21 Days
Dave Gahan Lyrics

The lyrics of Dave Gahan's song "21 Days" paint a vivid picture of the heartache and power dynamics in relationships. The song begins with a frustrated plea for honesty and closure: "When are you going to tell us it's over? How long will you keep us hanging on your hook?" The singer seems to feel trapped and helpless, as if they are being manipulated by someone they cannot escape: "You have us all by the short and curlys / Reading us all like a book." This sense of being at someone's mercy is reinforced by the chorus, which describes a "tower of fear" being built "by the river", steadily growing more ominous as time goes by: "It's been 21 days and the tower keeps rising / 21 days, that's all it took / The sun is disappearing on the horizon / You really should take a look."

On one level, the lyrics could be read as a commentary on power dynamics in relationships, particularly in the context of a breakup. The person who is leaving holds all the cards, and can keep the other person dangling and uncertain as long as they like, building up a tower of fear and uncertainty that becomes harder and harder to tear down. The imagery of the tower emphasizes the idea of distance and inaccessibility, as well as the idea that the person who is leaving is constructing something imposing and perhaps even dangerous. There is a sense of frustration and impatience in the singer's voice, as they plead for the person to "take a look" at the consequences of their actions.

On a more metaphorical level, the tower of fear could be seen as a symbol of the emotional barriers that people build up around themselves, particularly in the aftermath of a painful experience. Instead of facing their feelings and moving forward, they retreat into a self-protective shell, becoming more and more cut off from other people as time goes by. The tower becomes a physical manifestation of the walls that the person has built around themselves, and the singer's frustration comes from the sense that they are being shut out, unable to connect with the other person on a deeper level.

Overall, the lyrics of "21 Days" are rich with meaning and ambiguity, inviting the listener to consider the many different ways that people can hold each other captive within relationships.