I wrote this song during the early days of the pandemic, back when no one really knew what was going on. It was in the first month or so, a time when the news cycle had ramped up into a relentless stream of 24/7 doom and gloom. People were scared, confused, and clinging to any sense of normalcy.
It was the same period when people went outside to bang pots and pans in support of frontline workers, and the collective goal was still to “flatten the curve.” That sense of solidarity felt fragile, though, overshadowed by the constant wave of panic and uncertainty.
This song came out of feeling completely lost, unable to catch my breath amid the chaos. The nonstop news coverage, the fear of the unknown—it was overwhelming, and writing this song was my way of trying to make sense of it all.
Looking back, some of the lines in this song feel naive to me now. Naive in believing that the healthcare system and the government would have our backs when we needed them most. Those lines bother me sometimes, but I also realize they capture what I was feeling in that moment.
As with everything I write, this song is an honest reflection of my emotions at the time. I can’t rewrite history or how I felt, so I’ve learned to accept it for what it is. It’s a snapshot of a specific time in my life—one where the world was turned upside down and I, like so many others, was trying to find my footing.
Performing this song now brings up a mix of emotions. It’s a reminder of those early days of confusion and hope, of fear and resilience. And while I’ve grown and changed since then, this song remains a part of that journey. It’s a piece of history, a reflection of a time when none of us could see what was coming next.
Can’t Catch My Breath - Lyrics
Verse 1:
On the news today
Heard life as we know it
Is going away
We’ve got to stick together
By staying apart
And it’s breaking my heart
Bridge:
Walk through this world
Feels all alone
And now my prison
Is my home
Chorus:
I can’t catch my breath
But I’m doing my best
The whole world’s a mess
We’re all living with less
I can’t catch my breath
We just need some rest
If this is a test
I can’t catch my breath
Verse 2:
The news cycle spins
Out of control
And nobody wins
But it’s taking its toll
We look to our leaders
To help us endure
Rely on our healers
And prey they restore
Bridge:
Walk through this world
Feels all alone
And now my prison
Is my home
Chorus:
I can’t catch my breath
But I’m doing my best
The whole world’s a mess
We’re all living with less
I can’t catch my breath
We just need some rest
If this is a test
I can’t catch my breath
Bridge:
Walk through this world
Feels all alone
And now my prison
Is my home
Chorus:
I can’t catch my breath
But I’m doing my best
The whole world’s a mess
We’re all living with less
I can’t catch my breath
We just need some rest
If this is a test
I can’t catch my breath
Outro:
I can’t catch my breath
I can’t catch my breath
Oh no, I can’t catch my breath
I can’t catch my breath