They Won't Remember - Behind the Song
Don’t let them keep a hold on you for far too long.
In many ways, this song is a companion to “The Boy Who Feels Too Much”. Like many kids, I experienced my fair share of bullying, both direct and indirect and from many different sources. I have encountered some of those same bullies a couple of times later in life and it’s always surprised me how inconsequential their attitudes have been. Very much like “well, what are you holding on to that for?”. And, as much as that may be about them refusing to take responsibility for their own actions, they do have a point. It’s easy to hold on to these things far too long, allowing their impact to be far greater than the event ever was.
And in case it’s not obvious, I purposely wanted the music in the chorus to be a bit too jolly just in order to highlight the disconnect between the different peoples’ experiences.
Lyrics
In the playground he’s a target, separated, isolated
And the same ones, they take turns to try to hurt him ‘cause he’s different
When they scare him it will scar him, fog the memories of his childhood
He’ll let them keep a hold on him for far too long
Then they might meet one day, just for them to say
That they don’t remember anything about it
“How’s life been with you, anyway?”
In the place that should be refuge with the ones who should bring comfort
But the teasing just continues in the guise of building tougher
No intent to understand him, no attempt to look for healing
He’ll let them keep a hold on him for far too long
And they’ll come ‘round one day, and he’ll hear them say
That they don’t remember anything about it
“So, what’s for dinner, anyway?”
Need to realise, it’s just mindless, no excuses, no defences
If they chose to never own it, if they joke or just ignore it
Don’t let them keep a hold on you for far too long
Then they might meet one day…
And they’ll come round one day…