How do I forget what was?
Not by silence.
Not by shame.
But by walking through the wreckage
and planting something new again..
They said all men are created equal
But the system never learned the line.
We pledged allegiance to a dream
That never made room for everyone at anytime
We were taught to work hard
But not to expect fairness.
To believe in justice
But only if we could afford the lawyer to protect us
The church took a vow of poverty
Then built cathedrals of gold.
The preacher passed the plate twice
While the hungry often went cold
Stars cried on stage
And sold their heartbreak for big rewards
Love became merch.
Fans became just wallets then ignored
And the rich wept in glitter
While the poor they even lost their twitter
A car used to be something you could fix
With a wrench and a weekend.
A house could be bought
With one job now we just pretend
Peace and love weren’t hashtags
They were handshakes.
Neighbors waved.
We didn’t scroll past each other their was give and take
Concerts were sweat and sound
Not screens and selfie videos
We danced without proof.
We sang about the wonder we know
Belief was quiet.
And fear didn’t follow it home.
You could speak your truth
Without needing armor to stand alone
So how do I forget what was?
I don’t.
I name it.
I carry it.
Until it becomes a bridge.
I remember the good
And let go of the lie of what now is
I build with what’s left
And love with what’s real. and hope one day what was can come back and heal
Today, I choose to believe again.
Not in perfection.
But in peoples hearts
Not in systems.
But in souls.
I choose to sing again be apart
Even if the melody hurts.
I choose to dance again
Even if the rhythm’s broken.
I choose to live like back then
You are not the wreckage.
You are the architect.
You are not the silence.
You are the song.
You are not the ending.
You are the rebuild.
And you were born to belong

All rights held by the songwriter Edwin H. Balder

Link to more of our Singer/songwriter style hits you can cover into fame because of your take!

https://soundcloud.com/edwin-balder/sets/best-new-folk-americana?si=04e0155163644977b37cf8c0a04f3c53&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

How Do I Forget What Was

In the shadows of Apache Junction, at the foot of the majestic Superstition Mountains, sits a weathered hacienda. This desert oasis is home to an enigmatic figure, a songwriter whose journey reads like a long, dusty road of honky-tonk bars and college cafeterias. He wasn't chasing fame or glitter; instead, he chose the soul-crushing beauty of music for music's sake.

Years spent hunched over sticky barroom tables and scribbling lyrics on napkins earned him a reputation—not in the spotlight but in the back rooms where deals are made. He wrote melodies that found their way into the hearts of stars who had lost their own muse. He sold his creations for cash, with no recognition, but the whisper of his songs carried the weight of his soul.

Finally, he bought this piece of desert paradise—a stable income from his timeless songs allowed him to live comfortably, if anonymously. Here in this hacienda, with his family beside him and the mountains as his backdrop, he found the peace to write hits under his own name. He chuckled at the irony that now, without chasing fame, he could create music that brought him joy.

In the end, it was never about the spotlight. It was about the journey, the stories, and the songs that wrote themselves through his life. As the sun set behind the Superstitions, casting long shadows over the hacienda, he strummed his guitar and sang—content, unknown, and unburdened by the world's gaze.


Copyright 2019 Edwin H. Balder

I may be dead when fame comes but my real glory was always JULIE & The Kids. Thank you for such love

How Do I Forget What Was

Edwin Balder