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Linger
The Cranberries Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn
Don't let it fade
I'm sure I'm not being rude
But it's just your attitude
It's tearing me apart
It's ruining every day

I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
So why were you holding her hand?
Is that the way we stand?
Were you lying all the time?
Was it just a game to you?

But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong, I was wrong

If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just want to be with you

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

Overall Meaning

The Cranberries' "Linger" is a melancholic song about a person who is torn between two worlds – the past and the present, love and pain. The song starts with the singer asking the person she is addressing to return, to not let their love burn or fade. She is bothered by their attitude and how it is slowly hurting her every day. She reminisces about the time when they both swore to be true to each other and wonders why the person was holding another woman's hand. Was their relationship a façade, just a game? The singer is deeply in love with this person, and they have her wrapped around their finger. She asks them if they have to let it linger, indicating that she cannot move on unless they give her closure.


The singer's emotions are palpable in the way she sings, with a mixture of vulnerability and strength. She speaks about how she thought the world of the person, and how wrong she was to think that nothing could go wrong. She wishes that they could be together without the confusion and the hurt, but she knows that it's too late for that. The chorus repeats the questions, "Do you have to let it linger?" as if the singer is begging for an answer. The song ends with a repetitious call to the person to not let their love for each other linger.


Line by Line Meaning

If you, if you could return
If only you could come back to me


Don't let it burn
Don't let our love die


Don't let it fade
Don't let our love disappear


I'm sure I'm not being rude
I don't mean to be impolite


But it's just your attitude
But your behavior is hurting me


It's tearing me apart
It's causing me a lot of pain


It's ruining every day
It's making every day difficult for me


I swore, I swore I would be true
I promised to always be faithful to you


And honey so did you
And I believed you did too


So why were you holding her hand?
So why were you being intimate with someone else?


Is that the way we stand?
Is that how we treat each other?


Were you lying all the time?
Did you lie to me this whole time?


Was it just a game to you?
Was our love just a game to you?


But I'm in so deep
But I'm deeply involved


You know I'm such a fool for you
You know I'm hopelessly in love with you


You got me wrapped around your finger
You have complete control over me


Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to keep our love hanging in the air?


Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to hold our love in limbo like this?


Oh, I thought the world of you
I had such high regard for you


I thought nothing could go wrong
I thought our love was invincible


But I was wrong, I was wrong
But I was mistaken


If you, if you could get by
If only we could make it work


Trying not to lie
If we both made an effort not to deceive each other


Things wouldn't be so confused
Our situation wouldn't be so complicated


And I wouldn't feel so used
And I wouldn't feel like a pawn in your game


But you always really knew
But you were always aware


I just want to be with you
I only want to be with you


You know I'm such a fool for you
You know I'm powerless against your charms


You got me wrapped around your finger
You have me under your spell


Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to keep our love hanging in the air?


Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to hold our love in limbo like this?


You know I'm such a fool for you
You know I'm hopelessly in love with you


You got me wrapped around your finger
You have complete control over me


Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to keep our love hanging in the air?


Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to hold our love in limbo like this?




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Noel Anthony Hogan, Dolores Mary O'Riordan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ericvalls2685

Lyrics | The Cranberries - Linger

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn
Don't let it fade
I'm sure I'm not being rude
But it's just your attitude
It's tearing me apart
It's ruining every day

I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
So why were you holding her hand?
Is that the way we stand?
Were you lying all the time?
Was it just a game to you?

But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong, I was wrong

If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just want to be with you

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?



@priagungrizki5835

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn
Don't let it fade
I'm sure I might be rude
But it's just your attitude
It's tearing me apart
It's ruining everything
And I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey, so did you
So why were you holding her hand?
Is that the way we stand?
Were you lying all the time?
Was it just a game to you?

[Chorus]
But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You've got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

[Verse 2]
Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong, I was wrong
If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just want to be with you

[Chorus]
And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You've got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus]
And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You've got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
You know I'm such a fool for you
You've got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?



@alanaribeiro6912

Lyrics: ❤

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn
Don't let it fade
I'm sure I'm not being rude
But it's just your attitude
It's tearing me apart
It's ruining every day
I swore, I swore I would be true
And honey so did you
So why were you holding her hand?
Is that the way we stand?
Were you lying all the time?
Was it just a game to you?
But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong, I was wrong
If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just want to be with you
And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?



@bloodcayne

Linger Lyrics

If you, if you could return 
Don't let it burn 
Don't let it fade 
I'm sure It's might be rude 
But it's just your attitude 
It's tearing me apart 
It's ruining every day 
For me 
I swore I would be true 
And honey, so did you 
So why were you holding her hand? 
Is that the way we stand? 
Were you lying all the time? 
Was it just a game to you? 
But I'm in so deep 
You know I'm such a fool for you 
You've got me wrapped around your finger 
Do you have to let it linger? 
Do you have to, do you have to, do have to let it linger? 

Oh, I thought the world of you 
I thought nothing could go wrong 
But I was wrong, I was wrong 
If you, if you could get by 
Trying not to lie 
Things wouldn't be so confused 
And I wouldn't feel so used 
But you always really knew 
I just want to be with you 
And I'm in so deep 
You know I'm such a fool for you 
You've got me wrapped around your finger 
Do have to let it linger? 
Do you have to, do you have to, do have to let it linger? 

And I'm in so deep 
You know I'm such a fool for you 
You've got me wrapped around your finger 
Do have to let it linger? 
Do you have to, do you have to, do have to let it linger? 

You know I'm such a fool for you 
You've got me wrapped around your finger 
Do have to let it linger? 
Do you have to, do you have to, do have to let it linger?



All comments from YouTube:

@Babyton-ol3rq

This was my husband's favorite song. He died of cancer two years ago, I listen to it daily. I miss him so much.

@balmierhail4809

Im sorry if that happened to you it must be hard to lose someone. 😞

@robtk3

That emptiness you feel isn't what he took. It's what you gave. And what he gave in return will carry you through.

@lesliesabrina205

Im sorry , he had good music taste 😢💔🫶🏼

@grettdmtruj734

I'm Sorry for Your Loss 😓My Sincerest Condolences go out to you , aI Yo loss my Husband 14 yrs ago & Was together 36yrs & never got over it & Seems like Ystdy I Miss Him Dearly

@Jeffrey-cg6kj

Mine too... As a man I understand exactly what he was feeling, although it's a song that is uniquely special, with a very special effect on those who allow it into their hearts.

335 More Replies...

@mobilepsycho

I will never forget hearing this for the first time, almost haunting. Her angelic voice is almost unbelievable. What a great band. Sorely missed. RIP dear Dolores.

@peterlangone1653

😢😢😢❤❤❤❤️🔥🔊💃🎵🕺💥💥💥

@seancabarle9133

Same here, I got a session of spinning around

@tJedimasterGandalf

such a classic SW:Xsafghtrxfn tyr jxb

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