I'm spilling red wine on my bed
I'm taking photos and hitting send
In the blue light glow
At 11:59
Mmm
And my glass broke at the stem
I'm soaked in cheap merlot again
As the world keeps on spinning
Just outside

At midnight
The comedown is quick and cruel and light
Another year settles heavy over me
Over me
What is 21 good for?
Other than a pass through the front door
To all the shit I've been doing since 18
18
"Good thing you've got a sense of humor"
I say to myself in the mirror
Mmm
Happy birthday to me

In the morning I'll go for a drive
And pretend to know why
I'm throwing punches
At my scrappy self-esteem
Mmm
I say to my mom, "I'm caught in the crossfire,
I'm teetering on the tightwire"
She says,
"It was never meant to work out perfectly"

But in all my dreams
Everything is clear-cut and clean
And when I speak I say exactly what I mean
I mean
What is 21 good for?
Other than sneaking through the backdoor
And blowing out the heavy smoke screen
Smoke screen
"Good thing you've got a sense of humor"
I say to myself in the mirror
Mmm
Happy birthday to me

What have I been doing my whole life?
Idly sitting by
Waiting for something to happen to me
Mmm
I never was a go-getter
But I'm trying to do better
Hold hesitation to the flame
And let it burn entirely
Let the ashes point me north
To what I'm looking for

At midnight
The comedown cuts through me like a knife
One more year settles heavy over me
Over me
I guess 21 is good for
A hard shove out the door
And making me question everything
Mmm
"Good thing you've got a sense of humor"
I say to myself in the mirror
Mmm
Happy birthday to me

21 (live take)

Former gifted kid, current broke independent musician
Ig: isabel_pless

21 (live take)

Isabel Pless