Joe, Howie, Dave and Martin are the New Academics.

A South African o… Read Full Bio ↴Joe, Howie, Dave and Martin are the New Academics.

A South African outfit raised on funk and jazz, deeply fried in rock and hip hop - New Academics serves up a original combination of flavours for the musical palate. Powered by a pure and honest onstage intensity, the New Academics exhibit a true and undeniable love for music that is transmitted through their energetic performances into the ears, souls and hips of their fans. New Academics are growing in leaps and bounds, with a strong grass-roots following across the entire spectrum of South African society. Success on university radio stations throughout the nation has helped to broaden this surge of support. But ultimately, it is New Academics’ pure love for music and naturally energetic performances that make them one of the most explosive original live music acts in South Africa.

If you like the rock of Red Hot Chili Peppers mixed in with hip-hop, rap and funk, check out City of Strange - it’s an album filled with catchy tunes, funk, rock, rap and roll!

4am
New Academics Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dawn's light fingers tap sonatas across exposed skin
Jacking up my leaden eyelids and sliding right in
Retina reel and explode with the solar overload
Dragging consciousness screaming from my bruised frontal lobe
Into a world tinged with regret, the aftertaste of excess
Twisted cans and shaking hands, empty bank bags and rolled rands
Half-baked plans and sweat glands in perpetual flow
I turn and lean into oblivion, pray for darkness to close

What you going to do for pain when you
Feel a little heartache
How're you gonna regulate
Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour
You've got to read between the lines when you're
Reahcing for a clean slate
Sometimes it pays to medicate
Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour

I try to hide my brain away, but I know it's too late
Seems some moonlight demon surgeon dropped by to operate
Inserting spiny strands of hangover Criscrossing my skull
Every movement tears a fresh rent through the cranial cell
Its a lie to think that I'm gonna fly when this high wire snaps
Not viable to rely on pills to drag me out of the cracks
In filthy floors between grey walls deep beneath the mine dumps
Hear the city's siren song screaming through in triumph

What you going to do for pain when you
Feel a little heartache
How're you gonna regulate
Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour
You've got to read between the lines when you're
Reahcing for a clean slate
Sometimes it pays to medicate
Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour

Slow down, it's nearly 4 AM on sandy shores
Your head spins like a matador
Man in this town, you're just a sponge of insecurities
That come to the top with the city's squeeze
Watching daylight, assault the make-up on crumbling facades
'Till the grime runs like mascara marks
On these streets lined with concrete teath, pockmarked and cavitied
Only night can bring sweet remedy

What you going to do for pain when you
Feel a little heartache
How're you gonna regulate
Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour
You've got to read between the lines when you're
Reahcing for a clean slate

Sometimes it pays to medicate
Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of New Academics's song "4AM" are a vivid description of the aftermath of a night of excess, where the singer is struggling with the physical and emotional consequences of their actions. The opening lines paint a beautifully surreal picture of the first rays of dawn tapping on the skin, with an almost musical quality to it. This is followed by the description of the overwhelming sensation of waking up with a hangover, as the brightness of the day only serves to exacerbate the pain and discomfort.

The second verse delves deeper into the idea of self-medication and the dangers of relying too heavily on drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with emotional pain. The lyrics suggest that it is important to read between the lines and not rely on quick fixes to "cleanse the soul" but instead work through the underlying issues causing the pain. The use of the vacuum cleaner as a metaphor is interesting, as it suggests a violent and forceful approach to cleansing, perhaps hinting at the destructive tendencies of the singer.

The final verse is a commentary on the harsh realities of life in the city, where the facade of glamor and excitement is shattered by the daylight, revealing a more gritty and rough reality. The streets are described as being rough and pitted, with the implication that only the night can offer a true escape from the pressures of city life. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the notion that seeking relief in violence and drugs is a short-term solution that ultimately leads to further pain and turmoil.

Line by Line Meaning

Dawn's light fingers tap sonatas across exposed skin
The sunrise is gently awakening the person and the light is like music playing on their skin.

Jacking up my leaden eyelids and sliding right in
The light of the sunrise is opening their eyes and they fully wake up.

Retina reel and explode with the solar overload
The sunrise is so intense that the person's eyes are overwhelmed with it.

Dragging consciousness screaming from my bruised frontal lobe
The person is struggling to fully wake up and the sunrise is causing them pain.

Into a world tinged with regret, the aftertaste of excess
The person is waking up to a world that they regret and the feeling of having overindulged.

Twisted cans and shaking hands, empty bank bags and rolled rands
The person is hungover and broke, with only twisted cans, shaking hands, empty bank bags, and rolled rands to show for their excess.

Half-baked plans and sweat glands in perpetual flow
The person is anxious and sweating, and their plans are not well thought out.

I turn and lean into oblivion, pray for darkness to close
The person is so overwhelmed by their situation that they turn away from the world and wish for darkness.

What you going to do for pain when you
The song is questioning how the person will handle their pain

Feel a little heartache
A small amount of pain is all it takes to prompt this question

How're you gonna regulate
How will you manage your emotions?

Vacuum soul cleaner with violent demeanour
The idea that emotional pain needs to be dealt with through extreme measures, and a violent attitude.

You've got to read between the lines when you're
The song is urging the person to look beyond the surface and understand the underlying issues.

Reaching for a clean slate
Trying to start fresh and resolve the problems that caused the pain in the first place.

Sometimes it pays to medicate
The song acknowledges that sometimes, medication can be helpful in managing pain and difficult emotional situations.

Slow down, it's nearly 4 AM on sandy shores
The song is reminding the person to take their time and not rush into anything, as it's late and they're in a calming location (the beach).

Your head spins like a matador
The person is overwhelmed and dizzy, like a matador who is spinning around avoiding a bull.

Man in this town, you're just a sponge of insecurities
The person is vulnerable and soaking up all of the negative things around them, which are making them even more insecure.

That come to the top with the city's squeeze
The negative, insecure thoughts are bubbling up and being amplified by the stressful environment of the city.

Watching daylight, assault the make-up on crumbling facades
The person sees the sunrise revealing the true, deteriorating state of the city.

'Till the grime runs like mascara marks
The dirt and grime of the city are so overwhelming that they look like streaks of makeup running down someone's face.

On these streets lined with concrete teeth, pockmarked and cavitied
The city streets are harsh and unforgiving, with concrete that resembles jagged teeth, and potholes everywhere.

Only night can bring sweet remedy
The person finds peace and calm at night, which offers a sweet relief from the chaos of the day.

Contributed by Andrew H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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