I wrote nothingman back when I hadn’t even grown a beard. Naive, yet somehow this song managed to survive for what feels like an eternity of existence. nothingman is my friend, one of the truer types. It has always been there, for as long as I remember. Now that I have to think about this, not that I don’t usually, but because I intend to make my art more accessible to anyone who enjoys the subtleties of nuance and exploration, and stumbles onto me. Perhaps, the only listener nothingman needs is me.
One needs to define a proper and objective interpretation of what one writes, maybe because you are as disconnected from your art as some random observer. This is important, I have to presume, otherwise one runs into the terrors of judgement and often brutal self-critique. And by far, only the universe is a witness to my unfathomable, innumerable terrors.
However, growing old is a holy act; as your perspectives and beliefs evolve, plunge or conjure a hell, you start to either evolve or derange into something of a nothingman. Not a remark or a subtle disregard spoken as two separate words and ideas, but as a singular entity of nothingness.
Following is a presentation of this idea of a nothingman; this is not an answer neither does it promise a moral justification to a hypothetical immoral act, it is just an exploration of what goes inside of a mind that questions.
a nothingman
The human condition is often defined by a relentless pursuit of meaning, achievement, and validation. Societal constructs dictate that worth is measured through possessions, status, and relationships. Yet, what remains when these external measures are stripped away? The song nothingman explores this existential paradox, questioning whether emptiness is truly a void or if it represents the ultimate form of liberation.
The Illusion of Attainment
The narrative of progress and success is deeply ingrained in modern consciousness. Many strive to climb metaphorical peaks, expecting fulfillment upon reaching the summit. However, the realization often dawns that arrival does not equate to contentment. From a philosophical perspective, this echoes existentialist thought: the pursuit itself may be an illusion, and the clarity gained from detachment is what truly matters.
Existentialism posits that meaning is not found in external achievements but in individual perception. Once freed from societal expectations, one begins to see existence as it is—fluid, indifferent, and devoid of inherent meaning beyond what is personally constructed.
The Search for Identity and the Burden of Expectation
Love, validation, and identity are often sought through external sources. Yet, the existentialists, including Jean-Paul Sartre, argued that relying on others for self-definition leads to despair. Identity, in its truest sense, cannot be granted or shaped by external forces; it must emerge from within. The struggle of attempting to conform to expectations results in suffering, as external ideals rarely align with the internal reality of the self.
Freedom, then, is found not in seeking definition from the outside world but in shedding these illusions. The realization that nothing external can grant lasting fulfillment leads to a form of existential rebirth—one that embraces self-definition rather than societal validation.
The Paradox of the Nothingman: Emptiness as Liberation
The concept of the Nothingman suggests loss—a figure seemingly devoid of attachments or purpose. However, nothingness in existential thought does not equate to non-existence. Instead, it signifies the shedding of imposed identities, allowing for a raw and authentic state of being.
Friedrich Nietzsche and Albert Camus explored the idea that true freedom emerges not from possession, but from detachment. To be nothing is to be free from obligation, expectation, and constraint. In embracing this nothingness, one steps into true autonomy, where existence is no longer dictated by external validation but by an internally crafted meaning.
Renewal Through Letting Go
Philosophy often portrays renewal as a form of existential cleansing—a moment where past burdens and attachments are stripped away, revealing an unburdened present. In this state, the past no longer dictates identity, and the individual is free to exist without the weight of regret or obligation. This perspective aligns with Sartre’s belief that existence precedes essence; identity is not a static construct but an evolving state shaped by personal choice.
This journey toward nothingness is not one of despair but of realization. The acceptance of impermanence, the letting go of societal constructs, and the acknowledgment that meaning is self-created lead to a profound sense of liberation.
Impermanence and the Authentic Self
The desire to return to dust, to exist without pride or constructed virtues, speaks to the fundamental existential truth of impermanence. Life is transient, and in acknowledging this, one finds authenticity. Albert Camus, in his philosophy of the absurd, argued that embracing life’s fleeting nature allows for genuine existence. It is only by recognizing that nothing is permanent that one can fully experience the present without attachment or fear.
Nothingness as Freedom
The existential journey of Nothingman is not one of despair, but of liberation. In rejecting external validation, societal constructs, and material attachments, one discovers true freedom. The paradox of nothingness reveals that to have nothing is not to lack, but to be unburdened. To exist authentically is to accept impermanence, to embrace the present, and to define meaning on one’s own terms.
Reflections
- Freedom is not found in accumulation, but in detachment.
- Seeking meaning externally often leads to suffering; true fulfillment comes from within.
- Embracing impermanence allows for authentic existence.
Nothingness is not a void—it is a state of being. In shedding imposed identities, one finds the ultimate liberation.
Hello there, you made it so far. Pat yourself as you are one of the few.
Of course, this idea of nothingman is not a novel construction. It is, quite literally, coded into out DNA, it is instict.
What do you think happens when we realise? Do you even believe all of this? I am open to a dialogue.
Stream nothingman below –
I get to the top and find the world (under my feet)
I look at the bugs the people on ground (through their skins)
I find their peace and a lot of mistakes (more than anything)
I was looking for love my eyes were teased (blood I cried)
A nothingman is all I feel
You know I got nothing but I am real
A nothingman is all I’ll ever be
You know I got nothing but I am free
I close my eyes and I lift my head (to the sky)
There’s light and hope and promises to keep (they shall be kept)
It starts to rain it washes my skin (my debts are cleared)
I feel a man a nothingman (is all I feel)
A nothingman is all I feel
You know I got nothing but I am real
A nothingman is all I’ll ever be
You know I got nothing but I am free
Yes, I am free
Take me to the mountain
Bring me to the rivers
Cut my pride and virtues
I wanna feel dust again
written by Saby Singh
performed by Saby & RD
Leave a Reply