2021 (Live in St. Augustine)

Song Meaning

The lyrics capture a raw, anxious plea directed at the year 2021, questioning its memory of the speaker and their shared past. There's a palpable sense of urgency, a fear of being forgotten as time marches on. The speaker grapples with the potential for distance, stating, "I could wait a year, but I shouldn't wait three," highlighting an internal conflict between patience and the dread of prolonged separation. The central tension lies in the contrast between the speaker's desire for remembrance and the inevitable decay suggested by the imagery of "copper goes green, steel beams go rust." This natural process of deterioration mirrors the fear that relationships, like metal, will tarnish and fade over time. The repeated question, "will you think about me?" and "will you think about us?" underscores a profound insecurity about their lasting impact. The most striking element is the persistent, almost incantatory repetition of "Boy, boy." This refrain acts as a grounding, yet also an unsettling, interjection. It could signify a youthful, perhaps naive, address, or a desperate attempt to hold onto a specific identity or memory associated with the addressee. The phrase "It's a matter of" hangs unfinished, amplifying the uncertainty and the unresolved nature of the speaker's anxieties. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their stark simplicity and the emotional weight carried by their direct questions. The sparse language and the stark imagery of decay create a powerful sense of vulnerability. The unresolved nature of the questions and the unfinished thought leave the listener with a lingering feeling of apprehension, mirroring the speaker's own unease about the passage of time and the fragility of memory.