Time traveler

Lately I keep hearing about the importance of songwriters being on the TikTok app. In the past few years, some artists have gone viral on the app and found success by posting short-form videos using their songs.

The app was initially released in 2016 and I’ve avoided it up until this year because it seemed like a big time-sucker and I already feel like I’m limited on time. But once I released my first song earlier this year, I decided to open an account and check it out since “Our Home” is now available on TikTok.

In general, I tend to shy away from posting videos, as it’s not something that I’m comfortable with. (I chose print journalism as a college major over broadcast journalism for a reason, after all – my joy comes from the writing process and not from being in front of the camera). Of course at that time I didn’t know the fate of print newspapers, as the Internet debuted in the public domain just a year before I graduated college and few people were aware of the impact it would have on the world. (And yes, I realize how old that makes me sound…)

I haven’t yet actually posted a video on TikTok, but occasionally I’ll check out some of the videos – my favorites so far being jax (for her creativity), The Holderness Family (for their humor) and Ari’s Take (for his tips about the music business).

However, I did get a song idea after learning about an account from somebody claiming to be a time traveler. This account shares “predictions” about the future and I found that idea so intriguing.

Someone on TikTok is making predictions
Claims to be a time traveler sharing the news
It’s all fantasy but part of me wants to believe
‘Cause wouldn’t it be cool if it were true?

Hey, time traveler, will the world get better
Will you be a beacon of light?
I’m here wondering what the future will bring
Curious if it turns out alright

People responded, asking all kinds of questions
Like when will the war end and who will win the game
All of that mystery unsolved throughout history
Will we ever find out who to blame?

Will there be flying cars?
Visitors from beyond the stars?
No more hunger, no more drought
Do we unite to work it out?

Hey, time traveler, will the world get better
Will you be a beacon of light?
I’m here wondering what the future will bring
Curious if it turns out alright
Hoping it turns out alright.

Here is a work tape of the song:

I’m not sure yet if or when I’ll actually start posting on TikTok, but at least it inspired a song!