We all remember the feeling that our first love gave us. It was overpowering and one of the most amazing experiences in the world. From bringing them home to our parents to the first kiss, it brings on waves of many different emotions which is what inspired the song “Linger” by The Cranberries.
“Linger” is the seventh song on the 40-minute album “Everybody Else is Doing it, So Why Can’t We?” The album depicts how in a relationship, new or old, you can hurt each other just as much as you love each other, and this can cause great pain in a relationship.
The band demonstrates this when they write “I’m sure I’m not being rude but it’s just your attitude it’s tearing me apart it’s ruining everything” and “So why were you holding her hand? Is that the way we stand? Were you lying all the time? Was it just a game to you?”
Through these lyrics, The Cranberries demonstrate how in the relationship the singer’s partner is distancing themselves and cheating on the singer. They are also showing how the singer is now questioning if everything in their relationship was fake.
The band shows the love that the singer has for this person by saying, “But I’m in so deep. you know i’m such a fool for you. You’ve got me wrapped around your finger. Do you have to let it linger?” Even though their partner is hurting them in the relationship, the singer will continue to stay with them because of how much they love them.
“Everybody Else is Doing it, So Why Can’t We?” released on March 1, 1993. All of the songs on the album carry the same theme of a deep love that continues time after time to hurt the singer. This is the band’s best selling album with around six million copies sold.
You can listen to “Linger” on all streaming platforms.