16 Years lyrics by The Griswolds, 2 meanings. 16 Years explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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The Griswolds – 16 Years lyrics
[Verse 1]
Sixteen years
Without even a place to call my own

But I'll dry my tears
Looking for a place to rest my bones
All these years
But never changed the one that I have known
And despite my fears
I'm sure that I can make it on my own

[Chorus]
Quality drugs and limousines
Oh, Momma this is killing me
I'm half the man I used to be, woah
To give to lust and gambling
Oh, Momma I need rescuing
It's what sixteen years has done to me, woah

[Verse 2]
Sixteen years
Burning every bridge that I have known
Without you here
The world has gotten colder on my own

[Chorus]
Quality drugs and limousines
Oh, Momma this is killing me
I'm half the man I used to be, woah
To give to lust and gambling
Oh, Momma I need rescuing
It's what sixteen years has done to me, woah

[Bridge]
There's nothing like it
I'm going away
There's nothing like the feeling
Of being alone on a New York street
Gives everything some meaning
There's nothing like being torn apart
From the love you've known right from the start
There's nothing like this feeling

There's nothing like it
I'm going away
There's nothing like the feeling
Of being alone on a New York street
Gives everything some meaning
There's nothing like being torn apart
From the love you've known right from the start
There's nothing like this feeling

[Chorus]
Quality drugs and limousines
Oh, Momma this is killing me
I'm half the man I used to be, woah
To give to lust and gambling
Oh, Momma I need rescuing
It's what sixteen years has done to me, woah

It's what sixteen years has done to me, woah
It's what sixteen years has done to me, woah
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Lyrics taken from /lyrics/t/the_griswolds/16_years.html

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Songwriters: Christopher Michael Whitehall, Daniel Duque-Perez, Elizabeth Frazer, Robin Guthrie
16 Years lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Submitted by buffbills

16 Years meanings

  • k
    + 5
    kylemoffat
    Fantastic song with a very deep personal meaning.
    16 years is, well, about 16 years: 16 years since the death of the narrator's mother. In this 16 years that have passed since her death, the narrator has continuously struggled with feeling alone in the world and using drugs and gambling to escape the pain of losing somebody they were so close to. These damaging behaviours have made him feel like 'half the man he used to be', implying he has lost a big part of himself along with his mother. The narrator has struggled to find a place for themselves, in terms of physical location and in terms of somewhere to fit in. Nobody understands the internal conflicts he undergoes, and how its killing him.
    Saying 'torn apart' emphasises the pain of his loss, leaving a bitterness behind, making the narrator feel as he has been robbed from the person he is closest to.
    In the first verse, the narrator states 'I'm sure that I can make it on my own'. As the song progresses, this feels far away from the truth and sound more like him attempting to reassure himself. There is an evident struggle to move on to the end of the song.
    We have lost somebody which makes this song so empathetic. However, it affects us all differently, especially when the one you lose has a integral place in your life.
    1 reply
  • U
    - 1
    Unregistered
    I thought it was about losing his mother too, but when I looked at the Genius annotations of the song, which apparently come straight from The Griswolds, it is about the fact it has been 16 years since the band started and the hectic changes living in New York brought with it. I am very confused so if anyone actually knows that would be great. I love the idea of it being about his mother and it fits perfectly, though.
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    • k
      + 5
      kylemoffat
      Fantastic song with a very deep personal meaning.
      16 years is, well, about 16 years: 16 years... Read more →

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