She tried to peel me off the pavement Tried to insinuate sometimes I am in danger of going too far Asked me would I like to go for tea and toast Get your hand off my thigh In the car she turned to me and said You're not nineteen forever, pull yourself together I know it seems strange but things, they change Older woman and a younger man Both of them doing all they can Tried to get your attention all night long Asked you once, I asked you twice, asked you four times If you'd like to dance to that song Front crawled the crowd down the stairs And I followed you out in the rain, nowhere to be found Never mind, you'll probably never look that pretty again You're not nineteen forever, pull yourself together I know it seems strange but things, they change Older woman and an ever so slightly younger man God bless the band, they're doing all they can You're not nineteen forever You're not nineteen forever You're not nineteen forever It's not big, it's definitely not clever



Lyrics submitted by _THE ONE_

Track duration: 04:04

"Not Nineteen Forever" as written by Liam James Fray

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Not Nineteen Forever song meanings
Add your thoughts

12 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    My Interpretation:Yeah, I think this song explains about the different way people thinks, how women are supposed to be more mature at their age than guys. And how he, in his immature way of thinking, wants a short term relationship with no strings while the slightly older woman, who is a lot more mature, want a long term one with guarantees (probably with a view of getting married). Both of them wants their plan in this relationship to work out "both of them doing all they can". But they have different views, so it won;t work. The woman is expecting the guy to woo her in a mature fashion "Asked me would I like to go for tea and toast" and is not impressed with the way he does it "Asked you once, I asked you twice, I asked you four times, If you'd like to dance to that song". So she told him that he's not nineteen forever and he's got to pull himself together and act more mature. And I agree with ak12 about the bands being his mates who supports him and gives him advices and stuff

    Sorry if it's a bit shortsighted, it's my very first post, hehe
    Flag Revenge101on December 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:^^ i think that is almost right.

    i think its about how he turns someone down because he's waiting for something to happen with someone else:

    first verse, she tries to 'peel' him 'off the pavement', puts her hand on his thigh, and he says 'get your hand off my thigh'. She's older than he is, - 'older woman and a younger man'

    second verse: he rejects the first person, (the older woman) because he's waiting on another woman, who he waits for
    'all night long', and who he follows out 'in the rain'. This person is around his age maybe a year or so older, which may make a difference then, but not so much now, so to him its an 'older woman and ever-so- slightly younger man (which is him)'

    in terms of the chorus, maybe the first time its person he turns down saying that he's not 'nineteen forever', to urge him to do something and to be with her, as if to say 'you only live once'

    second chorus: He says 'You're not nineteen forever' to himself, referring to the person he is chasing. Even though he likes her, he thinks he's wasting his time. Instead of having fun while he's 19, he's moping around because he can't get a girl.

    He's also trying to convince himself (unsuccessfully?) that things will get better- 'i know it seems strange but things, they change.' and that she's not worth it- 'never mind, you'll never look that pretty again'.

    *God bless the band- a band typically plays music in the background, so maybe its his mates and the people around him saying that he'll get over it, and so in this way they're doing all they can.
    Flag ak12on July 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:funny how we all have different views.

    For me this song is clearly about a young guy (maybe mid 20's) who is hooking up with an older woman. All he wants is a physical thing with her (sex?), whereas she's more mature and asks him out on more serious dates (here represented by "tea and toast", because she's more keen on a serious relationship.

    She thinks he's in "danger of going too far" by pushing things further, and taking too quick steps.

    "You're not nineteen forever", she says, "it seems strange but things they change", as in: you'll understand what i mean one day.

    Then they go to a concert and, again, he tries to make it sexual/physical by asking her to dance with him. She gets tired of it after he asks four times and just goes home.

    The band does "all they can": they play and entertain the crowd. But it's not enough. The guy couldn't "pull" himself together".

    And the story is over, and indeed the 19 year old guy is "not big", "definitely not clever"

    Final Note: I love it how he says "never mind, you'll probably never look that pretty again" when she disappeats. This is him saying to himself "fuck that man, life goes on and she wasn't THAT HOT", which is how you see girls at 19 when you're out and about.

    So yeah, that's what I think of this song.

    Flag luisguimaraeson May 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yes, weeyin, it's probably been altered since they wrote that comment. duh.
    Flag deltasunlighton June 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:urm, cutcopycat, dude (or dudette)you said that the last line should be, "it's not big, you're definitely not clever", and erm if im not , you know, mistaken,

    THAT IS THE BLOODY LAST LINE!

    and in the words of one of the monty pythons, (probobly john cleeeeeeeeeeeze)

    "I'm sorry, I don't know what come over me!"

    LOL
    Flag wee yinon May 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:oh man!

    the first time i ever heard this, i thought he said, "she tryed to pee on the other pavement," instead of "she's trying to peel me off the pavement"

    oops!




    LUV IT SO MUCH ITS ON MY MP3!






    =D
    Flag wee yinon May 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah maybe, but I love to think lyrics are sometimes more than only the first level.

    I personnaly can't listen to that song without thinking it's about lady Death talking to a suicidal young man. The song has more impact that way to me.
    Flag ecchyon May 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ecchy mate u read too much into tunes. its simply about an older woman wanting a guy to settle down but he's in a band getting rat arsed and having a good time. basically live fast die young.
    Flag kcb92on April 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Read carefully again. This is about suicide - the older woman is Death trying to convince a young man to stop living on the edge.
    Flag ecchyon April 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:yesss it says "front crawled the crowd"
    it says in the lyrics book from st jude.
    Flag ellieacrylicon April 08, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain