Benson Boone describes what it’s like losing someone and wishing to start over.
Boone shared in an April 2023 TikTok, the journey leading up to the song after parting ways with a significant other. He stated in another TikTok that this is the most meaningful song he’s ever written.
[Verse 1]
Young, standing on the edge of twenty-one
Staring at the man that I've become sometimes
When I lose my control
He's dumb, if you blink, he'll blow up like a gun
Jumping to conclusions just for fun
That guy, needs somebody to hold
[Pre-Chorus]
Needs somebody he knows
Where the hell did she go?
It kinda makes me feel like
[Chorus]
I wish I could change my name
I wish I could start again
Fly me to a lonely place
Where you'll never see my face, so you'll never feel the pain of
What was
When you're standing in thе rain, calling out my name
Nothing's gonna change
What was
[Verse 2]
Cold, driving through my neighborhood alonе
Going past the house, but I'm not home this time
I haven't been in a while
I haven't been
[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause I'm far away
In another state miles away from us
As you try to fan a dying flame
While ashes turn to dust
[Chorus]
I wish I could change my name
I wish I could start again
Fly me to a lonely place
Where you'll never see my face, so you'll never feel the pain of
What was
When you're standing in the rain, calling out my name
Nothing's gonna change
What was
[Bridge]
Let me, start over
The moment that I left you in tears
Is a memory that will haunt me for years, and years, and years, and years, and years (Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh)
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Oh, it still does
(Oh, oh, oh, oh) Oh, it still does
What was
[Outro]
You need somebody to hold
Where the hell did I go?
What Was was written by Benson Boone & Jack LaFrantz & Jason Suwito.
What Was was produced by Jason Suwito.
Benson Boone released What Was on Fri Apr 14 2023.
This song is a reflection of a past relationship that I wish I could re-do. It’s a hard realization when you missed ‘your person,’ and all you can do is relive the memories in your head.
—via 360 MAGAZINE