Confession and Clarity: Jeremy Parsons Asks, “Who Was I?”
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
Artist: Jeremy Parsons Single: “Who Was I?” Genre: Americana, Alt-Country, Singer-Songwriter Label: MTS Records From the EP: Life
Jeremy Parsons, the San Antonio-born Americana troubadour, has built a career on the foundation of authentic Texas songwriting—a style that is equal parts weathered honesty and melodic warmth. His latest single, “Who Was I?”, lifted from his forthcoming EP Life, is not just a track; it’s a mirror. It is a profound, unvarnished confessional where Parsons steps back to reconcile with the restless, reckless ghost of his younger self, trading youthful chaos for earned perspective.
Artist Background and Context
Parsons’ musical journey is rooted in the rich tapestry of the Texas music scene, where he first picked up the guitar and developed a knack for heartfelt composition. Over the past decade, he has consistently released music that blends country, folk, and Americana, earning critical acclaim and a devoted international fanbase (including multiple UK iTunes chart-toppers).
“Who Was I?” has a unique origin story: it was sparked by a critic’s suggestion that his earlier work lacked personal detail. What began as a “tongue-in-cheek” retort quickly evolved into a deeply introspective reckoning, demonstrating Parsons’ commitment to turning life’s tough lessons into universal art. This willingness to confront his own history, from Nashville dreams to moving back in with his father at 32, solidifies his status as one of Americana’s most courageous and relatable storytellers.
The Deep Cut: Song and Lyric Analysis
The song is built around a single, resonant question: “Who was I at 25?” Parsons answers with unflinching, vivid snapshots that many listeners will recognize from their own young adulthood—a period defined by searching, risk-taking, and blurred lines.
Sleeping through the days, living for the night Yeah doing lots of things to see if I could die
The lyric doesn’t romanticize this era; it simply presents it as fact. It captures the universal feeling of drifting, chasing numb thrills, and testing the limits of existence in search of purpose. He contrasts his choices with the traditional path, noting that others “prayed to Jesus and they finished out school,” a comment less about judgment and more about recognizing he didn’t fit that mold, which fueled his restlessness.
The true strength of the songwriting lies in the shift from present tense memory to present tense acceptance. By the end, the song isn’t about glorifying the past, but about acknowledging it as a necessary route to maturity. The humility of the older Parsons looking back on the younger version with gratitude for survival elevates the track from a simple memory spiral to an anthem of resilience and growth.
Instrumentation and Production
Musically, “Who Was I?” is stripped down, intentional, and warm, placing the full weight of the emotional story directly on Parsons’ voice and the acoustic foundation.
The track opens with gentle, pastoral acoustic guitar plucks and airy slide leads. This creates a soundscape that is calm and unforced, inviting the listener into an intimate conversation. The percussion is restrained, a soft, steady pulse rather than a forceful drive—like a slow, reflective walk through memory. Parsons’ vocal delivery—a smooth, weathered Texas drawl—sits close in the mix, lending the confession a conversational sincerity. The minimalism of the arrangement is key; there are no distracting flourishes, only the subtle mournful sigh of a pedal steel weaving through the melody, echoing the theme of longing and retrospective realization.
The production choice to keep the track unpolished makes the honesty feel raw and palpable. It succeeds not as an engineered commercial country hit, but as a genuine folk-country prayer delivered over a dim diner coffee—a reminder that survival itself is a kind of victory.
Verdict: “Who Was I?” is an indispensable piece of Parsons’ evolving discography. It is a powerful examination of the messy journey to self-discovery, offering not definitive answers, but the peace that comes from accepting the past. It is an essential listen for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and wondered, with a mixture of regret and pride, exactly how they became the person standing there today.