2021

Song Meaning

The lyrics of "2021" frame a poignant question about remembrance and the passage of time, set against a backdrop of inevitable decay. The narrator directly addresses the year "2021," asking if they will be remembered, either individually or as part of a shared experience. This sets up an immediate emotional tension: the desire for lasting impact versus the fear of being forgotten. The central conflict appears to be the narrator's anxiety about their own significance and the potential fading of their relationships or memories. The line "I could wait a year, but I shouldn't wait three" suggests a sense of urgency, perhaps a relationship on the brink or a personal deadline. This urgency is juxtaposed with the passive, almost resigned observation that "Copper goes green, steel beams go rust," highlighting the natural, unavoidable process of deterioration that the narrator seems to fear for their own legacy. The most striking craft element is the personification of the year "2021" as a conscious entity capable of remembering. This unusual address, coupled with the repeated, almost incantatory "Boy, boy" from Jenny Lewis, creates a dreamlike, melancholic atmosphere. The repetition of the core question, "will you think about me?" and "will you think about us?" emphasizes the narrator's deep-seated need for connection and validation, even from an abstract concept like a year. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they tap into a universal human concern: the fear of fading away. The writing effectively uses the abstract concept of a year and the tangible imagery of decay to explore this anxiety. The simple, direct questions, delivered with an undercurrent of vulnerability, make the listener reflect on their own place in time and the memories they hope to leave behind.