Lyric discussion by nobodyknows 

Cover art for Twenty-One lyrics by Cranberries, The

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.