"The Year You Didn't Ask For" (Hard Rock Version)

Bandmates from New Zealand wanted to do a heavier version of this tune. Lina, who wrote the lyrics, felt that her friend, Jennifer had a voice better suited than her's for a solid rock version.

Dedicated to my niece, Keela!

Jennifer McMillian - Vocals
Todd Jones - Synths
Robert Payne - Guitars
Kitty Deboise - Bass
Ned Collins - Drums

Conceived and produced by, Jones & Armstrong
Recording CMA Productions (© 2025)
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"The Year You Didn't Ask For"
Lina Collins (© 2025)

Maybe it didn’t look
Like the picture in your head
Plans on the fridge door
Never happened like you said
Some days lit you up
From the middle of your chest
Some days left you staring
At the ceiling
Getting dressed

You said goodbye to habits
To houses
To names
To versions of yourself
You won’t ever be again

This is the year you didn’t ask for
But it carved your name in stone
Tore some pages from your story
Til you had to stand alone
You found out who would answer
And who faded from the frame
You learnt to show up for yourself
When it all felt hard and strange
This year gave you lessons you didn’t ask for
But you’ll never be the same

You outgrew old corners
That once felt like home
Coffee shops and back roads
You now walk past on your own
You counted every letdown
Like lines upon your palm
You laughed til you were crying
Then cried your way to calm

You kept going
When stopping seemed kind
Pulled yourself forward
One breath at a time
Some changes you can point to
Some live in your eyes
The quiet kind of courage
That you only see in hindsight