Once Was

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone shedding their past self, embracing a defiant and perhaps reckless present. The repeated assertion "I don't fear no one" acts as a mantra, a declaration of independence from former anxieties or constraints. This new persona seems to thrive in the nocturnal, under "club lights," suggesting a life lived outside conventional norms and daylight hours. The contrast between dropping out of school but being "so classy" hints at a rejection of traditional success metrics in favor of a self-defined, albeit possibly chaotic, lifestyle. The phrase "someone that I once was" becomes a ghost, a reference point for the transformation that has occurred. There's a palpable tension between the outward bravado and underlying vulnerability. While the narrator claims fearlessness and a "don't give a fuck" attitude, they also admit to "pain in my eyes" and being "nerdy, drugs got me geeked." This suggests the fearlessness might be a performance, a coping mechanism fueled by substances and a desire to escape a former self. The mention of "someone that I'm fuckin' scars" is particularly striking, implying that past wounds are integral to their current identity, perhaps even a source of their newfound boldness. The most compelling aspect is the cyclical nature of the chorus, hammering home the idea of leaving behind a previous identity. The repetition of "Someone that I once was" isn't just a statement of change; it's an exorcism, a constant reminder of what's been shed. This obsessive focus on the past self, even while declaring freedom from it, creates a fascinating paradox. It suggests that the transformation is ongoing, a constant negotiation between who they are now and who they used to be, with the "plug" and the "nighttime" serving as the landscape for this evolution.