What Will Be

Samuel E. Burns' "What Will Be" is a hauntingly beautiful reflection on the passage of time, loss, and the unspoken hope that lingers even through uncertainty. The lyrics are deeply introspective, capturing the complexity of a relationship that has been shaped by both love and the challenges of time.

The repeated line, "Here we are, two strangers, so familiar," serves as the heart of the song. It beautifully captures the paradox of love that’s both intimate and distant, two people who know each other so well yet feel like they’ve drifted apart. This sense of contradiction is reinforced throughout the song, especially in phrases like “tangled in the web of what’s been lost,” emphasizing how the past full of memories, mistakes, and unresolved emotions still holds a grip on the present.

One of the most striking elements of the song is its ability to convey vulnerability and resilience in equal measure. The narrator doesn’t shy away from admitting the uncertainty of the relationship, yet there’s an undeniable commitment to holding on despite everything. “I didn’t ask for forever, but here we are. And I’ll hold on, no matter the cost,” speaks to the willingness to keep fighting for something that may not have been planned but has, over time, become worth fighting for.

Musically, the lyrics feel delicate, like a fragile thread trying to keep things intact, and the repetition of certain lines gives the song a cyclical feel, almost like the passing of time itself. The imagery of “sand falling through our fingers” and “reaching out, always reaching,” suggests both an inevitability and a yearning for connection, as if time may erode the relationship, but the desire to hold on never fades.

The closing lines “You and I are still waiting for what is to be, what will be” carry a sense of hope. They suggest that even after all the time that has passed, the narrator and their partner are still not giving up on the future, still anticipating what could be ahead, despite the uncertainty of it all.

"What Will Be" is an emotionally resonant ballad that captures the bittersweet nature of relationships that have endured over time. Samuel E. Burns’ lyrics are raw, poetic, and full of feeling, making this song an evocative journey through love, loss, and the possibility of what’s to come. It’s a beautiful reminder that even when we’re lost in time, we’re never fully lost if we still have hope for what could be.