GIVĒON TWENTIES Lyrics Explained: A Soulful Look at Regret, Growth, and Moving On

R&B thrives on introspection, and GIVĒON’s TWENTIES is a prime example of an artist laying his emotions bare.

With a voice that practically drips with nostalgia and regret, he turns the past into a stage play, looking back at a relationship that lasted longer than it should have.

But TWENTIES isn’t just another breakup anthem—it’s a reckoning with youth, choices, and the kind of love that lingers even when it shouldn’t.

The Weight of Time: GIVĒON TWENTIES Song Meaning

GIVĒON has never been one for over-the-top dramatics. His music thrives in the quiet spaces—those pauses in conversations, the sighs between verses. TWENTIES by GIVĒON fits that mould perfectly.

The song captures the emotional tug-of-war between nostalgia and the realisation that some relationships don’t survive self-discovery.

The lyrics paint a picture of a romance stretching across six formative years, with GIVĒON caught between devotion and the slow realisation that he was, in his own words, “young and dumb.”

Lines like “Thought I was learning myself / I was just learning you” cut deep, not just as heartbreak but as self-reflection.

How much of our youth is spent defining ourselves through someone else?

GIVĒON TWENTIES Lyrics Explained: The Anatomy of Regret

The song opens with a familiar sentiment—thinking that love, if nurtured enough, will last.

But GIVĒON quickly dismantles that idea, questioning his past choices.

The chorus delivers the gut-punch: “I spent my twenties on you.” 

It’s not just a line—it’s an entire decade laid out in one sentence.

And then there’s the standout moment: “Remember our first kiss, was in a rental car / Now I kinda wish it was a hit and run.” Ouch.

That’s the kind of brutally honest lyric that stings in the best way.

It’s not just about lost love—it’s about the frustration of realising you held on for too long.

The second verse leans into this regret even harder, with GIVĒON acknowledging that he clung to the relationship because he didn’t know better. 

“Hold onto you like a shirt to a sweater / Hung onto you ‘cause I didn’t know better”—a clever play on how comfort can sometimes become a trap.

The Sound of Reflection: Why TWENTIES Hits So Hard

The sound of TWENTIES isn’t about breaking new ground—it’s about perfecting what already works.

It feels like a classic R&B track, comparable to Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul, with its rich instrumentation and timeless appeal. 

GIVĒON’s signature baritone, paired with lush instrumentation, makes this track feel like a late-night confession with the touches of a classic R&B track.

Produced by Sevn Thomas, Maneesh Bidaye, Jahaan Sweet, Matthew Burnett, and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, the song leans into warm, melancholic tones, amplifying the weight of GIVĒON’s words.

The live band arrangement in the music video reinforces the song’s theatricality, almost as if he’s replaying scenes from the past in real-time.

GIVĒON’s Evolution: From Heartbreak Anniversary to TWENTIES

GIVĒON is no stranger to reflecting on love and loss. His breakout hit Heartbreak Anniversary set the tone for his signature storytelling—achingly personal, deeply immersive.

But TWENTIES isn’t just about looking back; it’s about accepting the past and moving forward.

This release marks his first solo single since 2022, and it lands at a pivotal moment.

With his 30th birthday on the horizon, TWENTIES feels like a final goodbye to a younger, more naive version of himself.

Fans have been waiting for this next chapter, and if this song is any indication, it’s going to be an era defined by growth, honesty, and even more soul-stirring storytelling.

Final Thoughts

Regret is a tricky thing. It can haunt you, or it can teach you. GIVĒON TWENTIES walks that tightrope masterfully, turning heartache into a lesson rather than just a lament.

If nothing else, it’s a reminder that we don’t always get it right in our twenties—but at least we get great music out of it.

So, was spending his twenties on love a mistake? Maybe. But for listeners, it’s a win.

Stream TWENTIES by GIVĒON now, and let the bittersweet nostalgia sink in.

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GIVĒON TWENTIES Lyrics

Verse 1
How was I supposed to know
This is how it’s gonna go?
Thought that if I put you first enough
We would last for sure, last for sure (For sure)
Remember our first kiss, was in a rental car
Now I kinda wish it was a hit and run
Crazy I let you get this far
But I was just young and dumb

Pre-Chorus
Six years gone down the drain
I guess I’m half to blame
I didn’t know, I didn’t know I’d be wasting my time

Chorus
Spending my twenties on you (Oh)
I poured my heart in it
Don’t get me started
Spend my time wondering why
I spent my twenties on you

Verse 2
Thought I was learning myself
I was just learning you
Is anything black and white
When you’re barely twenty-two?
Hold onto you like a shirt to a sweater
Hung onto you ’cause I didn’t know better
I just felt like time was runnin’ out
I could tell the ship was goin’ down
I was so young and dumb

Pre-Chorus
Six years gone down the drain
I guess I’m half to blame
I didn’t know, I didn’t know I’d be wasting my time

Chorus
Spending my twenties on you (Oh)
I poured my heart in it
Don’t get me started
Spend my time wondering why
I spent my twenties on you, oh
I poured my heart in it
Don’t get me started
Spend my time wondering why
I spent my twenties on you