Story Behind The Song
Based on a true story: the woman asked the man, "What happened to us."
Song Description
"What Happened to Us" is a soul-deep reflection on love that drifted, cracked, or came undone without warning. Wrapped in a warm, vulnerable vocal and a melody that aches in all the right places, the song captures that quiet space between remembering what was and accepting what is.
It speaks to the moments when two people lose their way--not through a single blow, but through slowly growing distance, unspoken words, and the weight of change. The lyric breathes nostalgia, longing, and the painful clarity of realizing love doesn't always fade at the same time for both hearts.
Haunting yet beautiful, this track invites listeners to sit with their own unanswered questions and find grace in the truth. If you've ever looked back on a relationship and whispered, "How did we get here?" -- this song will feel like it was written just for you.
| Song Length |
2:58 |
Genre |
Pop - Rock, Pop - Alternative |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Heartbreaking, Exultant |
Subject |
Breaking Up, Regret |
| Similar Artists |
Daughtry |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
WHAT HAPPENED TO US
(Xolani Kacela)
[Verse 1]
She asked me, "What happened to us?"
We were like a balloon ready to bust
Our profiles looked like a perfect match
Of all the fish, none was a better catch
[Pre-Chorus]
I told her, I was a self-made man
Who loved a self-made woman
But the mansion felt like omen land
When I saw a picture-perfect life, I ran
[Chorus]
A self-made man still wants his air
I came around, but the crowd was there
Every voice had something to add
Too many echoes in the room we shared
[Post-Chorus]
We got in our own way
There's nothing left to say
No need to make a fuss, we know
What happened to us
[Verse 2]
Your smile could melt a reptile
All the while, I wanted to get lucky
But Sunday dinners weren't my style
Too much polish, I was born scruffy
[Pre-Chorus]
I told her, I was a self-made man
Who loved a self-made woman
But the mansion felt like omen land
I pictured a life too planned, so I ran
[Chorus]
A self-made man still wants his air
I came around, but the crowd was there
Every voice had something to add
Too many echoes in the room we shared
[Post-Chorus]
We got in our own way
What more can we say
No need to make a fuss, we know
What happened to us
[Outro]
I'd rather wait for love than lose it twice
That's what happened to us
©2025 Xolani Kacela, ASCAP, xolani.kacela@gmail.com, 919-949-2002