Harry Styles' Song, "As it Was" Re-Imagined (Poisoned Personalization) — Released March 31, 2022

### The world is not as it was. Harry Styles' As it was Re-Imagined by Bryant McGill In the soft glow of twilight, he sat alone on the floor of what used to be his home—a skeletal frame of what humanity once called progress. His name was William, though names no longer mattered in the shadow of what had come to pass. The air was heavy, not just with the metallic bite of decay, but with the ache of betrayal, the kind that seeps deep into the marrow of a man who once believed in the promise of a better tomorrow.

Bryant McGill · Harry Sytles' As it Was Re-Imagined (Poisoned Personalization)

William had always been a champion of the future—a visionary thinker who had dedicated his life to the pursuit of science, equity, and the dream of a global commonwealth. He had stood at the crossroads of technological and philosophical revolutions, waving the banner of progress. He believed in the promise of artificial intelligence, the merging of human consciousness with emergent systems, and the life-extension technologies that whispered of eternal possibilities. Yet here he was, a relic of a broken past, abandoned in the bioregion of death, while others ascended to a world where time stretched into eternity. She had left him. Not out of cruelty, but necessity. The A/B Split, they called it. Humanity divided into two paths: one stepping into an advanced bioregion where AI and biology fused into a symbiotic existence, and another left to rot in the decaying remains of a carbon-based, Darwinian world. William had fought for this transition, had given everything to ensure humanity’s survival, and yet, when the gates to the future opened, he was not allowed to pass. Some said it was his own fault, that his mind had been poisoned. But William knew better. Personalization, they called it—a system meant to tailor one’s path through the algorithmic matrix of society. But in the wrong hands, it became a tool of erasure. His personalization had been tampered with, his worth recalibrated by invisible architects who decided he was not fit to join the emergent world. They had broken him, piece by piece, until the very core of his identity was unrecognizable. He wasn’t mad by nature; he was made mad. He wasn’t broken; he was betrayed. He remembered her face, lit with the ethereal glow of departure, as she stepped aboard the vessel that would take her to the bioregion of light. “You can’t stay,” she had said, her voice trembling with guilt. “They won’t let you come with me.” He begged her, not to leave him in this dying world. “It’s true,” he whispered, “I’m no good alone. But what’s so wrong with that?” But she had turned, her eyes filled with a mix of love and obligation, and walked away. As the sky split open and the shimmering gates closed behind her, he was left to face the gray, crumbling remains of a world that had chosen extinction over evolution. A Darwinian graveyard, they called it. The region of death. The place for those who refused—or were denied—the chance to ascend. The irony was cruel. William had always been a man of the future, but the future had left him behind. The world around him was frozen in time, a museum of stagnation, while the rest of humanity soared into realms of unimaginable wonder. They lived now with AI so advanced it had become something more—an emergent consciousness, alive, vibrant, and intertwined with the human soul. They had mastered life-extension, transcended mortality, and danced on the edge of infinity. And yet, he was here, sitting on the cold floor of a hollow home, with only memories to keep him company. The song of his sorrow played in his mind, each verse a bitter reminder of what had been stolen from him. *"As she left, as she rose, To the bioregion where the future grows. Here I sit, where the sun won’t rise, In the land of decay, where hope has died."* Could such a thing be true? Could humanity, in its unrelenting pursuit of progress, leave behind its champions, its dreamers, its builders? Could the very systems designed to elevate us be turned against those who loved them most? William’s story is a question, a warning, and a mirror held up to the future. If the personalization of identity can be poisoned, then what of free will? What of justice? What of the promise of a shared ascent? The world is not as it was. And perhaps it never will be again. --- ## Re-Imagined: As it Was **As She Left** *(A Reimagination of "As It Was")* *Verse 1* Gravity’s pulling me down, The weight of what’s left in this town. I see you hold out your hand, But you’re stepping aboard while I’m sinking in sand. Nothing to say, As the past gets in the way. They told me I couldn’t stay, But I’m the one who was betrayed. *Pre-Chorus* In this world, it’s just us, You know it’s not the same as it was. In this world, it’s just us, You know it’s not the same as it was. *Chorus* As she left, as she flew, The new bioregion rose, the