“The story is pretty directly in the lyrics honestly, but that’s because of the fact that in the session I had my brought my journal and I was pulling direct quotes that I’d written down when I was angry or sad or whatever about the relationship. The song itself, when it kind of unfolded in the way it did, I had only had the first two lyrics figured out and then I got in a session with Sarah Aarons and Joel Little who are two heroes of mine and it still feels like a weird fever dream that I was ever in the same room with both of them at once and even more of a fever dream that they touched anything that has to do with my music. When I got in the room with them, we just got into a conversation about the story behind the song and their ability to actively listen in a way that challenged me to think even deeper than I already had is what helped develop the story because it really is such a direct recounting of the situation but I credit them entirely for being able to get that out of me.”
21
Gracie Abrams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Almost tried to call you, don't know if I should
Hate to picture you half-drunk happy
Hate to think you went out without me
I'm sorry if you blame me, if I were you, I would
Thought you'd see it comin', but you never could
I still haven't heard from your family
But you said your mom always loved me
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
Lights on and it's black and white
I couldn't stay forever
I see the look in your eye and I'm bitin' my tongue
You'll be the love of my life when I was young
When the night is over
Don't call me up, I'm already under
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
I'll be the love of your life inside your head
When the night is over
Don't call me up, I'm already under
Audrey said she saw you out past twelve o'clock
Just because you're hurtin' doesn't mean I'm not
If it doesn't go away by the time I turn thirty
I made a mistake and I'll tell you I'm sorry, "Sorry"
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
Lights on and it's black and white
I couldn't stay forever
I see the look in your eye and I'm bitin' my tongue
You'll be the love of my life when I was young
When the night is over
Don't call me up, I'm already under
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
I'll be the love of your life inside your head
When the night is over
Don't call me up, I'm already under
Gracie Abrams's song "21" is a haunting ballad about the pain of nostalgia and regret. It's a song about growing older and moving on from past mistakes, but also about the fear of losing someone you love because of those mistakes. The lyrics are introspective and emotional, and the melody is melancholic, creating a sense of longing and sadness.
The song begins with the singer lamenting the fact that she missed her lover's twenty-first birthday. She's back home, feeling restless and unsure whether she should call him or not. She hates to think that he went out without her, and imagines him half-drunk and happy, which only adds to her feelings of guilt and regret. She apologizes for missing the birthday and worries that he blames her for it.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on how things have changed between them. She's become distant and their relationship has suffered as a result. She sees the love in his eyes, but she can't express how she feels. She knows he'll always be the love of her life, but she's resigned herself to the fact that they can't be together anymore. The chorus repeats the same refrain: "When the night is over, don't call me up, I'm already under." It's a heartbreaking line that suggests that the singer has already given up on the hope of reconciliation.
The second verse introduces another character – Audrey – who saw the lover out past midnight. The singer is still hurt by the breakup, but recognizes that her lover is hurting too. She vows to make things right if she can, but acknowledges that sometimes apologies don't fix everything. The bridge repeats the melody from the chorus, but with a more intense and emotional delivery. It's a powerful moment that emphasizes the singer's pain and vulnerability.
Overall, "21" is a beautiful and poignant song that speaks to anyone who's experienced the pain of lost love. It's a reminder that even when things don't work out the way we want them to, the memories and feelings linger on.
Line by Line Meaning
I missed your twenty-first birthday, I've been up at home
I wasn't there for your 21st birthday but I haven't been doing anything interesting either.
Almost tried to call you, don't know if I should
I thought about calling you but I'm not sure if that's a good idea.
Hate to picture you half-drunk happy
It makes me sad to imagine you having fun without me, even if it means you're not completely sober.
Hate to think you went out without me
It upsets me to imagine you going out without me.
I'm sorry if you blame me, if I were you, I would
If you're blaming me, I understand why and I'm sorry.
Thought you'd see it comin', but you never could
I expected you to understand why I couldn't be there, but I guess you never really did.
I still haven't heard from your family
I haven't heard anything from your family since your birthday.
But you said your mom always loved me
You told me that your mom had positive feelings about me.
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Sometimes my eyesight becomes blurred due to emotional distress.
