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The Meaning Behind Camila Cabello’s “Twentysomethings” Lyrics Is So Relatable

On June 28, Camilla Cabello released her latest pop album C,XOXO, which features songs about heartbreak, navigating life, and aimlessness that can accompany that. Cabello incorporates these themes in fun, upbeat tracks, such as her song “Twentysomethings” which many think is the perfect testament to being a confused twenty-something.

The song describes not knowing exactly what you’re doing and how long that feelingwill last, but being okay with that, even in all of its messy glory. This song, in particular, describes a feeling many know all too well, but wish they didn’t, depicting a hot-and-cold relationship. In the first verse, Cabello describes this by singing, “We probably won’t work, but, baby we just might.”

Cabello describes “livin’ in limbo” in the chorus, noting how she feels as though she doesn’t belong to herself, or the love interest she’s referring to in the song. She describes the complex and contrasting feelings of wanting independence, wanting to belong to someone entirely, and not just exist in a gray area. In the pre-chorus, she sings, “Want you to hold me tight, tell me we’re alright/I don’t want you on the phone, feel better on my own/Remind myself I’m grown, I could do what I want, yeah.”

In the catchy chorus of the track, Cabello sings, “Twenty-somethin’s in love, in lust, in confusion/ Twenty-somethin’s, dancin’ while our hearts are bruisin’/ Leave Manhattan, cross the bridge over to Brooklyn/ When it comes to us, I don’t know what the f*ck I’m doin,’ doin’/ Twenty-somethin’s, should’ve left the party sooner/ Twenty-somethin’s, gotta have a sense of humor when it comes to us/ Don’t know what the f*ck I’m doin.”’ Cabello perfectly encapsulates the feelings of being in love and confused which perfectly accompanies exploring life in your twenties.

In Cabello’s second verse, she describes the impossibility of decoding the meaning of someone’s message. She sings, “‘Bout to lose service, I’m in the elevator/”If you’re down we could do somethin’ later”/ F*ck does that mean? I need a translator/I don’t get it, straight up.” 

Many are loving Cabello’s perfect testament to what being a confused young adult is really like, even if it’s not always pretty. 

Confusing situationships, regretful choices, and conflicting emotions perfectly summarize what life is like for a young adult. This relatable track may easily become the song of the summer – I know I’ll be streaming it non-stop.

Amanda Brown is a current national writer for Her Campus, focusing largely on the Entertainment & Culture vertical. She was formerly the Summer 2024 Entertainment & Culture intern, writing about all things pop culture! Beyond Her Campus, Amanda is a sophomore Writing and Rhetoric major with an Honors Interdisciplinary Studies minor at James Madison University. Amanda is the Founder/President/Editorial Director of JMU's Spoon University chapter and the Junior Social Media Manager of JMU's Her Campus chapter. She is also a member of Gamma Phi Beta. In her free time, Amanda loves binge-watching reality TV (especially while drinking iced lattes) and going on long walks (ideally using it as a yap session or listening to music). Amanda loves reading romance novels while listening to Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams.