When Instant Star wrapped after four seasons (2005-2008), Alexz endured her share of off-camera drama in her music career, when both Capitol and Epic, respectively, ended up shelving her records due to internal conflicts . "It’s been tough,” she says, “but something always keeps me going. Even with no money in my pocket, things land where they land and you keep moving.” Johnson had completed a full length record entitled Weight in 2008, and was set to release it in September the next year.
Alexz independently released her debut album, Voodoo in 2010 and remixed it in 2011 as Reloaded. She released a compilation of unheard demos in the form of The Basement Recordings (2011), while prepping to release her first EP, Skipping Stone in January 2012. She has also released one live album, Live from the Skipping Stone Tour in December 2012. Johnson later continued to release two more demo compilations, The Basement Recordings 2 and The Basement Recordings 3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Finding success and a loyal fanbase through her independent releases, Johnson's 2014 EP, Heart and sophomore album Let 'Em Eat Cake were both funded through the crowdfunding service Pledgemusic. Heart and Let 'Em Eat Cake both showcase a different side of Johnson, tackling subjects such as heartbreak and loss. The two releases include tracks produced by David Kahne, who has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, Regina Spektor, and other artists.
Your 21
Alexz Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not your fault that I can't trust
Its in my past, its in my path and I can't go there
Making a mess out of this game
To see it all go up in flames
So tired of being ruthless and reckless
Time to be your only one
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your twenty-one
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be
Oh, time to be your twenty-one
I don't believe in love and I
I pull it to the wall
I tasted sweetness there to laugh so hard as it falls
And I could push you there if you don't stop me
Push you there if you don't stop me
Please stop me
Time to be your only one
To almost be you're way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your twenty-one
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be
Oh, time to be your twenty-one
Its gut wrenching sometimes
Its life threatening sometimes
Seems like nothing can wash it all away
Time to be your only one
To almost be you're way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your twenty-one
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be your twenty-one
Time to be your only one
To almost be you're way too young
Time to crash into the sun
Time to be your twenty-one
Time to dream that love will last
Time to drive my car too fast
Time to walk before I run
Time to be your twenty-one
The lyrics to Alexz Johnson's song "Your 21" showcase a journey towards love and trust as the singer falls for someone, despite her past traumas and reservations about relationships. The first stanza acknowledges her issues, admitting that she has trouble trusting, even though her lover has never given her a reason to doubt them. She recognizes that this comes from her past, and she doesn't want to jeopardize this relationship. The second stanza is a call to herself to embrace love and be vulnerable. She's tired of being ruthless and reckless and wants to be "your only one." However, the singer is unsure if she believes in love; she describes it as something she doesn't believe in, something that she has to "pull to the wall." Yet, the song ends with a resolution to pursue this love despite the complications that come with it. She dreams that this love will last and wants to "be your twenty-one," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for a new beginning or a fresh start.
The song "Your 21" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of love and trust. It's a reflection of the insecurities and fears that often accompany relationships and an acknowledgment of the need to overcome them. Johnson's soulful delivery and raw lyrics make this song relatable and inspiring to anyone who has struggled with trust issues in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You never lied to me not once
The singer acknowledges that the person they are addressing has never lied to them.
It's not your fault that I can't trust
The singer takes responsibility for their lack of trust in the person being addressed.
Its in my past, its in my path and I can't go there
The singer reveals that their trust issues stem from past experiences that they cannot ignore or forget.
Making a mess out of this game
The artist acknowledges that their behavior in this relationship has been destructive.
To see it all go up in flames
The artist fears that the relationship will ultimately fail due to their own actions.
So tired of being ruthless and reckless
The singer is expressing a desire to change their behavior and stop being careless and impulsive.
Time to be your only one
The singer is ready to commit to the person being addressed and be their one and only.
To almost be you're way too young
The artist acknowledges that they may be young and inexperienced in love.
Time to crash into the sun
The artist is eager to take risks and experience the intensity of love.
Time to dream that love will last
The artist has hope and optimism about the potential longevity of their relationship.
Time to drive my car too fast
The singer is ready to live life to the fullest and take chances.
Time to walk before I run
The artist wants to take things slow and not rush into things too quickly.
Oh, time to be your twenty-one
The singer is expressing excitement and a sense of freedom associated with being young and in love.
I don't believe in love and I
The singer is revealing that they have been skeptical about love in the past.
I pull it to the wall
The singer has a tendency to push relationships to their limits and test their boundaries.
I tasted sweetness there to laugh so hard as it falls
The artist has experienced the joy of love before, but it ultimately ended in heartbreak.
And I could push you there if you don't stop me
The artist is aware of their tendencies to self-sabotage and is asking the person being addressed to help them overcome these habits.
Please stop me
The singer is pleading for the person being addressed to intervene if they see the singer falling into old destructive patterns.
Its gut wrenching sometimes
The singer is acknowledging that love can be painful at times.
Its life threatening sometimes
The artist is emphasizing the intensity and high stakes of love.
Seems like nothing can wash it all away
The artist is stating that the pain of past experiences lingers and cannot be easily forgotten.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Damhnait Doyle, Marc Jordan, Rob Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ZsanaeLove
Not me re watching all these episodes again and remember how many times I shipped that man with that teenager lol. The song still is a hit though lol 😂
@jacquelinerivera3225
Same 😂
@SparklesPwnAll
I knew about Instant Star and Alexz BEFORE PLL but I thought it was totally and completely freaking amazing when they used this song in that show. They should use some of her other songs as well. So no matter where you heard it, it doesn't matter. You're here supporting her music now. :D
@aldanaabigail7452
I thought the same, you don't know how excited I was when I heard this song at that Spoby moment, but I already adored Instant Star before that
@ValexaWorld
The meaning of the "time to be your 21" is because the character Jude was 16 and in love with Tommy, a 22-23 year old who said he would only pursue her if she was 21.
@_pizzashiz
teary eyed. I miss this show.
@meghan3580
toby & spencer moment.. #pll
@belduarte95
I COME HERE FOR PRETTY LITTLE LIARS!!😍😍😍😍
@taylorepstein3334
2021 and just finished re-watching this show for the umpteenth time. It's free on Youtube, but has better quality on PlutoTv, BUT PlutoTv doesn't have all the episodes......BUUUT the episodes I had to watch on Youtube were better quality than the whole first season.
I have re-watched this show every year since 2008. 13 years later and each time I've watched it, it reminded me how much I love song-writing. love you Alexz!
@Benz5469
I haven't seen this show since I was a teenager and always tried finding episodes and never could. Had no idea that it was on PlutoTv. I'm going to have to rewatch it!