FAWM: "Why Else Would I Leave You?"

Why Else Would I Leave You?

Liner Notes

FAWM 2025 / Song 2

I think I wrote the first lyrical draft of this a few months ago during another songwriting challenge (the prompt was to write a lyric using only questions), and I already had a tune in my head for the chorus when I looked at it this morning, so I sat down with my ukulele and finished it. I revised a number of the lines along the way, so it’s a second pass to the lyrics but first pass on demo.

Instrument: spruce and mahogany tenor ukulele tuned low GCEA

#ukulele #singersongwriter #personwithukulele #girlwithukulele #acousticonetake #fuc #uke #acoustic #breakup #finished

Lyrics

Will you let me ask the questions for once?
Would you bet me I don’t know what you’ve done?
Are you getting why I moved on
Once I stepped in something you got very wrong?

Why else would I leave you?
Tell me: why would I go?
What deed would you have to do?
Did you think that I wouldn’t know?
Can you guess from these clues
(Cause it was yesterday’s news)?
Why else would I leave you?
Why else would I leave you?

Does my perfume float by in a crowd?
Do you wish you’d said the quiet things loud?
Did you wake up when I walked out?
Did I take off but you still have your doubts?

CHORUS

Do I know what you did?
Do you think that I do?
Do you wonder what could have been…?
Do you look at your hands
And remember the way that we began?
Or do you still… feel…. her…. skin?

CHORUS

(Baby, some things you choose)
Why else would I leave you?
Why else would I leave you?

Comments

@williamjames 1w

Only questions in the lyrics but at the same time it feels like it is full of answers as well. I loved those high notes on the do! Very infectious song!

@nadine 2w

Wow you managed to write a song full of questions. Questions, questions, and no answers. But that's the problem of a break up. Definitely a YES! The vocal phrasing is so good!

@paul_pedersen 2w

Intriguing to have an entire song delivered in questions. Amazingly, the questions actually give us the complete story. And if that's not enough, the vocal is engaging, too.

@memeworrywort 2w

You've done a great job capturing how careless people are often left clueless when they step on rakes in relationships. I really enjoy the repetition of the title of the song as it does leave you wondering (like the subject of this song).

@val 2w

That hammer on sus chord is the icing for me. I love sus chords. Also love the vocal leaps in chorus. Your voice is so nice up there in the register. Wonderful sound.

@andygetch 2w

Another great list of questions for the #happilymarriedsongwriterwritingbreakupsongs canon :)

@deandra 2w

Great job! I love the idea of writing a song of all questions and you nailed it.

@excessivemachine 2w

"Why Else Would I Leave You?" is a fantastic title.

Getting a Joni Mitchell vibe from the melody.

@jlampson 2w

You're killing me here! I've been on both sides of this equation, and the math is like that Julia Roberts meme at first. Your voice lilts and floats right on top of this in an effortless way, but unrelentingly holds the mirror at the angle most uncomfortable for the processor of this prose.

@berni1954 2w

Ah, there is always room in the world for another break-up song. Great melody and performance. Oooh those "doooos" sent shivers through me! 😉

@george 2w

The one statement in the sea of questions hits extra hard. Great song!

@chill4matt 2w

I love how you write so many songs and that they sound like this. It just becomes second nature after awhile, no? Nice work!

@tcelliott 3w

That's a lovely melody and I enjoyed your vocal performance. You had me picking the up the guitar and playing along. All questions is a great challenge and you nailed it.

@billwhite51 3w

good question. and the answer should be easy, but the object of you scorn is most likely in denial, doesnt even believe himself what he has done. its a good question and an excellent title. with every one of your questions i was imagining the dumb bell's response.

@dudachris 3w

Oooh this is a great write and a fantastic prompt. The prompt feels like a musical cousin to "What did you learn in school today."

An excellent take and that falsetto on "do" right in the middle is sublime.

@suziek 3w

What a solid write - the structure and flow are spot on. Told the story and keep it moving - hard to do.
Repetition in the perfect place - I was singing the chorus and the refrain by the end. I liked everything about it.
Oh and your vocals were fab!