When Instant Star wrapped after four seasons (2005-2008), Alexz endured her share of off-camera drama in her music career, when both Capitol and Epic, respectively, ended up shelving her records due to internal conflicts . "It’s been tough,” she says, “but something always keeps me going. Even with no money in my pocket, things land where they land and you keep moving.” Johnson had completed a full length record entitled Weight in 2008, and was set to release it in September the next year.
Alexz independently released her debut album, Voodoo in 2010 and remixed it in 2011 as Reloaded. She released a compilation of unheard demos in the form of The Basement Recordings (2011), while prepping to release her first EP, Skipping Stone in January 2012. She has also released one live album, Live from the Skipping Stone Tour in December 2012. Johnson later continued to release two more demo compilations, The Basement Recordings 2 and The Basement Recordings 3 in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Finding success and a loyal fanbase through her independent releases, Johnson's 2014 EP, Heart and sophomore album Let 'Em Eat Cake were both funded through the crowdfunding service Pledgemusic. Heart and Let 'Em Eat Cake both showcase a different side of Johnson, tackling subjects such as heartbreak and loss. The two releases include tracks produced by David Kahne, who has worked with Lana Del Rey, Kelly Clarkson, Regina Spektor, and other artists.
2 a.m
Alexz Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Snow falls on the city
White on white
It's the color of hope
On an unforgiving night
You kissed me into ruins
Sin on sin
Now I've gotta love your love letters
[CHORUS:]
I can't tell the stars from the downtown lights
If I said I was truly over you
My heart would say amen
But I'd give in to the cold caress of 2 am.
If I admit I can't get used to this
Will my heart break again?
As I fall into the waiting arms of 2 AM
[VERSE 2:]
Someone's scratchy music through the walls.
Sirens weavin' thru the streets
I must have missed your call
Gathering up these nights
Black on black
I know your voice like it's my own
And it makes my heart go slack
[CHORUS:]
I can't tell the stars
From the downtown lights
If I said I was truly over you
My heart would say amen
But I give in to the cold caress of 2 AM
If I admit I can't get used to this
Will my heart break again?
As I fall
Into the waiting arms of 2 AM
Oh
If I said I was truly over you
My heart would say amen
But I give in to the cold caress of 2 AM
If I admit I can't get used to this
Will my heart break again?
As I fall
Into the waiting arms of 2 AM
Of 2 AM
The song “2 a.m” by Alexz Johnson is a hauntingly beautiful composition that expresses the pain of heartbreak and the struggle to let go. The opening verses paint a vivid picture of the hardships of the night, as the snow falls on the city and the singer finds herself in ruins from a sinful love affair. The chorus delves deeper into the singer’s psyche and inner turmoil, as she confesses that she can’t tell the stars from the downtown lights and is unable to get over her ex-lover. She acknowledges that her heart would say amen if she claimed to be over her lover, but she’s unable to resist the cold embrace of 2 am, which brings back painful memories of their relationship.
In the second verse, the singer hears scratchy music through the walls and hears sirens weaving through the streets, emphasizing the chaos and turmoil of the night. She reflects on the memories of her ex-lover, lamenting that she knows his voice like it's her own, and it causes her heart to go slack. The chorus then repeats, emphasizing the singer’s internal struggle, as she admits once again that she can’t get over her lover, even if she tries, and falls into the waiting arms of 2 am.
Overall, Johnson’s song is a poignant portrayal of the difficulties of letting go of a relationship and the anguish that can bring despite a person's best efforts. The powerful lyrics illustrate that time doesn’t always heal all wounds, and the past can haunt a person well into the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Snow falls on the city
The snow represents purity and innocence falling on the corrupted city, creating a sense of hope in the midst of despair.
White on white
The snow and the city blend together in a white-on-white landscape, highlighting the contrast between hope and corruption.
It's the color of hope
The white snow represents hope in a bleak environment where hope is hard to find.
On an unforgiving night
The city is unforgiving and harsh, but the snow falling brings a sense of softness and beauty to an otherwise bleak night.
You kissed me into ruins
The artist was so consumed with passion from the kiss that it left her feeling ruined and destroyed.
Sin on sin
The passion and desire between the singer and her lover is so intense that it feels like a sin on top of sin.
Now I've gotta love your love letters
The singer is left with the marks of her lover's passion and instead of feeling ashamed, she feels a sense of love and longing for them.
Written on my skin
The marks of her lover's passion and desire are literally written on her skin, making it impossible to forget them.
Someone's scratchy music through the walls.
The artist is surrounded by the sound of someone else's music, making her feel even more alone and disconnected.
Sirens weavin' thru the streets
The sound of sirens represents danger and urgency, contributing to the chaotic environment of the city at night.
I must have missed your call
The singer is so consumed with her own thoughts and feelings that she is unaware of her lover trying to reach out to her.
Gathering up these nights
The artist is collecting and holding onto the memories and feelings from these lonely, difficult nights.
Black on black
The night is dark and bleak, with no relief from the harsh reality of the city.
I know your voice like it's my own
The singer is intimately familiar with her lover's voice and it brings her comfort in the midst of the chaos.
And it makes my heart go slack
The sound of her lover's voice leaves the singer feeling weak and vulnerable.
If I said I was truly over you
The artist is struggling to move on from her lover and is unsure if she even wants to.
My heart would say amen
Even though the artist knows that moving on would be the right thing, her heart is still longing for her lover.
But I'd give in to the cold caress of 2 am.
The singer is so lonely and desperate that even though she wants to move on, she can't help but give in to her lover's call in the middle of the night.
If I admit I can't get used to this
The singer is acknowledging that these lonely nights without her lover are unbearable and she can't adjust to life without them.
Will my heart break again?
The artist is afraid of opening herself up to her lover again, knowing that their passion has the power to destroy her.
As I fall into the waiting arms of 2 AM
2 AM represents a time of desperation and loneliness for the artist, and even though she knows it will only bring her pain, she can't resist the pull of her lover's embrace.
Contributed by Owen O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alicia Huynh
still here in 2019!! still love all these songs.. alexz johnson has one of the most beautiful voices
Jasmine Payne
Still in 2022. Her songs just seem to hit the right note at times haha
Natalia Matiz
September 2021 :'(
Lais
STILL HERE AGUST 2020!!
Kyria Strange
Alicia Huynh still here. August 2019 💜💙
joseph Shane
Why is this not on Spotify 😩
GardeMangerLove
Even though the ending of Instant Star was a complete rip off , I'm still in Love with Alexz's voice. Even is she sang the phone book it'd be amazing. :]]
Tatenda Dune
It really was. If felt like they wanted to end the show quickly.
Amanda Wade
she is real music I can feel her emotion in every word and that's what real artist are
temperbrat
i like the fact that they made it real. We don't always have to see a fairy tale ending because life is not one. it sucks that they didn't end up together in the end officially, but it was a perfect cliff hanger.