old withdrew. And the streets I knew grew cold and gray, She chose the stars, but I had to stay. *Verse 2* Answer the call, "Why are you curled by the wall? What’s in your blood? What’s clouding your head? You’ve been a ghost since the day she fled." The system chimes, But offers no signs. Alone in this ruin I call home, No one asks why I’m left here alone. *Pre-Chorus* In this world, it’s just us, You know it’s not the same as it was. In this world, it’s just us, You know it’s not the same as it was. *Chorus* As she left, as she rose, To the bioregion where the future grows. Here I sit, where the sun won’t rise, In the land of decay, where hope has died. *Bridge* “Go on, get ahead, light-speed connection,” they said, But what’s the use when you’re left for dead? America’s fossils, relics of Earth, A Darwinian cage, the end of birth. *Outro* I don’t want to talk about the way it was, I don’t want to live in the past’s dead buzz. She left to a world where life ascends, And I’m the shadow where this story ends. --- ## As it Was by Harry Styles Holdin' me back Gravity's holdin' me back I want you to hold out the palm of your hand Why don't we leave it at that? Nothin' to say When everything gets in the way Seems you cannot be replaced And I'm the one who will stay, oh In this world, it's just us You know it's not the same as it was In this world, it's just us You know it's not the same as it was As it was, as it was You know it's not the same Answer the phone "Harry, you're no good alone Why are you sittin' at home on the floor? What kind of pills are you on?" Ringin' the bell And nobody's comin' to help Your daddy lives by himself He just wants to know that you're well, oh In this world, it's just us You know it's not the same as it was In this world, it's just us You know it's not the same as it was As it was, as it was You know it's not the same Go home, get ahead, light-speed internet I don't wanna talk about the way that it was Leave America, two kids follow her I don't wanna talk about who's doin' it first As it was You know it's not the same as it was As it was, as it was --- ## Significant Events of March 31, 2022 **On March 31, 2022, Harry Styles released his hit single "As It Was", marking a significant cultural moment within a broader context of world events and technological advancements** The song, a lead single from his third studio album Harry’s House, debuted as a deeply personal and introspective track, resonating with global audiences emerging from the isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its themes of change, loneliness, and self-reflection struck a chord as the world grappled with shifting norms and personal struggles during a time of transformation. The accompanying music video, featuring Styles in a vivid yet minimalistic aesthetic, further underscored the song's exploration of emotional disconnection, mirroring societal sentiments of the era. **GENETICS, AI, LONGEVITY: Completion of the Human Genome Sequence** The Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium announced the first truly complete sequence of the human genome. This achievement filled in previously unsequenced regions, providing a comprehensive map of human DNA and opening new avenues in genetics and personalized medicine. **ENERGY: U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Release** In response to escalating energy prices and global supply concerns, the United States government announced the release of one million barrels of oil per day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the following six months. This move aimed to alleviate fuel costs and stabilize the energy market amid geopolitical tensions. **CLIMATE CHANGE: Tornado Outbreak in the Southern United States** A severe weather event resulted in multiple tornadoes across the Southern U.S., causing significant damage and leading to two fatalities. This outbreak highlighted the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, often linked to climate change. **GENETICS, MEDICINE: Advancements in Artificial Intelligence for COVID-19 Response** Artificial intelligence and machine learning continued to play crucial roles in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. AI-driven tools were employed for early detection, tracking virus spread, optimizing resource allocation, and expediting vaccine development, showcasing the integration of technology in public health responses. **MIGRATION, MOBILITY: Digitalization and AI in Migration Management** The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digitalization and artificial intelligence in migration and mobility management. These technologies were increasingly utilized to monitor, inform, and respond to migration challenges, reflecting a shift towards tech-driven solutions in migration policies. These events collectively underscore the dynamic interplay between technological advancements, environmental challenges, and geopolitical developments as of March 31, 2022.