Released: 2016
Let’s pull back the curtains on “7 Years” by Lukas Graham. On its surface, this bittersweet track might make you a little misty-eyed. It’s a nostalgic tune, a glimpse into the past while ponderously peering into what the future holds. But under the surface of reminiscing about childhood, this song serves as a tapestry of life’s milestones, pondering aging, ambition, companionship, and legacy. Lukas Graham uses his own life’s roadmap to ask universal questions – about dreams, love, and the inevitable passage of time. Buckle up, pop aficionados, it’s about to get deep.
The track digs in right from the first verse: “Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me / ‘Go make yourself some friends, or you’ll be lonely.'” Simple yet profound, Graham reflects on his mother’s wisdom advising him to seek companionship, a human necessity, and setting the tone for the rest of the song.
As we journey along, Graham recounts his teens: “By 11, smoking herb and drinking burning liquor / Never rich, so we were out to make that steady figure.” He’s painting a picture of early rebelliousness and struggle, the hustle to make ends meet. He’s pulling back the veil on the grittier aspects of his youth, a far cry from the sugar-coated memories often found in pop songs.
By the time he hits 20, Graham’s life takes a turn: “I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure / ‘Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major.” Here we see his unwavering aspiration and belief that dreams are not only for the privileged. It’s a great underdog story, one that echoes his own rise in the ruthless world of pop.
There’s no sugarcoating when it comes to the picture of success we often see. By the time he’s musing on turning 30, he comments how their songs “have been sold,” acknowledging the commercial aspect of the music business. His success hasn’t arrived without caveats – some friends are gone, having to make way for ‘steady figures.’
By the end, Graham shifts his gaze to the future: “Soon, I’ll be 60 years old, will I think the world is cold? / Or will I have a lot of children who can hold me?” He’s acknowledging that time marches on, wondering if the world will become a bitter place in his golden years or if he’ll find solace in family and legacy.
Throughout “7 Years,” Lukas Graham doesn’t shy away from showing us life’s highs and lows. It’s a snapshot of a journey, a raw and unapologetic account that mirrors our own. Life isn’t always a party in the pop world, but that’s what makes this tune resonate. It’s the soundtrack of someone who’s lived, loved, lost, and still dreams. And aren’t we all, to a certain extent, the protagonists of a similar story?
