The 2013 Song
Troye Sivan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh and I, don't know how to feel
Just like that, 2013, it's been real
Oh and I, think I just shed a tear
2013, it's been a kick ass year

Miley went on twerked on stage,
Made the whole world fill with rage,
But she sold records, like she was taught
And then came around little old Lorde

Speaking of royals, they had a baby
And then came out - Mr. Tom Daley!
The world's realising it's not a choice
I'm still Troye, I just happen to like boys.
(What? I like boys, have you seen their butts? Exactly!)

Robin Thicke went to Number 1
Even though the song was sexist and dumb
Yeah that's right, I'm talking Blurred Lines
But oh shit wait, let's talk about Amanda Bynes!

Everybody says she went a bit koo-koo
Telling Drake he should murder her hoo-hoo
We say she's the one who's going cray,
But here we are asking What The Fox Say?

Oh and I, don't know how to feel
Just like that, 2013, it's been real
Oh and I, think I just shed a tear
2013, it's been a kick ass year

The US Government needed a break,
Probably to go do the Harlem Shake
Catching Fire was good, dudes
Got me as excited as the Dylan Sprouse nudes

The 1D boys said This Is Us
Beyonce dropped an album without a fuss,
Rest in peace to Nelson Mandela,
To you Madiba, we're indebted forever

Oh and I, don't know how to feel
Just like that, 2013, it's been real
Oh and I, think I just shed a tear
2013, it's been a kick ass year

(Now do the Harlem Shake)
Oh and I, don't know how to feel
Just like that, 2013, it's been real




Oh and I, think I just shed a tear
2013, it's been a kick ass year

Overall Meaning

Troye Sivan’s song “The 2013 Song” is a nostalgic ode to one of the most eventful years of pop culture. The lyrics take us down memory lane, referencing some of the significant events that happened during the year. The song opens with a line that perfectly captures the ambivalence of nostalgia: “Oh and I don’t know how to feel, just like that, 2013, it’s been real.” The song is a mix of upbeat and somber notes- much like the year it describes.


Throughout the song, Troye Sivan references the events that kept us talking in 2013. He mentions Miley Cyrus’ infamous twerking controversy, Lorde’s meteoric rise to fame, Prince William and Kate Middleton welcoming their first child, the viral trend of the “Harlem Shake,” and of course, the passing of Nelson Mandela. The song also tackles serious issues, such as Robin Thicke’s problematic hit “Blurred Lines” and the conversation around sexuality and sexual identity. Ultimately, the song is an anthem for anyone who experienced and enjoyed the whirlwind of 2013.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh and I, don't know how to feel
I'm feeling overwhelmed and don't know how to react to everything that's happened in 2013.


Just like that, 2013, it's been real
2013 has been a wild ride and it's hard to believe it's already over.


Oh and I, think I just shed a tear
I'm feeling emotional and sentimental as I reflect on the events of the past year.


2013, it's been a kick ass year
Despite all of the ups and downs, 2013 has been a really amazing year.


Miley went on twerked on stage,
Miley Cyrus caused controversy by twerking during a performance.


Made the whole world fill with rage,
Many people were upset and offended by Miley's performance.


But she sold records, like she was taught
Despite the backlash, Miley's music continued to sell well and she remained successful in the industry.


And then came around little old Lorde
Lorde emerged on the music scene and quickly became a popular artist.


Speaking of royals, they had a baby
Prince William and Kate Middleton had a baby.


And then came out - Mr. Tom Daley!
British diver Tom Daley publicly came out as gay, which was a big moment for LGBTQ representation.


The world's realising it's not a choice
Tom Daley's coming out helped to further the understanding that sexuality is not a choice.


I'm still Troye, I just happen to like boys.
Troye Sivan, who is also openly gay, is unapologetically himself and loves who he loves.


(What? I like boys, have you seen their butts? Exactly!)
Troye is humorous about his sexuality, and doesn't see anything wrong with it.


Robin Thicke went to Number 1
Robin Thicke's controversial song 'Blurred Lines' reached the top of the charts.


Even though the song was sexist and dumb
Many people criticized 'Blurred Lines' for its objectification of women and questionable lyrics.


Yeah that's right, I'm talking Blurred Lines
Troye acknowledges the problematic nature of the song and its impact on popular culture.


But oh shit wait, let's talk about Amanda Bynes!
Troye shifts the focus to Amanda Bynes, who was also a prominent figure in the media at the time for her erratic behavior.


Everybody says she went a bit koo-koo
Many people speculated and made fun of Amanda's mental health struggles.


Telling Drake he should murder her hoo-hoo
Amanda tweeted some alarming statements about rapper Drake, which sparked concern for her well-being.


We say she's the one who's going cray,
Troye points out how unfair it is to judge and ridicule someone for mental health struggles.


But here we are asking What The Fox Say?
Troye comments on how bizarre and nonsensical pop culture can be, referencing the viral 'What Does The Fox Say?' video.


The US Government needed a break,
The US government was probably in need of a break from the stress and pressure of politics.


Probably to go do the Harlem Shake
The Harlem Shake was a viral dance craze that was popular at the time.


Catching Fire was good, dudes
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was a highly anticipated and well-received movie release.


Got me as excited as the Dylan Sprouse nudes
Troye is being humorous and exaggerating his excitement for the movie by comparing it to the leaked nude photos of actor Dylan Sprouse.


The 1D boys said This Is Us
One Direction released a documentary film titled 'This Is Us.'


Beyonce dropped an album without a fuss,
Beyonce released a surprise album without any prior promotion or announcements.


Rest in peace to Nelson Mandela,
The revered South African leader Nelson Mandela passed away in 2013.


To you Madiba, we're indebted forever
Troye pays tribute to Mandela and acknowledges the impact he had on the world.


(Now do the Harlem Shake)
Troye is referencing the viral dance craze again, possibly suggesting that we can find joy and humor in even the most mundane things.




Contributed by Scarlett N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Caspar

TROYE YOU ARE PERFECT

xhaileymorganx

I AGREE

Srinidhi Kumar

CASPAR

Srinidhi Kumar

I AGREE

Selina Liepold

I love this Song - !!!!

SUJU ELF

TRASPAR!

19 More Replies...

Alexandra VanZile

sitting here in 2022, thinking about how long its been since weve been able to recap a year with “its been a kick ass year” more like “this year kicked my ass”

The Dovahkiin

Bruh, we need this stuff back. I can only imagine how a 2020 song would go.

ophelia fawn.

yes omg i miss this so much

Riley Dempsey

thats what im sayin!!

More Comments

More Versions