parsons demonstrates in "Who Was I?," contemplating oneself can be an act of strength. This song is not just about who he was, but also about who he has become.
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