I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I get in from work at 2 a.m.
And sit down with a beer
turn on late night TV
And then 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
Here I am again
On my own
Trying hard to see
What there is for me
Here I am again
On my own
Life seens 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
And sit down with a beer
turn on late night TV
And then 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
Here I am again
On my own
Trying hard to see
What there is for me
Here I am again
On my own
Life seens 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
Lyrics submitted by numb
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More Featured Meanings
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Trouble Breathing
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
While the obvious connections with suicide or alcoholism could be drawn easily, more subtly this song could be about someone who views the world through a negative lens constantly and how as much as the writer tries to show the beauty in the world, this person refuses to see it. It's one or another between the rope and the bottle. There is no good option for this person. They can't see it. Skiba sings it in a kind of exasperated way like He's tired of hearing this negative view constantly and just allowing that person to continue feeling the way they feel knowing he can't do anything about it. You can hear it when he says maybe you're a vampire.
Zombie
Cranberries, The
Cranberries, The
"Zombie" is about the ethno-political conflict in Ireland. This is obvious if you know anything of the singer (Dolores O'Riordan)'s Irish heritage and understood the "1916" Easter Rising reference.
"Another head hangs lowly
Child is slowly taken
And the violence caused such silence
Who are we mistaken
-
Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over"
Laments the Warrington bomb attacks in which two children were fatally injured on March 23rd, 1993. Twelve year old Tim Parry was taken off life support with permission from his mother after five days in the hospital, virtually braindead.
"But you see it's not me
It's not my family"
References how people who are not directly involved with the violence feel about it. They are "zombies" without sympathy who refuse to take action while others suffer.
Ugh, morons. This is without a doubt the most depressing song Maiden have ever recorded, and arguably the most moving (the other being Como Estais Amigos). The reason for its tremendous emotional impact is simple, it's a pretty damn true story. Not of a fictional character like Charlotte or Benjamin, but of a real person.
It refers to a total loss of innocence and naivety, the realisation that 'yep, this really is it.'
It also takes in the mood of the early hours of morning, when everyone else is sound asleep, it's a whole new dimension of loneliness.
Unlike the aforementioned Como Estais Amigos, Wasting Love or No Prayer For The Dying, there is nothing metaphorical or spiritual about 2AM, like The Trooper it's one-dimensional and needs no explanation, and is all the stronger as a result.
Also, unlike most Maiden songs, or indeed most Metal songs generally (particularly Manowar), 2AM seems to offer no happy ending, indeed, its quiet, downbeat fading out of 'here I am again, on my own,' is one of the chief reasons for it being Maiden's most depressing song. DON'T listen to this if you're in one of those moods, it makes it much worse!
But this is something I love about the song, it doesn't claim to have the answers, won't offer false hope, it is simply the reflections of a man with nothing to live for.
Look a little deeper though, and this song has the greatest light at the end of the tunnel of all. Look who wrote the lyrics. Read p.306 of Run To The Hills (The Authorised Biography, 3rd edition, by Mick Wall, MPG Books, Bodmin, 2004), particularly the line 'my life is going nowhere at all, absolutely nowhere.' This is me reading between the lines a little, but I really don't think it's much of a leap to suggest that this man wondering if 'these walls' were all there was in his life went on to find something much more... he became the lead singer of Iron Maiden.
you guys are idiots. this is a don tune. People diss Blaze's Maiden era, but its just not justfied. How can you say that this song is weak. Blaze's lyrics are so true. I would also like to recommend Iron Maden - Don't look to the eyes of a stranger - Virtual XI, and anything from X Factor, and just about all Maiden! p.s. bare whaacked
The lyrics don,t mean to be explained, it clear, it goes right in my heart. The guy is bored, he have nothing, will have nothing, he have not even a place in this world. Sometimes I need to listen to this song to know that I'm not alone in these dark times.
Love this song, gotta listen it now!
I think it's really a rather simple song about someone fed up with work and trying to look for something else. No hidden meaning to this one.
pyreweb could have something there, if what he says about the autobiography is true, it definitely would give the song an entirely new awesome meaning.
not sure if it actually means something ... but I would have LOVED to hear an acoustic version to this song, badly.
@TurkMasterZero an acoustic version was made by its singer, Blaze Bayley just last year, as a solo album.
The song is nice, and i think reflects what many people reflect about when they're alone and bored, or even just wondering what this life leads to.
This is one of my very few faves from the Blaze era, I don't really care much for the meaning, I just listen and rock!
small unexpected error:
don't NEED to be explained
cya on the next show
this song is awesome I dont no why this album is so critisized. But yeah i think its about a guy who dosnt have anything to live for cos his life sucks