It's Been Awhile was released by American rock band Staind in 2001 as the lead single from their album Break the Cycle, and it became one of the band's best-known songs for its stripped-back verses and confessional lyrics. The opening line stuck in listeners' memories because it captures distance and regret in just a few words. Years later, short excerpts began circulating in video edits and soundboards as a shorthand for comebacks, reunions and long-awaited returns, keeping the line recognisable even for viewers who do not know the full song.