2am
Blaze Bayley & Thomas Zwijsen Lyrics
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I get in from work at 2 AM and sit down with a beer
Turn on late night TV and then I wonder why I'm here
It's meaningless and trivial and it washes over me
And once again I wonder is this all there is for me
Here I am again, look at me again
Trying hard to see what there is for me
Here I am again, on my own
Life seems so pathetic, I wish I could leave it all behind
This canvas chair, this bed, these walls that fall in on my mind
Hold on for something better that just drags you through the dirt
Do you just let go or carry on and try to take the hurt
Here I am again, look at me again
Here I am again on my own
Trying hard to see what there is for me
Here I am again, on my own
Alone again, alone again, I'm here on my own
(this song first appeared on Iron Maiden's X Factor album. I wrote these lyrics after finishing my late shift in Birmingham and arriving home in Tamworth at 2am. At that time things were not going well for me in my music career. A few months later I auditioned for Iron Maiden. I was chosen as the new singer. Janick Gers and I worked on this song together. It turned out to be good enough for the X Factor album).
The lyrics of "2AM" by Blaze Bayley & Thomas Zwijsen express the feelings of disillusionment and questioning of purpose that arise during a late-night introspection. The singer arrives home after a long day of work at 2 AM and finds solace in a beer and late-night television. However, as they sit and ponder their existence, they begin to question the meaning and significance of their life.
The first verse establishes a sense of emptiness and detachment. The late-night TV is described as meaningless and trivial, illustrating how it fails to provide any real fulfillment or purpose. This leads the singer to wonder if their current situation is all there is for them, suggesting a dissatisfaction and desire for something more meaningful in life.
The chorus further emphasizes this feeling of solitude and being lost in one's own thoughts. The repetition of the phrase "Here I am again, on my own" highlights the isolation and struggle to find a sense of purpose or direction. The singer is trying hard to understand their place in the world, searching for something that gives meaning to their existence.
The second verse expresses a deep dissatisfaction with life, describing it as pathetic and suffocating. The surroundings, symbolized by the "canvas chair, bed, and walls," seem to close in on the singer's mind, intensifying their desire to escape from the mundane and monotonous routine. They yearn for something better, but feel trapped, pondering whether to endure the hardships and try to overcome the pain or simply give up.
The repeated line "Alone again, alone again, I'm here on my own" emphasizes the theme of isolation and loneliness. It encapsulates the alienation felt by the singer, both in their physical surroundings and in their struggle to find purpose and fulfillment. However, it is worth noting that the story behind the creation of this song brings a transformative element to the lyrics. Despite the initial hardships and challenges faced by the songwriter, the song eventually led to a significant opportunity – auditioning for Iron Maiden – showcasing the message that perseverance can lead to unexpected success and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
I get in from work at 2 AM and sit down with a beer
After a long day of work, I come home late at night and find solace by sitting down with a beer
Turn on late night TV and then I wonder why I'm here
As I switch on the television late at night, I can't help but question the purpose of my existence
It's meaningless and trivial and it washes over me
The content on TV feels empty and insignificant, having no real impact on me
And once again I wonder is this all there is for me
Once more, I find myself pondering if this is the extent of my existence
Here I am again, look at me again
Once more, I find myself in this situation, drawing attention to my presence
Here I am again on my own
Once again, I find myself alone
Trying hard to see what there is for me
Putting in great effort to discover what awaits me
Here I am again, on my own
Once more, I am left to face the world by myself
Life seems so pathetic, I wish I could leave it all behind
Existence feels utterly pitiful, and I yearn to escape it entirely
This canvas chair, this bed, these walls that fall in on my mind
Surrounded by mundane objects like a chair, a bed, and walls that seem to close in on my thoughts
Hold on for something better that just drags you through the dirt
Maintaining hope for a brighter future, despite experiencing hardships that leave you feeling degraded
Do you just let go or carry on and try to take the hurt
Should I simply relinquish control or keep pushing forward, attempting to endure the pain
Alone again, alone again, I'm here on my own
Once more, I am left to face the world in solitude
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bayley Cooke, Janick Gers, Stephen Percy Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Angelo H.
This is beautiful. - And Blaze turned into something of an operetic singer. - They should totally do his idea for a one-off concert with all singers of Maiden.
skeletorex
@Áron Barta or a duetto....like the one halford/dickinson made
Áron Barta
Michael Angelo H. That’s what I was thinking, it would be really cool. And I think at certain songs more than one of them should be singing, e.g. I really like how Blaze sings some parts of Fear of the dark
alex vaits
X Factor! My favorite Iron Maiden album... Great performance
Matteo Rossi
Miglior album era blaze.
Maniam Raja
Enjoy.....I am definitely and delighted out of the 2AM routine.
Станислав Бышок
The most underrated Maiden album. Each song is a masterpiece—in stark contrast to Virtual XI, by the way.
Whiplashmao
My first one and favorite, love you Blaze 🙏
phxsunsfaninsd
I have really grown to appreciate this album over the years and this song is fantastic!
Jordan Bourns
It gives me the good chills listening to you blaze. Always been my favourite singer