'Oh Susannah' by Wyatt Flores – Lyrics & Meaning

Throughout his young and mighty career thus far, Wyatt Flores has been a force to be reckoned with.

With each new song added to his growing arsenal of instant hits and beloved fan-favorites, the Tulsa titan underlines just what's made him the star-in-the-making that he is: his unapologetic vulnerability.

Never one to shy away from talking about the real life impacts and struggles he's had with mental health, Flores' first moment in the spotlight came with his 2022 breakthrough 'Please Don't Go.'

From there, he's continued to share his own story and experiences, with songs like 'Orange Bottles,' 'Running Out Of Time,' 'West of Tulsa' and more, with legions of fans finding comfort within his lyrics and crediting him for helping them through their own journeys.

That series continues with the release of 'Oh Susannah,' which spawns from his 2024 record, Welcome to the Plains. As noted at the beginning of the new tune's music video, Flores "wrote this song about you" with the hopes that we're "taking care of [ourselves]."

'Oh Susannah' starts out like much of Flores' discography thus far as an acoustic choir, as mandolins, fiddles, light drum and guitars build their own little southern symphony.

While a bass plucks along, the band comes together as one during the chorus, through which Flores offers a compelling vocal performance, his conviction dripping off of every line.

Written by Flores with longtime collaborator David DeVaul, the moving anthem sees Beau Bedford behind the soundboard, contributing his talents to its production. As harmonic vocals join together to create a choir of "oh's" between verses, the bridge finds everything compounding with great effect, as the narrator finds solace in not being able to save everyone in his life.

"You never asked me to
I didn't think I could
But I put that weight on me
Couldn't carry a cross of wood
Couldn't carry a cross of wood
I tried to pull you up
Turns out I wasn't enough
I always let you down
Who the hell did I think I was?"

We find the speaker in the middle of a realization within what seems to be a romantic relationship, though it's unclear.

Explaining that the other person never asked him to carry the weight and baggage that they bring, the singer admits that he took it on himself. Thinking he was strong enough to share the load and be able to lift life's weights off of the other person, he jumped in with both feet. It didn't take long, though, to realize that no one is strong enough to do that.

Trying to blame it on the fact that he "wasn't enough," the narrator begins to question his identity and their relationship at large.

"Oh, Susannah
Don't you go cryin' for me, it's all gettin' better
I couldn't be who you want me to be, thought I was a savior
But I was a fool on drunken behavior
Why did I believe I could save you, darlin'
Without killin' me?"

While Flores is notably singing to "Susannah," the song feels universal to anyone whose ever been in this same spot.

Pleading with the other person that they need't shed tears on his behalf, the singer explains that he was simply suffering from a savior complex, thinking that he was able to fix all the things that were going wrong when, in reality, he was just human.

Asking the key question – "Why did I believe I could save you, darlin', without killin' me?" – the narrator shares a profound point. While much of his discography has been credited with "saving people" from their own mental health struggles, reality hits the young singer-songwriter that he can't take on that role and also take care of himself at the same time.

"We go together so bittersweet
Like misery and company
And I know you can't say no
I don't really wanna let you go
But I gotta leave, so you can be free
That's what you really need"

Going back to the conversation with what seems like a significant other – probably Susannah – the narrator explains that they really weren't the best pairing in the first place, calling it "bittersweet." Like fire and gasoline, they keep perpetuating the problem and preventing each other from both getting the help and support that they each deserve.

Understanding that the only way for them to get what they both need, the singer decides to break it off and let her be free.

"I was a problem
Only tryna be the cure
I was a problem
Only tryna be the cure
I was a problem
Only tryna be the cure
I was a problem
I was a problem
I was a problem
I was a problem"

Owning up to his own downfalls, the singer chants that he was, in fact the problem in the relationship.

While he had respectable and commendable goals of just wanting to help and "cure" the issues at hand, there's a moment of self-realization as he understands that he was just continuing the cycle and creating more problems.

"And oh, Susannah
Don't you go cryin' for me, it's all gettin' better
But I couldn't be who you want me to be, thought I was a savior
But I was a fool on drunken behavior
Why did I believe I could save you, darlin'?
Oh, why did I believe I could save you, darlin'
Without killin' me?"

The impetus for 'Oh Susannah' was born out of an interaction Flores had on stage at the beginning of 2024 during a show in Kansas City.

Putting his mental health first, Flores ended up rescheduling a run of shows, but while he was taking some much deserved time off, something marvelous was born.

"Imagine being told you've saved someone's life or that your song was the last one posted before someone loses their battle with their mental health. I thought I could carry that weight, be that person for everyone. Turns out, I lost myself along the way," Flores shared on socials upon the release of 'Oh Susannah.'

"When I broke down on stage in Kansas City, I wanted to hide from the world. Instead, I told the truth. I went away for a while to learn more about where I might've gone wrong. I learned that as much as I'd like to be that person who saves folks, I can only help myself, write my truth, and leave the rest up to y'all," he continued. "When David DuVaul, one of my longtime writing partners, came to Stillwater during my break, we sat down to explain that truth. 'Please Don't Go' was written for one person, and it helped people in ways I never anticipated. 'Oh Susannah' is written to everyone who has been impacted by my music.

"To my fans and other artists that reached out in that hard time, I can't explain how much it meant to me but thank you. Although it'll never be perfect, it's all getting better."

You never asked me to
I didn't think I could
But I put that weight on me
Couldn't carry a cross of wood
Couldn't carry a cross of wood
I tried to pull you up
Turns out I wasn't enough
I always let you down
Who the hell did I think I was?

Oh, Susannah
Don't you go cryin' for me, it's all gettin' better
I couldn't be who you want me to be, thought I was a savior
But I was a fool on drunken behavior
Why did I believe I could save you, darlin'
Without killin' me?

(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
Without killin' me
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

We go together so bittersweet
Like misery and company
And I know you can't say no
I don't really wanna let you go
But I gotta leave, so you can be free
That's what you really need

And oh, Susannah
Don't you go cryin' for me, it's all gettin' better
But I couldn't bе who you want me to be, thought I was a savior
But I was a fool on drunken bеhavior
Why did I believe I could save you, darlin'
Without killin' me?

(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
Without killin' me
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

I was a problem
Only tryna be the cure
I was a problem
Only tryna be the cure
I was a problem
Only tryna be the cure
I was a problem
I was a problem
I was a problem
I was a problem

And oh, Susannah
Don't you go cryin' for me, it's all gettin' better
But I couldn't be who you want me to be, thought I was a savior
But I was a fool on drunken behavior
Why did I believe I could save you, darlin'?
Oh, why did I believe I could save you, darlin'
Without killin' me?

(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)
Without killin' me
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh)

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