Alternative Lyrics: "Everything But You" 💔✨

Hey there, it’s Bonnie McKee….professional songwriter, indie pop artist, and analog notebook enthusiast.

Today, I want to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into one of my most personal songs off the Hot City album: “Everything But You.”

This song took years to finish. Literally. I started it during my “single summer” in Sweden…post-breakup, deep in heartbreak, and trying my best not to lose my shit at the pinnacle of my career. Let’s talk about how it came to be, the lyrics I changed, and why it still chokes me up every time I sing it.

The Breakup Behind the Bop 💔🪩

At the time, I had just ended a 6–7 year relationship with someone who wasn’t just my boyfriend…he was also my creative partner and musical soulmate. We had signed our first publishing deals together. We came up together. He helped me discovery my sonic identity. I’ve seen this happen a lot over the years, where collaborators turned couples have a double struggle when they call it quits. Cuz you’re not only losing your romantic partner, you’re also forced to detangle creatively and often times professionally, which as you can imagine, can get messy.

Meanwhile…

I was writing hit songs for Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kesha, traveling the world, living my literal dream- alone. I jad always imagined, when I “made it big” some day, that I could celebrate that with him.

I met my friend Johnny Newman, who is one of my fav co-writers (Sleepwalker, Wasted Youth, Don’t Get Mad Get Famous, Slay) through my ex, and we were all tight. Johnny knew all the nuances of our relationship- the ups, the downs, the offs and ons- nobody else in the world could have hit the nail on the head with this concept the way he did. Johnny was out in Sweden with our friend Jocko (Robyn, Electric Heaven, I Wanna Call You) and they had started this song for me. When I flew out to meet them and they played me just a rough chorus, I immediately burst into tears. Like boo hooing they both had to hug me tears. 😭😭😭 I didn’t even realize I felt that way til I heard that scratch vocal. They found my words for me and I felt seen.

That was the beginning of Everything But You.

This song was all about counting my abundant blessings and pretending they outweighed the heartbreak…and spoiler: they didn’t. But it gave me a framework to explore that painful contrast.

I had:

• A house in the hills

• A new car

• 5 number one songs on the radio

• Hot water (finally! 😅)

• A new record deal

• And all the accoutrement that come with those things- Parties, clothes, being an industry darling, friends in high places…

I should have been having the time of my life, but instead I was left with this gaping void that none of those things could fill.

Original lyric:

“I put on my boots, my red leather coat, the one with the silver spikes…”

Loved the visual, but red isn’t really my thing (I’m a redhead, it’s a whole thing).

So I changed it to something more undeniably me:

“My big leopard coat” (because leopard is a neutral, obviously).

I also wrote:

“My nails looking fly…not today, y’all.”

Relatable. 😅

The bridge was the trickiest part…trying to list all the “everythings” in Everything But You. I had things like:

• “Sunglasses, fake lashes, Wi-Fi, hair dye”

• “Girls in bikinis, drinking bellinis”

• “Fridge full of Coronas, I play ‘My Sharona’”

• “Posting pics in the studio so busy I don’t even miss you” ← (Lies!)

The point was: I was building a perfect Instagram life to distract from how empty I felt inside.

Ace of Spades vs. Purple Rain 🎸

There’s a lyric in the second verse that says:

“And when I’m alone, I picture your face, the way you used to smile, every time I sang along to Ace of Spades.”

I almost made it Prince or Rick James. But saying “Ace of Spades”…a Motorhead song…felt more unexpected and funny, especially coming from me, cuz you know I was serving my best full throated Lemmy. It added a touch of humor and personality in a sea of sadness.

“Time Is On My Side…” lyric change 💫

The original chorus was:

“I’ll be alright, ‘cause I know time is on my side…”

This lyric always irked me cuz like… is it tho? Is time ever on anyone’s side?

So when I finally finished the song….ten years later I changed it to:

“I’ll be alright, I know the stars are on my side”

Cuz that, I do believe. Obviously there was some kind of force out in the universe shining down on me bright as fuck.

And on the second half:

“I’ll be alright, wish you were here to see me shine.”😭😭😭

Because that’s what the song was really about. I felt abandoned.

Yes, I was surviving. Thriving, even.

But I wanted to share it with the person who helped build the dream, and that line still wrecks me every time I sing it.

Final Thoughts: A Song for the Ones Who Are Healing 💔🪩

Everything But You is about having it all, and still feeling hollow. About pretending you’re fine when you’re not. About missing someone who was there in the messy early days….and then suddenly wasn’t.

It’s a sad song disguised as a bop…my favorite flavor.

It helped me heal when I needed it most.

And if you’re in that place right now…I hope it helps you too.

XO, Bonnie 💖

P.S. Leopard is a neutral. And yes, I still have those 10,000 notebooks in my closet. Don’t judge me. 🐆

Check out the original demo for “Everything But You” below 😊