This is a song of regret, epic in scope and sweeping. Although many songs from the early '90s seemed to be a pastiche of previous decades, "Linger" is a definitive song from one of the decade's most promising bands. While this isn't lyrically novel, the full-on emotionality of lead singer Dolores O'Riordan makes this stand out. Singing in a strong Irish brogue she comes off both needy and detached here. It's that emotion that powers this track. Producer Stephen Street gave this a striking mix of gloss and earthiness, which is where the most believable ballads reside. O'Riordan's vocals are overdubbed on choice lyrics and the chorus. It's the chorus of "I'm just a fool for you/You've got me wrapped around your finger" that made the song, especially the way O'Riordan lingered on the word "finger." With its strong string arrangement, and chiming guitars, and the marching band-like drumming, this is a gorgeous and timeless song. Although the emotions do run deep on this track, the pain offered here is almost cathartic. -- Jason Elias (allmusic.com)