As of March of 2022, YOUseless was just a basis of the first chord progression heard in the verse. I knew I wanted to have a basic piano or synth leading the way for this song. It took until halfway through April for the wheels to start turning on this track. I could hear the raw emotion that was set in place with these chords. This song was the starting point for me which would later turn into forming this band with my friends.
As I kept falling to the ground of my upper floor of my apartment, I finally got up to look at my phone and sing the first line to the verse, "Right before the walls are falling, I'm too oblivious". This statement was a way for me to have relief over the fact that I did not know what was going on. At times, it felt like the walls around me were actually caving in. These words allowed me to say that it was ok that I was unaware and that I did not need all the answers to everything because moments like this happen for a reason. There is always a greater purpose.
The second phrase of the verse, "Cat and mouse run with hesitation. That's the price for love", is stating that it's acceptable to stumble when you are in a relationship. There is no such thing as perfection especially when you are two separate people forming a life together. I referred to a "cat and mouse" in this situation because the metaphor shows that this particular couple has signs of toxicity and causes danger to one another which makes a collapse in their love rather than sorting through the issues.
At its core, YOUseless is a song that shows the struggle of where one person tries in the relationship and the other person does not. This can come from any persons' perspective as to why that is, but it can stem from jealousy, selfishness, bullying within the relationship, manipulation, and many other faults.
The chorus is meant to encapsulate a feeling of empowerment over the situation. It allows the listener to know that they are who they are and that is the best they can be. If your significant other could not accept who you are, then that is their loss because all you wanted to do was show them your heart. A heart they decided to take for granted. The last phrase of the chorus, "so why do I feel youseless?", is a way to bring back a signal of grieving. It enables the listener to understand that no matter how much you build yourself back up, you will always have a longing to be with that person that may have hurt you in the first place.
I thought it would be fitting and eye-catching to name the song "YOUseless" due to its emotion behind it. For me, this made-up expression means that I do not feel fulfilled without this other person in my life. No matter how this person treated you, you were with them for a purpose. Our intentions could be to get married and have a life together with this person, but we overlooked every flaw and argument because we prayed it would get better.
I have found a song that resonates with me in my times of heartache that truly speaks out. Billie Joel wrote "And So It Goes" in the early 80s basing his experience off of one of his own relationships with Elle MacPherson. The lyrics read,
"In every heart there is a room A sanctuary safe and strong To heal the wounds from lovers past Until a new one comes along
I spoke to you in cautious tones You answered me with no pretense And still I feel I said too much My silence is my self defense
And every time I've held a rose It seems I only felt the thorns And so it goes, and so it goes And so will you, soon, I suppose
But if my silence made you leave Then that would be my worst mistake So I will share this room with you And you can have this heart to break".
His words show a battle between two people of different backgrounds that cannot make things work between them. That is where the heart of YOUseless comes from.
For those of you looking for love out there, it comes with a struggle at times even when we are the ones that seek it most. Always treat your partner with utmost respect and love equally to your best abilities. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 - "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."