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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

I’m sure you’re familiar with the iconic song Linger by The Cranberries, as well as the masses of people on social media who are posting about “letting it linger” while listening to the song.

Though the song, Linger, is now 30-years-old, this trend started popping up more recently in the past few years on platforms like TikTok, bringing in a new generation of lingerers and lovers of The Cranberries.

The song is always in my top 20 most listened to songs on Apple Music by then end of the year, so I’d say I let it linger quite often.

I interpret “lingering” as just living in the moment. When the song comes on it’s time to switch off all the distractions and stress of day-to-day life, and just become enveloped in experiencing and living in the now.

However, letting it linger can also be taken as letting yourself marinate within a certain thought or feeling. You just let yourself go and “linger” in that moment.

In the song, Dolores O’Riordan sings about her love for someone that once seemed to give it to her in return, but ended up being unfaithful to her. Before singing the chorus of “do you have to let it linger’s” she explains how she’s still “such a fool” for them and is asking why her lover has to be tantalizing her with the thoughts of their past love. Essentially, she’s wondering why her unrequited love has to still “linger” within her.

Those are just the thoughts that Dolores is lingering onto, but you can linger on anything you feel you need to in the moment.

Don’t know if you want to buy that bag? Let it linger. Unsure if you should message them about how you feel? Let it linger. Feeling like your life is moving so fast and you just need everything to stop? Take a moment and LET IT LINGER!

You can find lingerers frolicking along a nature path, twirling around a lamp post, daydreaming while looking up at the sky, or just disassociating on the couch. At its core, lingering is just a time to get sentimental.

I love putting this song on when I’m going on a longer drive by myself, or listening to it while the sun is setting as a wave of nostalgia washes over me.

So, whenever you’re unsure about something, or need to take a break from a busy day, just turn on The Cranberries and let it linger.

I always feel better afterwards. It’s as if the song just takes you away from all your troubles while it’s playing and washes away all your worries once it’s over.

Jessica Wikander is a second year member of the Her Campus chapter at St. Bonaventure University, and loves to write about topics such as movies, books, music, and so much more. She is also always looking to get more involved in the world of writing, editing and journalism in and outside of school. Jessica is a sophomore at St. Bonaventure University and is a strategic communication and literary publishing & editing double major. Along with Her Campus, she has joined other on campus media outlets such as The Buzz, the campus radio station; and the BonaVenture, the campus newspaper. She also is a part of SBU for Equality and the Jandoli School Women in Communications group. Back home, Jessica works at her local public library where she has grown to love being surrounded by people who shared the same love of books and writing as her. On her own time, Jessica enjoys reading. She is a lover of classic literature, fantasy, and literary fiction. She also loves to crochet and is trying to learn how to knit. A comfort show of hers is New Girl, and is an avid period drama watcher and enthusiast. She is open to any discussions on her favorite pieces of media and is always looking for new recommendations of things to watch or read.