Growing up in Malibu, California, she began learning the violin at the age of four and left regular school five years later with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist; she practiced eight or nine hours a day and read a wide range of literature. Progressing to writing her own music, she studied under various teachers and went to Indiana University, which she left over issues regarding the relationship between classical music and the appearance of the performer. Through her own independent label Traitor Records, Autumn debuted with her classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo, followed by the release in 2003 of her album Enchant.
She appeared in singer Courtney Love's backing band on her 2004 America's Sweetheart tour and returned to Europe. She released the 2006 album Opheliac with the German label Trisol Music Group. In 2007, she released Laced/Unlaced; the re-release of On a Day... appeared as Laced with songs on the electric violin as Unlaced. She later left Trisol to join New York-based The End Records in 2009 and release Opheliac in the United States, where previously it had only been available as an import. Currently she is on tour to promote her newest album Fight Like A Girl. She played the role of Painted Doll in Darren Lynn Bousman's 2012 film The Devil's Carnival.
4 o'Clock
Emilie Autumn Lyrics
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4 o'clock
Never let me sleep
I close my eyes and pray
For the garish light of day
Like a frightened child I run
From the sleep that never comes
4 o'clock
Out of bed I creep
To climb this tower of shame
But the hour's still the same
Only madness knows my name
At 4 o'clock
4 o'clock
4 o'clock
Never let me sleep
I close my eyes and pray
For the garish light of day
Like a frightened child I run
From the sleep that never comes
4 o'clock
4 o'clock
Out of bed I creep
To climb this tower of shame
But the hour's still the same
Only madness knows my name
At 4 o'clock
Why can we never go back to bed?
Whose is the voice ringing in my head?
Where is the sense in these desperate dreams?
Why should I wake when I'm half past dead?
Sure as the clock keeps its steady chime
Weak as I walk to its steady rhyme
Ticking away from the ones we love
So many girls, so little time
Why can we never go back to bed?
Whose is the voice ringing in my head?
Where is the sense in these desperate dreams?
Why should I wake when I'm half past dead?
Sure as the clock keeps its steady chime
Weak as I walk to its steady rhyme
Ticking away from the ones we love
So many girls, so little time
4 o'clock
4 o'clock
Never let me sleep
I close my eyes and pray
For the garish light of day
Like a frightened child I run
From the sleep that never comes
4 o'clock
4 o'clock
Out of bed I creep
To climb this tower of shame
But the hour's still the same
Only slumber never came
Only madness knows my name
At 4 o'
Why can we never go back to bed?
Whose is the voice ringing in my head?
Where is the sense in these desperate dreams?
Why should I wake when I'm half past dead?
Sure as the clock keeps its steady chime
Weak as I walk to its steady rhyme
Ticking away from the ones we love
So many girls, so little time
Why can we never go back to bed?
Whose is the voice ringing in my head?
Where is the sense in these desperate dreams?
Why should I wake when I'm half past dead?
Sure as the clock keeps its steady chime
Weak as I walk to its steady rhyme
Ticking away from the ones we love
So many girls, so little time
Why can we never go back to bed?
Emilie Autumn's song "4 o'Clock" depicts the frustrating and hopeless feeling of being unable to fall asleep. The repetition of "4 o'clock" emphasizes the time of night when the singer is unable to achieve sleep. The lyrics describe the singer's attempts to fight against the insomnia, praying for the arrival of morning, and the desperate need to escape the never-ending cycle of sleeplessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Why can we never go back to bed?
The singer is questioning why they are unable to fall asleep and let go of their thoughts and struggles.
Whose is the voice ringing in my head?
The singer is questioning the source of their inner voice and the thoughts that keep them up at night.
Where is the sense in these desperate dreams?
The singer is questioning the purpose and reason behind their unsettling dreams.
Why should I wake when I'm half past dead?
The artist is questioning why they must continue to wake up and face their struggles when they feel emotionally and physically exhausted.
Sure as the clock keeps its steady chime
The artist acknowledges the constant ticking of the clock and the feeling of being trapped and controlled by time.
Weak as I walk to its steady rhyme
The singer feels powerless and defeated by the constant rhythm of time passing and the pressure to keep up.
Ticking away from the ones we love
Time is constantly separating the singer from those close to them and is a reminder of the fleeting nature of life.
So many girls, so little time
The artist reflects on the idea of having multiple possibilities and opportunities in life, but feeling as though there is not enough time to pursue them all.
Never let me sleep
The artist feels as though they are unable to fully rest and recover due to their constant internal struggles and thoughts.
I close my eyes and pray
For the garish light of day
The artist longs for the arrival of morning and the end of their restless night, hoping that daylight will help them cope with their struggles.
Like a frightened child I run
From the sleep that never comes
The singer compares themselves to a scared child who is unable to fall asleep and remains haunted by their fears and anxieties.
Out of bed I creep
To climb this tower of shame
The artist describes the feeling of shame and guilt that drives them out of bed every night to face their inner struggles and thoughts.
But the hour's still the same
Only madness knows my name
The singer is stuck in a constant cycle of insomnia and internal turmoil that only drives them further towards madness and despair.
Only slumber never came
Despite trying to fall asleep and rest, the singer is unable to find peace and remains awake through the night.
At 4 o'
The singer references the specific hour of 4 o'clock, emphasizing its significance and the repeated struggles they face at this time.
Contributed by Colton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.