Twenty-One Said Three TImes Quickly
Dillinger Four Lyrics
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Six hours gone, two-fisting
Try to talk but nothing comes out right
Try to make it work tomorrow
Yesterday we were barely in command
Full of dumb ideas like children
I blinked and the world had dropped my hand
Now I've lost track of the things that I once knew
Know what I want, but I don't got the tools
Carry the weight upon my back
Killing time until the heart attack
Now that you're twenty-one
You've got a lot to do
Look back on better times
Fuck all 'til twenty-two
Now that you're twenty-one
Now that you're twenty-one
I've got no will to move ahead
Don't understand just how we got here
My memories dangles by a thread
Try to bring 'em back but it's fading
Now I've lost track of the things that I once knew
Know what I want, but I don't got the tools
Carry the weight upon my back
Killing time until the heart attack
Now that you're twenty-one
You've got a lot to do
Look back on better times
Fuck all 'til twenty-two
Now that you're twenty-one
Now that you're twenty-one
Now that you're twenty-one
You've got a lot to do
Look back on better times
Fuck all 'till twenty-two
Now that you're twenty-one
Now that you're twenty-one
The lyrics to Dillinger Four's song "Twenty-One Said Three Times Quickly" depict a sense of aimlessness and uncertainty that often accompanies one's early 20s. The opening lines of the song communicate a feeling of sluggishness and disorientation, with the singer struggling to speak clearly and losing their sense of sight as the night drags on. The reference to "two-fisting" suggests heavy drinking or drug use, which could be contributing to the singer's lack of control.
The second verse speaks to a sense of lost potential and unrealized ambition. The singer reflects on their previous mindset, one filled with "dumb ideas like children," and mourns the fact that they seem to have lost their grip on the world. They carry a weight "upon [their] back," hinting at a struggle to carry the burden of responsibility that comes with adulthood. Despite this, they acknowledge that they "know what [they] want," but feel powerless to achieve it without the right tools.
Line by Line Meaning
Past ten I start to lose my sight
As the night progresses, I become more and more tired and am losing my energy.
Six hours gone, two-fisting
I've been drinking for six hours straight, holding two drinks at once.
Try to talk but nothing comes out right
I'm so drunk that I'm having trouble speaking clearly.
Try to make it work tomorrow
Even though I'm drunk, I'm already planning to make up for it tomorrow and fix any problems.
Yesterday we were barely in command
Just yesterday we were barely able to hold ourselves together and maintain control of our lives.
Full of dumb ideas like children
We were making foolish decisions like children, without considering the consequences.
I blinked and the world had dropped my hand
Suddenly, things went wrong and my sense of control and security were lost.
Don't let it show, but I'm stumbling
I'm trying to hide the fact that I'm struggling and feeling lost, but it's becoming harder to do so.
Now I've lost track of the things that I once knew
I feel like I'm no longer in control and have lost my sense of direction and purpose.
Know what I want, but I don't got the tools
I have an idea of what I want in life, but I'm lacking the resources and skills to make it happen.
Carry the weight upon my back
I'm carrying the burdens and responsibilities of life on my own, feeling overwhelmed and weighed down.
Killing time until the heart attack
I'm just passing time, waiting for something bad to happen or hit me hard.
Now that you're twenty-one
Addressing the listener, who has just turned twenty-one years old
You've got a lot to do
There are many expectations and responsibilities that come with adulthood.
Look back on better times
Reflect on the past, when things were simpler and easier.
Fuck all 'til twenty-two
Take some time off and relax until you turn twenty-two.
I've got no will to move ahead
I don't have the motivation or energy to move forward.
Don't understand just how we got here
I'm confused and lost, wondering how my life has ended up where it is now.
My memories dangles by a thread
My memories are slipping away and I'm struggling to hold onto them.
Try to bring 'em back but it's fading
I'm making an effort to remember things from the past, but they're slipping away and becoming more elusive.
Contributed by Makayla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.