You Can't, What If

by Stuart Benbow

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about

Inspired by Izzy Joy, who during the 2023 Michigan State Fair Superstar competition, performed a song she wrote about negative self talk. I returned home with that song theme percolating in the back of my brain. On September 7th of 2023, during the annual 50/90 songwriting challenge, this song was written, a rough demo recorded and posted to the songwriting challenge website. It is as much a reminder to myself, as a message for others that the struggle to silence those inner negative voices is worth the fight.

Here we are on May 1st 2024, and I've recorded a more polished version to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month. Ideas are continuing to bounce around in my brain. If enough hard work and planning works out, big things are coming in the future, but it all began by hearing a song when I needed the message. You never know who you might impact or inspire, and I can only hope this song makes a difference for someone the way Izzy's song impacted me.

lyrics

When you live life at the bottom,
always on the edge
Every misstep could be your last
When your life's filled with darkness,
you're blinded by the light
To terrified to even take a chance

The you can't, what if voice inside your head
It holds you back
All the negative that you believe
Will leave you for dead
You tell yourself the odds are against you,
you're not good enough,
you're just an imposter,
you don't even belong

All those years hiding in shadows,
And time that was wasted
This change is long past overdue

The you can't, what if voice inside your head
It holds you back
All the negative that you believe
Will leave you for dead
You tell yourself the odds are against you,
you're not good enough,
you're just an imposter,
you don't even belong

This change is so damn hard
But it's your time to rise
It's so worth it in the end
To be who you really are

The you can't, what if voice inside your head
It holds you back
All the negative that you believe
Will leave you for dead

The you can't, what if voice inside your head
Oh, it's just a myth
All the negative that you believe
Let it ease, and be set free
Don't believe the odds
You're plenty good enough
No one knows their worth in their own mind
At least without a fight

credits

released May 1, 2024
Izzy Joy provided the inspiration, but all writing, arranging, vocal and instrumental performance, recording, editing and mixing was done in house by Stuart Benbow

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all rights reserved

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Stuart Benbow Westland, Michigan

Blending the heart of country music with the rich story telling of folk, and adding a touch of pop to give it some drive, Stuart writes about the world around him. Acoustic Americana, pure and true.

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