Twenty-One

The song is to me, mainly, about wanting something so much that you almost forget who you are, and lose yourself in the chase. It doesn't matter what it is, a relationship or a traumatic childhood that you wanted to be different. In the album No Need to Argue, it it stated that the song was written on the 6th of September, 1992, which is the day Dolores O'Riordan turned 21. To me, it's the point where you get up and realize that even if you could have that which you really want, if you only tried a bit harder - a bit more, it's not worth it any longer. (There's actually a line in the song that goes along with that in my opinion: "You took my thoughts from me, now I want nothing more") Whether it's the childhood dreams you couldn't reach, a love that remained unrequited, or whatever, I see it as the point where you accept that it is what it is and move on. And about the line where she sings " 'cause I've found it all", I don't know if she means her band or not, or if she means that she's turned 21, I interpret it as being the strength to accept and let go. But it's just my insignificant interpretation.

This is an incredible song about overcoming an abusive childhood and leaving it behind to find freedom and safety in self-reliance as an adult.

Such a magnificent voice. I second what calypso wrote. It's about an abusive father. Half of the song, her voice is unusually low and subdued as if she was containing her wrath. After she sings that she is 21 today, her voice, at last, takes off, flies away as her life.

I listened to this song one last time before I turned 22. I used to listen to this entire CD when I was 13-14 years old.

I haven't listened to this for ages, but when I first heard it, Calysto's version was exactly what I thought. I think it's about hope that when reaching adulthood, you will have some control over your life and not just put up with whatever is thrown at you by those who have more power than you. It sounds a very angry song to me.

Hmmmm. I don't think this song is about abuse. It seems to me like it's about a relationship. Thats just my opinion though i could be completely wrong.... but i think it's about someone who was in a relationship and they doesn't want to be another there telling there lover to leave them alone because they found it all, (lies etc). I love this song though her voice is truley amazing at the end of this song. Still though the 'twenty one' bit seriously confuses me i'd love to know what that bit is about......

- Twenty One Grams - is the difference in body weight after we die. (google 21 grams experiement 1907) It is theorized that this loss in weight is the soul leaving the body. With this information we can deduce that Dolores was clearly on the subject of Death. Lets analyze the lyrics abit further... " I don't think it's going to happen anymore " What does she mean here? I will tell you what she means... she doesn't want to have suicidal thoughts anymore or be depressed... " You took my thoughts from me now I want nothing more! " She can't feel happy and normal... " leave me alone, leave me alone, because I found it all (out) " Leave me alone seems like it could be about a person, but it's not. It's about the voices in her head... in your head... zombie. Look basically guys this song is about wanting depression and suicidal thoughts to leave us alone because the end result is a loss in twenty one grams. This song was released in October 1994 but in 2018 the suicidal thoughts caught up to her and won because it was not alcohol drowing in the bathtub in that hotel room, it was intentional overdose on fentanyl, and after her weight dropped by twenty one grams. Do you understand now? Are you listening? Because there is no need to argue. Well don't let this thought linger, be happy don't be suicidal. If you look for it there is much to be suicidal about though sorry just true.

look how simple the lyrics are, yet listen to how haunting the song is.. it's why i love them.

well i beleive calysto is right. I was unsure what this song was about however in Ode to my Family (Track 1 on the No Need To Argue album) i picked up on the "my father, he liked me ergh he liked me- doea anyone care?" This made me think she was abused by her father as a child. Therefore this song, 21, to me is about her escape from his abuse because she is 21- an adult- she doesnt think it will happen anymore- one because she is old enough to leave and fight for herself and also becuase he isnt interested now shes an adult. That what i got and it makes more sense than it being about the fun of being 21 since the song has a haunting and melodramatic rhythm rather than a happy one.

It sounds to me like an angry song too. The image of her kind of showing her teeth and saying: hah, I'm 21 now, I'm mature and strong, you've got nothing on me now; kind of contrasting the melody, which makes it so interesting. But then again, it could also be about facing the horrible feeling of getting old, and trying to stay 21 forever.