Breathe
Anna Nalick Lyrics


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2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake
"Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
I don't love him, Winter just wasn't my season"
Yeah, we walk through the doors, so accusing, their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe

May, he turn twenty-one on the base at Fort Bliss
"Just a day," he said down to the flask in his fist
Ain't been sober since maybe October of last year
Here in town, you can tell he's been down for a while
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles
Wanna hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, boys
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe

"There's a light at each end of this tunnel" you shout
"'Cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again"
If you only try turning around

2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me
Threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
'Cause these words are my diary screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them however you want to

But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand
And breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe

Oh, breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe
Oh-oh, oh-oh




Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

Anna Nalick’s “Breathe (2AM)” is a vulnerable and introspective song about the struggles of life and the importance of taking a moment to simply breathe. The first verse shares the singer’s late-night phone call with a friend who is seeking help to understand and move on from a relationship that wasn’t right for her. The second verse tells the story of a young soldier who turns to alcohol to cope with the difficulties of deployment. The chorus serves as a reminder to slow down and focus on the present moment, “breathe, just breathe.”


The imagery in the lyrics, particularly the metaphor of life as an hourglass glued to the table, highlights the sense of being stuck and unable to escape the difficult moments in life. The repeated line “you can’t jump the track” emphasizes the idea that sometimes we simply have to endure difficult times and allow life to run its course.


The final verse is particularly poignant as the artist reflects on the vulnerability of sharing personal experiences through music. She describes the feeling of exposing one’s innermost thoughts and feelings to others, recognizing both the power and the fear that comes with this act. In the end, the chorus remains as a gentle reminder that sometimes the best thing we can do is simply breathe.


Line by Line Meaning

2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake
It's late at night and the singer's friend is calling for help.


"Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
The friend is asking for guidance in fixing a problem.


I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season"
The singer realizes they don't have feelings for someone, and the season simply didn't align with their relationship timeline.


Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
The artist and their friend are met with judgmental looks from others when entering a public space.


Like they have any right at all to criticize
The artist questions the legitimacy of criticism from strangers.


Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason
The singer accuses the judgmental strangers of being present in the same location for the same reasons as everyone else.


And 'cause you can't jump the track,
Life is linear and cannot be altered in a significant way.


We're like cars on a cable
People are constrained to a certain path in life from which they cannot veer off course.


And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
Life moves forward, continuously flowing like the sand in an hourglass, and one cannot change or take back time.


No one can find the rewind button, girl
Time cannot be reversed or undone like a button being pushed on a recording device, leaving people unable to go back and correct their mistakes.


So cradle your head in your hands
The singer tells the listener to pause, reflect, and cradle their head during these moments of life that feel heavy and unmoving.


And breathe, just breathe
The artist instructs the listener to take deep breaths in order to provide a momentary sense of relief and ease from the heavy feelings.


In May he turned 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
The singer references a young man turning 21 on a military base in Texas.


"Just a day," he said down to the flask in his fist
The young man tries to downplay his birthday celebration by saying it's just a regular day, while drinking from a flask.


"Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year"
The young man confesses to the singer that he has not been sober since the previous October.


Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while
People in the town the artist is in can tell that the young man has been having a difficult time for some time now.


But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles
Despite his troubles, the young man has a naturally beautiful smile that catches the artist's attention.


Wanna hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it
The singer expresses a physical desire to hold the young man but instead decides to turn the feeling into a song.


'Cause you can't jump the track
Life's path is determined and cannot be detoured by one's desires.


We're like cars on a cable
Human life is constrained and limited like a car on a track.


And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
Life progresses continuously and cannot be changed or undone.


No one can find the rewind button, boys
Time cannot be rewound, leaving people unable to go back and make changes.


So cradle your head in your hands
The singer repeats this line as a reminder to take a moment to pause and reflect.


And breathe, just breathe
The act of breathing continues to symbolize the way to find solace and peace of mind.


There's a light at each end of this tunnel
Even when things feel difficult, there is always hope at the end of the road, which can serve as a light in dark times.


You shout 'cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
Despite feeling trapped, there is always the possibility for hope, even if it's difficult to see in the present moment.


And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
The singer acknowledges that they might make the same mistakes in the future, realizing that life isn't a straight path and is full of lessons.


If you only try turning around
The artist encourages the listener to look forward by turning away from mistakes instead of being fixated on them.


2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song
The artist emphasizes that they too can relate to the struggle of staying awake late at night and using music as an outlet to express themselves.


If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer
Writing emotions down can serve as a cathartic process to release difficult feelings, removing the burden they hold on you.


Inside of me threatening the life it belongs to
By writing the emotions down, the singer moves on from the burden and doesn't let their emotions threaten the life they are supposed to live.


And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
The thought of sharing raw emotions with the public can be daunting and intimidating.


'Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
When music or writing is the outlet to express yourself, there's always a fear of sharing too much of one's personal life with the public.


And I know that you'll use them however you want to
Despite feeling vulnerable, the artist comes to terms with the fact that their words will be interpreted however the listener chooses.


But you can't jump the track
Life's course cannot be changed or altered by one's desires.


We're like cars on a cable
Humans are confined to a linear path, unable to determine the course of fate.


And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
Life continues to move forward, with time passing like sand through an hourglass.


No one can find the rewind button now
The idea of going back in time and fixing mistakes is impossible.


Sing it if you understand
The singer encourages the listener to sing along if they can relate to the message in the song.


And breathe, just breathe
The song concludes by reminding the listener to take a moment to breathe, and in doing so, find a momentary sense of peace and release from heavy emotions.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Anna Nalick

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@vic_pazzz5503

If anyone wants to sing along with lyrics here ya go:

Two am, and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake
Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season
Yeah, we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason
'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe
May he turn twenty-one on the base at Fort Bliss
Just today he sat down to the flask in his fist
Ain't been sober since maybe October of last year
Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles
Want to hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it
'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, boys
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe
There's a light at each end of this tunnel, you shout
'Cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you only try turning around
Two am, and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer
Inside of me, threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
'Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to
But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Yeah, sing it if you'll understand
And breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe
Oh, breathe, just breathe



All comments from YouTube:

@thejanglezclan

"Life is like an hourglass glued to the table" is an underrated powerful lyric.

@ebnolan3856

Yes it is. I feel that way at time’s and other’s that it is on a trapeze spilling out 100 times faster.

@gdub999tube

I agree! You can't turn the hourglass over and start again.

@mcmaximon1

want to give you a thumbs up for this comment but can't bring myself to be your 113th thumbs up so I thought I'd message you instead and say 'It is' x

@thejanglezclan

@@mcmaximon1 Thanks hope you're doing well my friend!

@nevergonnabesilent

What if you turn the table over?

22 More Replies...

@ravenash5020

My mom showed me this song when I was going through a mental breakdown and I felt like I couldn’t keep going. Today she passed away and here I am listening again. Trying desperately to remember to just breathe.

@daddyrawkgames

You are loved, always remember that. ❤️

@trevorsnider4790

You got this... Just remember what she's shown you. Your stronger than you know... Just breathe

@Dani-ICU-RN

We all are ..inhale... its Going to be ok.. WE'RE all here ,eventually,FOR THE SAME REASONS..we have to be,for eachother..NO ONE reads better than the person who just wrote the book... thats why the kaleidoscope moves us in turn- its 4 am. exhale.. hold on girl..I got you..Mom's got you, so don't let go♡. @raven ash

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