Linger

The Cranberries

Meaning

An article of Details (February 1994) explained that “Linger is written about Dolores first boyfriend, a seventeen-year-old soldier who wrote her love-sick letters from Lebanon after they broke up“

It was also the first song Dolores ever wrote: “It was such a stupid girl fantasy, a good-lookin’ guy with a gun, you know. I brought home this photo of him in his uniform and I was like, ‘Look, Dad, how handsome he is!’ My father looked at it and said, ‘Never marry a soldier’, and walked away. That was it. But he was right!”

In an interview given to Hot Press in January 1994 Dolores added: “That case of falling in love really was just a matter of two kisses […] The song ‘Linger’ was written about that and it’s lovely because it captures that time of innocence for me.”

In the documentary “99 Love, Life & Rock’n Roll” released on “Stars” Dolores said: “I wrote Linger about my first kiss”.

Source:
http://cranberriesworld.com/music/song-list-a-z/linger/

Lyrics

If you, if you could return
Don't let it burn, don't let it fade
I'm sure I'm not being rude
But it's just your attitude
Is tearing me apart
Is ruining everything

And I swore, I swore I would be true
And, honey, so did you
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?

But I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger?

Oh, I thought the world of you
I thought nothing could go wrong
But I was wrong
I was wrong

If you, if you could get by
Trying not to lie
Things wouldn't be so confused
And I wouldn't feel so used
But you always really knew
I just wanna be with you

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger?

And I'm in so deep
You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger?

You know I'm such a fool for you
You got me wrapped around your finger
Do you have to let it linger?
Do you have to, do you have to
Do you have to let it linger?
Play with the song, fill the gaps
blackboard
Legend
  • The video player plays from the time specified
  • Chorus
  • People Talking

Vocabulary

linger

stay, not leave stay alive
Maria got cancer at 65, but lingered for another three years before dying

To get by

To be able to live or deal with a situation with difficulty, usually by having just enough of something you need, such as money
She just need a little money to get by