Her self-titled debut album was released on Friday, November 30, 2018, shortly following lead single "Romance," released the previous Tuesday.
Speaking about the new record, Elena said: “Although the record is written for someone, a lot of the time it’s about the space without that person in it. In every scenario, there’s either the person in memory or the noticeable absence of that person in the present moment. I suppose it is a break-up record, however I do not talk about the relationship at all, and he hardly features in the scenes. He is only felt as a ghostly presence.”
5AM
Ex:Re Lyrics
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And all I could do is look through the gap in the window
Scared, shut in, see no one's helping
No bystanders, then you disappeared
I'm not sure, I think there was an altercation
It all too often happens down my road
Broken glass bottles and the blood-spat pavements
Cruelty trails
I'm just so sorry about what happened
I can't imagine how you must have felt
Burning
And what about that man that hurt you?
Did he just go home and take off his shoes?
Did he lie quite calmly against his lover?
Did he even once think about the pain he'd caused to another?
Oh, you can try and sleep well
But cruelty trails
You can try and sleep well
But cruelty trails
Ex:Re's song "5AM" is a haunting and emotional ballad that touches on themes of violence, fear, and remorse. The song opens with a vivid image of a 5 AM wake-up call, with someone screaming and the singer looking out the window in terror. The singer is trapped, shut in, and sees no bystanders willing to help. The scene descends into violence, with broken glass and blood-spattered pavement. The singer is left feeling helpless and sorry for what has transpired.
With the lines, "And what about that man that hurt you? / Did he just go home and take off his shoes?" the song delves into the aftermath of violence and the lack of empathy shown by the perpetrator. The singer questions whether the person who caused harm even thought about the pain they caused another. The final lines of the song - "You can try and sleep well / But cruelty trails" - speaks to the lingering impact of violence and cruelty. No one can escape the damage done, even those who may try and ignore or forget it.
Overall, "5AM" is a powerful song that addresses a difficult topic with grace and insight. Ex:Re's haunting vocals and poetic lyrics create an eerie and compelling atmosphere, drawing the listener into the story and emotions of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a 5AM wake up call, you're screaming
You woke up at 5am to the sound of screaming
And all I could do is look through the gap in the window
I could only look through the small opening in the window to see what was happening
Scared, shut in, see no one's helping
You felt trapped, afraid, and helpless because no one was coming to your aid
No bystanders, then you disappeared
There were no witnesses to what happened, and you vanished
I'm not sure, I think there was an altercation
I am not entirely certain, but I believe there was a conflict of some sort
It all too often happens down my road
Incidents like this happen frequently on my street
Broken glass bottles and the blood-spat pavements
There are broken glass bottles and blood stains on the pavement
Cruelty trails
These are the traces of cruelty that are left behind
I'm just so sorry about what happened
I feel deeply remorseful for what you went through
I can't imagine how you must have felt
I cannot even begin to comprehend the pain and suffering you experienced
Burning
The pain and emotions associated with what happened are intense and overwhelming
And what about that man that hurt you?
What about the person who caused you harm?
Did he just go home and take off his shoes?
Did he act as if nothing happened and simply go home?
Did he lie quite calmly against his lover?
Did he find comfort and solace in someone else's arms, despite having caused harm to you?
Did he even once think about the pain he'd caused to another?
Did he show any remorse or consideration for the pain he inflicted upon you?
Oh, you can try and sleep well
You can attempt to find peace and rest
But cruelty trails
But the scars and aftermath of cruelty remain
You can try and sleep well
You can try to find a sense of calm and stillness
But cruelty trails
But the reminders of inhumanity persist
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elena Tonra
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind