FAWM: "What No Longer Serves You"

What No Longer Serves You

3 weeks ago by @wynia · @briansmith · @dmelbygibbons · @bearwith

What No Longer Serves You

wynia +3

00:00

Liner Notes

Arising from a saved #badsongclub prompt, "What No Longer Serves You", we've got an 80s-inspired #piano -driven and lovably dorky encouraging song for you. Lyrics inspired by a discussion about impostor syndrome over in the chat.

Credits, our band @bearwith : @wynia vocal, keys, lyrics, songwriting, Enneagram 1 crippling perfectionism @briansmith bass, electronic drums, audio engineering/mastering, Enneagram 5 scientific audio mastering curiosity @dmelbygibbons guitar, vocals, lyrics, songwriting, Enneagram 9 thoughtful encouragement

Lyrics

What No Longer Serves You INTRO _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Verse 1a

When you’re rushing along No time to slow down And your thoughts are awash with what No longer serves you It’s hard to believe With your struggles so real That you’ll finally heal from what No longer serves you

Verse 1b Go on outside And stop wasting your time Then get out of your mind from what No longer serves you

Rise from the ground With new confidence found And your hope will abound that it No longer serves you

Tag Hook _ _ _ _ _ __ No longer serves you _ _ _ _ _ __ No longer serves you _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Verse 2a If your worries belie Harder truths to deny Mental blockup inside with what No longer serves you Riddled with doubt Complications amount And it seems hard to get out from what No longer serves you

Verse 2b Up and away Move on with your day Make a neat break cause it’s A New path to pur- sue Bring in fresh air and Jump off your chair You’re free to declare that it’s A New path to pur- sue

Tag Hook _ _ _ _ _ __ A new path to pursue _ _ _ _ _ __ A new path to pursue _ _ _ _ _ _

Bridge Take a break from running Some mistakes are worth overcoming take some time, step away from what’s troubling Take a break from running Take a break from running Some mistakes are worth overcoming take some time, step away from what’s troubling Take a break from running

Verse 3a Now you’re feeling outmatched And success is abstract Impostor syndrome enacts and that No longer serves you One little mistake Makes you wanna escape Motivation decays and that No longer serves you

Verse 3b Get outta your head, there’s no Need to pretend You are doing great, friend!, so May this encourage you See what we see You’ll be finally free to try Things honestly, so May this encourage you

_ _ _ _ _ __ May this encourage you _ _ _ _ _ __ May this encourage you _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Comments

@jmahaffey 3d

Very catchy hook and a hopeful, bouncy beast. I enjoyed this!

@zecoopMod 1w

The chord changes are downright happy and joyful and when you combine it with these lyrics, it is perfection. Well constructed with a awesome flow. I love the change up into the bridge. My head was bobbing the entire time. And the message hit home for me and my struggle-FAWM. Nicely done!

@wynia 1w

Thanks so much for stopping by and listening and for your kind words. There are so many of us struggling with perfectionism, aren't there. Well I can say having listened to your work that "you are doing great, friend, so may this encourage you" :)

@burrMod 1w

love the rhythmic switchups here and the chord changes are great. i have yet to successfully get something out of a BSC prompt (then again skirmishes aren’t my deal either) but this makes me want try harder… the whole thing is great, but the bridge might be my favorite part!

@wynia 1w

Thanks for listening here and for your kind words on the song @burr - actually it's the first #badsongclub that I've followed through to completion! I'm still scared of skirmishes....

@esc4p3 2w

The catchy and memorable line "no longer serves you", I'm singing along almost immediately, that is what it is all about, leaving the listener with a melody to hum along to long after the song has finished. A bright up tempo number and a great Collab. Whoop!

@wynia 1w

Sorry for the late reply, but I wanted to thank you for listening! It's a huge compliment that you describe it as "catchy" - warms up a songwriter's heart immediately :)

@deleted 2w

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@brisk 2w

Mmm, I love this melody so much - it is sweet and weird in equal measures, really memorable and enjoyable. Great spot on the main lyrical/tune/title hook, it's a great songish phrase. The bridge is a good palate cleanser too, and gives us just enough time away to enjoy the A melody's reprise. Lovely backing too, really wholesome and slightly off-kilter. Love it.

@wynia 1w

A bit late to respond, but I appreciate your kind words! "Sweet and weird" are some of my new favorite words to describe this song!

@raspberry33 2w

This is something AI could never create...innovative, delightful, original, unexpected. Great collaboration! We need more bouncy optimism today.

@wynia 1w

Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! AI definitely could not create this because isn't AI "already perfect" lol (huge sarcasm there). Glad you resonated with the song!

@andyt13 2w

This is a pure delight! Beautiful and hilarious.

@wynia 1w

Thanks much for stopping by and I'm glad you liked the song :)

@gazebo 2w

This is what FAWM is about. This is really original and interesting. The movement in the "No longer serves you" line is a surprise at the start and eagerly anticipated as the song progresses. Great work!

@wynia 1w

A bit late to reply but thanks for stopping by and listening, and I appreciate that you liked the repetition (I was hoping it wouldn't get old!)

@quadrivium 2w

This is a great message. The bridge really grabs me with the slant rhyme of running/and overcoming and the taking time to step away and get perspective. I love the upbeat piano a lot!

@wynia 1w

A bit late to reply but thanks much for listening and for your kind words! We all do need to take that break at times :)

@debs 2w

Straight to my Enneagram 1 heart! 💜 This kinda has a kids-song vibe, it’s so upbeat!

@wynia 1w

Thanks for stopping by, fellow Enneagram 1! I'm glad it encouraged you too, all packaged in the upbeat kids song vibe :)

@roblyon5150 2w

wait, this is a #badsongclub song? really great!

@wynia 1w

Hey thanks for stopping by and listening! Yes, it was the first #badsongclub prompt of 2026!

@aeye 2w

I looooove that piano. It has such a great sound. The uplifting message of this is just we all need. Super catchy hook too

@wynia 1w

Since you are a fellow perfectionist and were part of the original convo on slack that inspired this, I will let you in on the secret that we listened to literally every keyboard sound available in Logic more than once (3-4 times maybe...) Maybe I wasn't taking my own advice to get out of my head lol

@aeye 1w

Haha this is absolutely me (and if I can’t find the right sound I’ll take it a step further and make it )

@itoarazi 2w

Now THIS is the motivator we all need! The music is every bit as optimistic as the message! I love the title repeat at the end of each 4-line stanza!

@wynia 1w

Awe thanks for stopping by and listening and for reinforcing the need for optimism!

@seanh 2w

great motivational speech for riding out everyday stressors, in a very direct voice. very enjoyable!

@wynia 1w

Thanks so much for stoppying by and listening, and I'm glad you got some motivation out of the deal too :)

@nancycunning 2w

The breathless way you sing this make me think of the excitement of seeing a path I want to embrace. Then the slower bridge spunds like the ideas are settling into place, the new habits forming. Glad to hear your band again!

@wynia 1w

Sorry to reply so late, but I wanted to thank you for listening. I think with the rapid pace of the words it would be hard to not be breathy, but also I was at the end of a very congestion-y cold so that contributed...but probably works in this context haha! Glad you enjoyed the song!

@edwinb 2w

Nice bouncy piano and some much needed optimism and encouragement here. The "No longer serves you" hook is probably going to live in my head for a while.

@wynia 1w

A bit late to reply, but thanks for listening fellow slacker! Huge compliment to having a hooky hook :)

@stevenwesleyguiles 2w

The unbridled optimism in the lyric and the gallop of the music!!! Absolutely love this. My brain was trying to understand the time signature. But it didn’t matter because that thought mostly no longer serves me. 😀

@wynia 1w

Late to reply here, but thanks for listening! The time signature is kinda off kilter but works out to a multiple of 4 in the end (at least that's what Brian said in doing the electronic drums)

@kiraly 2w

Aww, this is lovely! A great message with some great music to back it up. I do feel encouraged after listening to it. 😄

@wynia 1w

Hi, sorry for the late reply here, but I do appreciate you listening and I'm glad you were encouraged! :)

@cathreu 2w

Love the harmonies, the (to me) Mountain Goats style piano, and the lyrics. A very happy, vibey reminder to let the old story go. Thanks!

@wynia 1w

A little late replying, but thanks so much for listening. Now adding Mountain Goats to my post-FAWM listening list :)

@cathreu 1w

No way!? Welllll I'll not recommend albums un-asked, but as they have something like 40 albums, feel free to ping me if you need a place to start!

@nagavaeoe 2w

Catchy and feel good song. Fun listen!

@wynia 1w

Late to reply here, but thanks for coming by to listen; glad you enjoyed it!

@jamesstaubes 3w

Fun tune. The verse melody is very strong. It stuck in my head! My favorite part is the bridge. I have a job interview today so I will use this as my theme song! 😀

@wynia 1w

Late to respond here, but I appreciate you listening! There's no higher compliment to a songwriter than [your song is] "stuck in my head" :) Hope your job interview went well!

@willow1 3w

Nice collab! The lyrics are really relatable, and the band sound s great.

@wynia 1w

Hi, sorry I'm late to reply, but I really appreciate you listening and the compliments on the song :)

@lcad 3w

Really catchy and toe-tappy. Would love a bit more vocals in the mix, I heard the piano intro and the first vox caught me by surprise. Has a really bright feel, almost the theme song for a 90s sitcom (in a good way!) love the plays on the motif and the way you build on it. The little break in the rhythm on the final line in the verse is really strong and helps it stand out. Great work!

@wynia 1w

A bit late to respond, but I wanted to thank you for listening! You mentioned having higher vocals...that's a good tip for when we re-record (here I was at the end of a very congested cold so my vocals are very stuffy and out of breath and maybe why I wanted to downplay them in the mix haha). I appreciate you likening it to 90s sitcom, that's exactly the vibe!

@blair_horton 3w

So catchy! Perfect tune for beginning FAWM!

@wynia 1w

Late to reply but thanks for listening! Having one's song described as "catchy" is very high praise for a songwriter, so thank you!

@joshalmond 3w

A nice positive tune here! I feel like the line "take a break from running" is spot on and something so many should heed.

@wynia 1w

Late to reply here...but I wanted to thank you for listening! I'm glad that line resonated with you; it's so important to rest (advice I should heed more often myself...the whole song was advice to myself haha)

@theflyingcelery 3w

Your crippling perfectionism has paid off! ;) I love the effort taken to share chords alongside the lyrics!

@wynia 1w

A late reply here, but I wanted to thank you for stopping by and listening. And indeed, perfectionism does pay off sometimes (though the process can be debilitating haha)

@tspoon 3w

I love the piano sound here. Also love the theme. Get outside and stop wasting your time, get out of your mind. Good advice for everyone. very catchy one.

@wynia 1w

Sorry for the late reply here but I appreciate you stopping by and listening. We did go through probably 50 piano sounds before settling on this one (hmmm...perfectionism lol), so I'm glad it resonated!

@dudachris 3w

This is tons of fun and so optimistic! I kinda wanna stick it on repeat while I do dishes lol. Love it 💛

@wynia 1w

A little bit late to reply but I wanted to thank you for listening and for your kind words! I did want to turn my own self doubt into something peppy and upbeat and overcome-y :)

@chill4matt 3w

I like the backing track here! This song is positive! And I think everyone has habits that worked for them in the past. How do you know though if you're not courageously reflecting? Great song!!

@wynia 1w

Hey, sorry for the late reply here, but thanks so much for listening! I'm glad you liked it and felt encouraged by the positivity :)

@linl77 3w

Very catchy and encouraging!

@wynia 1w

Thanks for stopping by to listen and for your kind words!

@hbusse 3w

Wow, great job writing such a rush of lyrics in those verses! The modulation from verse into tag hook and again into bridge holds a lot of interest to my ear. (Lol at relatable liner notes: “Enneagram 1 crippling perfectionism” 🙋🏻‍♀️)

@wynia 1w

Sorry for the late reply here, but thanks for listening! It was even harder to perform all those lyrics as I was a bit breathless from congestion from the "drainage phase" of a cold haha. Fellow Enneagram 1, solidarity...I see you

@skylermf 3w

I love the switch up in the bridge (especially the drums). The harmonies throughout are really fun, and I like how “no longer serves you” changes to “new path to peruse” and “may this encourage you” as the song continues - such a great mantra to start off on!

@wynia 1w

Sorry for the late reply, but thanks for stopping by to listen! Originally the lyrics were just the original hook all the way through but @dmelbygibbons suggested the lyrical evolution and it was meant to be!

@sbs 3w

Nice band! Lyrics are just what we need to be reminded of.

@wynia 1w

A bit late to reply, but I wanted to thank you for stopping by! Appreciate the compliment on our band; we have a fun time playing together :)

@sapient 3w

I 'm loving all the happy, upbeat songs I'm hearing this FAWM, and here's another wonderful one! Message is absolutely on point, and the music is so bright and shiny. 😀

@wynia 1w

A late reply to your comment, but I'm glad you enjoyed the listen - and the message... Inspired by all the impostor syndrome going around at times in the slack, I just needed to remind myself musically to get out of my own head!

@jmpoet 3w

Charming! Grabs the listener right at the first notes. Love all the well put lyrics; I wanted to listen to again just as soon as it ended, which is exactly what you want.

@wynia 1w

Sorry to be so late in responding here, but I do want to note that coming from you especially, a compliment on the lyrics means so much :)

@metalfoot 3w

This is the "you can do it" FAWM anthem, isn't it? :) Enjoyable!

@wynia 1w

Late to respond, but I appreciate you listening! I think we could write endless "you can do it" FAWM anthems and I might not totally believe the words, but let's keep trying, eh? :)

@beren 3w

man what a fun feel good song. And catchy! Great bridge too, really fits well with the song while being a unique part. “May this encourage you” was so nice!! Nicely done @bearwith

@wynia 1w

Late to respond, but thanks much for stopping by and listening! I'm glad you liked the switchup in the bridge; that's also one of my favorite parts!

@val 3w

I’m all for “dorky encouraging” songs. I definitely need them. 😀 I like the easy, breezy vibe. It’s a fun, catchy track the is really easy on the ears and yes, encouraging.

@wynia 1w

Late to reply here, but thanks for stopping by and listening! I love that you love the dorkiness, and honestly I just have to lean into that, since most everything I write comes out that way (or at least sounding like it's from a different era)

@tcelliott 3w

I think I needed to hear this. Thank you for writing it and sharing it. Such a catchy hook that it's stuck in my brain.

@wynia 1w

Late to reply here, but thanks for listening! I feel like I might belong with you (go away impostor syndrome!) and the other slack greats if you are calling out a catchy hook :)

@oldlostjohn 3w

Some good advice here, so many people stressed out. All delivered in a suitably relaxed and sort of carefree way.

@wynia 1w

Sorry for the late reply here, but I really appreciate you stopping by to listen. I hope it's good advice (it was mainly written as advice to myself :) )

@williamjames 3w

Very well put together. Great lines in the lyrics. the part about success abstract and mental blockade were my favourites. The hook works, as it is now firmly stuck in my head!

@wynia 1w

Late to respond here, but thanks for listening! Sorry(maybe not sorry) for getting that hook stuck in your head; isn't that something all of us songwriters aspire to? :)

@andygetch 3w

Wooohoo, I'm digging this band arrangement and the popular song structure. Smiling ear to ear at the #slackchat inspired lyric. Words of wisdom for all of us. +1 on the evolution of the tag line.

@wynia 1w

Late to respond here, but thanks so much for listening! I love the slack because there are a lot of fellow perfectionists and given how awesome and encouraging everyone is, it makes me feel seen!

@carleybaer 3w

This is so sweet and funky! The harmonies are great, almost reminiscent of something I can't quite put my finger on but it's something I loved from my childhood. I like the juxtaposition of "take a break from running" with the driving drums. The "serves you/pur-sue/encourage you" rhymes made me smile. Nice work team!

@wynia 1w

Late to respond to this, but thank you so much for listening, and I agree that it's like something from childhood... Schoolhouse Rock or Mr. Rogers or Sesame Street. Nothing I write ever sounds modern haha

@beacon 3w

Very fun, and a message that most of us need. I should listen to this multiple times a day. Like all the different instruments. Like the "Break" in the Bridge.

@wynia 1w

Late here in responding - but thank you for listening and calling out some of my favorite elements too!