“I Thought By Now”: Drew Schueler Turns Self-Doubt Into a Quietly Devastating Pop Confession

“I Thought By Now” is Drew Schueler at his most exposed—and most powerful. The song closes a chapter not with resolution, but with a brutally honest admission: “I thought by now I’d have more figured out.” It’s a line that lands like a quiet gut punch, distilling years of self-questioning into a single, devastating thought. Rather than rushing past the discomfort, Schueler lets it linger, guiding the track into a beautiful, slightly chaotic outro that mirrors the emotional unraveling at its core.

What makes “I Thought By Now” resonate so deeply is its refusal to hide behind metaphor or polish away the mess. The lyrics are unfiltered and almost uncomfortably human, capturing that universal moment when expectations collide with reality. Schueler’s vocal delivery is restrained but heavy with feeling—never over-sung, never theatrical—allowing the weight of the words to do the work. It feels less like a performance and more like a confession caught mid-thought.

As a songwriter, Schueler understands the power of understatement. The production supports the emotion rather than overpowering it, giving the song space to breathe as it slowly descends into its closing moments. It’s a track that doesn’t aim for catharsis so much as recognition—the relief of realizing you’re not alone in feeling behind your own life.

“I Thought By Now” confirms what industry accolades have already suggested: Drew Schueler has a rare ability to translate quiet self-doubt into something universally resonant. In embracing uncertainty rather than resolving it, he delivers a song that feels painfully specific and profoundly relatable—a reminder that not having it all figured out might be the most honest place to start.