Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: metal
Song Meaning of “What If I Was Nothing” by All That Remains
The song “What If I Was Nothing” by All That Remains is an exploration of a common human emotion – insecurity. The song speaks to a feeling of feeling insignificant and being scared to confront that emotion. Through the lyrics, the narrator is asking themselves the difficult question of what it would mean if they were nothing.
The opening verse speaks of struggling to fit in and feeling as though they are unsuccessful in doing so, and asking ‘What if I was nothing and care won’t take me too far beyond the hill?’ This line speaks to the idea that sometimes we can feel as though no matter how hard we try, we can feel as though our efforts are not getting us anywhere and we are just ‘nothing’.
The chorus ponders the thought of being nothing, and being left with nothing. The lines ‘What if I was nothing, if all I ever had was what I’d passed up, then what would become of me’ show the struggle of accepting one’s self-worth, or lack thereof. The weight of this thought is heavy as it speaks to the consequences of not accepting and believing in ourselves.
In the second verse, the narrator comes to an epiphany, realizing that nothing is permanent and he feels driven to make something of himself.