Her official website: http://www.kendallpayne.com/
Twenty Three
Kendall Payne Lyrics
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I never noticed the seeds of the cynic being sown
Will we stave, will the harvest time reap
Freedom or chains, hope or disdain for the weak?
Twenty-three, when did we become safe?
We pray to feel pleasure and hate when we have to feel pain
Let me see your burn, let me see your bruise
You look just like me
We pretend when we find the end of ourselves
Afraid to be real so we say we are somebody else
Little ones teach the big to be free
Children are only un-costumed humanity
While we wait here in the dark, love lends a spark
But we can't decide
'Cause coming back to life is harder than hell
Once you have died
Finally, I can see with your eyes
That everyone angry is only just aching inside
Twenty-three, when the sun sets tonight
There's always a reason we just cannot leave it behind
The lyrics of Kendall Payne's song Twenty Three speak about the transition from youth to adulthood - specifically, the struggles and complexities that come with growing up. The opening lines, "Twenty-three, when did we become grown? I never noticed the seeds of the cynic being sown" illustrate how adulthood can sneak up on us, and how we may not even be aware of the negative thought patterns and beliefs we develop over time. The lines that follow pose a question, "Will we stave, will the harvest time reap/Freedom or chains, hope or disdain for the weak?" which suggests that as we navigate adulthood, we have a choice in the kinds of attitudes and perspectives we develop.
Later in the song, Payne talks about the ways that we hide our vulnerabilities from the world, and how we pretend to be something we're not. The lines "We pretend when we find the end of ourselves/Afraid to be real so we say we are somebody else" speak to the fear of being rejected or judged for our true selves. Payne suggests that we can learn from children, who are unencumbered by these kinds of fears and are "only un-costumed humanity." In the final lines of the song, Payne acknowledges that the struggles of adulthood are ongoing, and that we can never fully leave our past behind.
Overall, 'Twenty Three' is a poignant commentary on the journey of growing up and coming to terms with the world around us. Payne highlights the importance of being vulnerable and authentic, and reminds us that we can learn a lot from the children in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Twenty-three, when did we become grown?
When did we reach a point when we are considered adults?
I never noticed the seeds of the cynic being sown
I did not realize that we were becoming pessimistic.
Will we stave, will the harvest time reap
Will we be able to survive, or will our actions affect us in the future?
Freedom or chains, hope or disdain for the weak?
Will our choices lead to freedom or imprisonment, hope or despair for those who are vulnerable?
Twenty-three, when did we become safe?
When did we start considering ourselves free from harm?
We pray to feel pleasure and hate when we have to feel pain
We only want to experience joy and despise pain.
Let me see your burn, let me see your bruise
Show me your struggles and flaws because they make you human.
You look just like me
We are all the same in our imperfections and pain.
Let me see where you're broken in two
Reveal the parts of yourself that are damaged.
We pretend when we find the end of ourselves
We act like we have everything figured out even though we don't.
Afraid to be real so we say we are somebody else
We are afraid of showing our true selves, so we put on a fake persona.
Little ones teach the big to be free
Children can teach adults to let go of their inhibitions.
Children are only un-costumed humanity
Children are the epitome of humanity without societal influences.
While we wait here in the dark, love lends a spark
Love can ignite hope even in the darkest of times.
But we can't decide
We struggle to make decisions that are true to ourselves.
'Cause coming back to life is harder than hell
Reviving oneself from a state of despair is extremely difficult.
Once you have died
Once you have lost all hope and motivation, it is difficult to come back.
Finally, I can see with your eyes
Through your experiences, I can empathize with your pain and struggle.
That everyone angry is only just aching inside
People who seem angry are actually just suffering internally.
Twenty-three, when the sun sets tonight
When the day comes to an end, we cannot ignore the issues that still exist.
There's always a reason we just cannot leave it behind
We cannot forget the challenges we face because they shape who we are.
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.