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
You make small talk and act like everything is great, even if you're not really feeling that way.
Lights on and it's black and white
Everything seems clear and straightforward, yet it still feels empty and dull.
I couldn't stay forever
I couldn't keep things going the way they were forever.
I see the look in your eye and I'm bitin' my tongue
I notice the way you look at me and I hold back from saying what I really want to.
You'll be the love of my life when I was young
I once thought you were the love of my life when we were younger.
When the night is over
When the night comes to an end.
Don't call me up, I'm already under
Don't contact me because I'm already emotionally overwhelmed.
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
When I'm by myself, I sometimes become overwhelmed with missing you.
I'll be the love of your life inside your head
In your mind, I'll always be the love of your life.
Audrey said she saw you out past twelve o'clock
Audrey informed me she saw you out late.
Just because you're hurtin' doesn't mean I'm not
Although I understand that you're hurting, I'm also hurting because of it.
If it doesn't go away by the time I turn thirty
If these feelings don't go away before I turn 30.
I made a mistake and I'll tell you I'm sorry, "Sorry"
I made a mistake and I'm willing to apologize for it and say 'sorry'.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gracie Madigan Abrams, Joel Little, Sarah Paige Aarons
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trevibethany5924
Gracie Abrams - 21
Taylor Swift - 22
Miley Cyrus - 23
Lana Del Rey - 24
Eminen - 25 To Life
Paramore - 26
Machine Gun Kelly - 27
Edited:
Taylor Swift - 15
Ellie Goulding - 16
Julia Michael - 17
One Direction - 18
Harley Williams - 19
SZA - 20 something
@jenviera3413
"21"
I missed your 21st birthday
I've been up at home
Almost tried to call you, don't know if I should
Hate to picture you half-drunk happy
Hate to think you went out without me
I'm sorry if you blame me if I were you I would
Thought you'd see it coming, but you never could
I still haven't heard from your family
But you said your mom always loved me
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
Lights on and it's black and white, I couldn't stay forever
I see the look in your eye and I'm biting my tongue
You'll be the love of my life when I was young
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
I'll be the love of your life inside your head
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
Audrey said she saw you out past twelve o'clock
Just because you're hurting doesn't mean I'm not
If it doesn't go away by the time I turn thirty
I made a mistake and I'll tell you I'm sorry
"Sorry"
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
Lights on and it's black and white, I couldn't stay forever
I see the look in your eye and I'm biting my tongue
You'll be the love of my life when I was young
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
I'll be the love of your life inside your head
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
@Nd-np8zb
I missed your twenty-first birthday
I've been up at home
Almost tried to call you, don't know if I should
Hate to picture you half-drunk happy
Hate to think you went out without me
I'm sorry if you blame me if I were you I would
Thought you'd see it coming, but you never could
I still haven't heard from your family
But you said your mom always loved me
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
Lights on and it's black and white, I couldn't stay forever
I see the look in your eye and I'm biting my tongue
You'd be the love of my life when I was young
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
I'll be the love of your life inside your head
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
Audrey said she saw you out past twelve o'clock
Just because you're hurting doesn't mean I'm not
If it doesn't go away by the time I turn thirty
I made a mistake and I'll tell you I'm sorry
"Sorry"
Sometimes I go blurry-eyed
Small talk and you tell me that you're on fire
Lights on and it's black and white, I couldn't stay forever
I see the look in your eye and I'm biting my tongue
You'd be the love of my love when I was young
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
I get a little bit alone sometimes and I miss you again
I'd be the love of your life inside your head
When the night is over
Don't call me up I'm already under
@TheJennzilla
i love having her as our little secret but she really does deserve so much recognition for her talent
@fiqhfahrianur999
Jennzilla i was thinking the same 😭😭
@evelinatsogka6228
why is that so trueee
@anaelulaila3883
AAAAA SAMEEE
@rafirstka
Trueee
@hermangrey225
Right? Ugh
@messybtch
This the type of song you listen to when you're dancing all alone in your room at 2 a.m
@sanshlis3265
umairah anuar OMG YAAAS
@iwishfortoys
<3
@muffy2266
or 9:14AM