Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jeremy Parsons resonates with his new single “Who Was I?” — succeeding in its country/Americana fusing and thematic observations of youth, ambition, and self-discovery. The track’s heartfelt lyricism exudes a memoir-like appeal — reflecting on personal choices, while exploring a contrast between carefree, reckless living at 25 and the later clarity that comes with experience.
The song originated as a playful response to criticism of Parsons’ previous album, from a critic who suggested a lack of personal insight. It later evolved into a nuanced meditation on ambition, recklessness, and the lessons learned with time. “I thought it was funny,” Parsons says. “So I sat down and wrote ‘Who Was I’ as kind of a tongue-in-cheek response… but as I wrote, it evolved into something much bigger: a reflection on my journey, admitting to myself how little I knew and how much we’re always still learning.”
A tender array of guitars — acoustic trickles and lonesome, twangy feelings — traverse seamlessly into Parsons’ stately, introspective vocal immersion. Those mid-20s experiences are recounted with truthfulness. “Just a drifter on the wind getting so damn high,” Parsons sings amidst the hazy guitar twangs and steady rhythmic backing. “Sleeping through the days, living for the night.” Further comparisons to the generations ahead — and how “my parents had themselves a house” by age 25 — compel with relatable prowess.
A memorable bridge takes hold in the final minute, where Parsons’ melodic vocals remark “quarter of a century, still so green,” in acknowledging the youth and lack of experience — and also an evident tension between ambition and aimlessness that many experience at that age. With its reflective lyricism and warmly effective Americana and country pairings, “Who Was I?” succeeds as a melodic, relatable charmer that artfully captures the complexities of personal growth.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
