3 O’Clock Things by AJR Lyrics Meaning – The Midnight Musings of Millennial Malaise
Lyrics
Your eyes are tired but keep ’em open
‘Cause you wouldn’t want to miss a thing
(Come on guy, I promise everything will be alright, be okay)
(Your eyes are tired, but keep ’em open)
(‘Cause you wouldn’t want to miss a thing)
It’s kinda funny how I paid for college when YouTube was an option
But then I would’ve had to spend my best years
Skipping ads and reading comments
And when the hell did advertisements get so good? They’re like narcotics
So now I’m spending every penny I own
I should’ve allotted to finishing college
It’s kinda funny how I keep debating
If someone’s shy or if they hate me
I feel like everyone I know right now
Is hooking up and getting wasted (without me)
And maybe sex is overrated but we’re too shy to ever say it (say it)
So we pretend we’re all amazing
It’s three AM I should be sleeping (sleeping)
Would you go running if you saw the real me?
Maybe you’d love ’em
Yeah, maybe you’d feel me
But I’ll never ask you, no that’s super scary
Sorry to bail, it’s already three o’clock
It’s too hard to tell if anything’s real or not
It’s kinda funny how you vote for someone
To vote for someone, to vote for someone (someone)
And you might end up with someone evil but you say that he means well
If I keep on talking politics, my friends will dip, they’re over it
If I keep on talking politics, I’m Hamilton (without the hits)
Would you go running if you saw the real me?
Maybe you’d love ’em
Yeah, maybe you’d feel me
But I’ll never ask you, no that’s super scary
Sorry to bail, it’s already three o’clock
It’s too hard to tell if anything’s real or not
(Come on guy, I promise everything will be alright, be okay)
(Your eyes are tired, but keep ’em open)
(‘Cause you wouldn’t want to miss a thing)
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Isn’t this obvious? Am I insane?
Let’s blame our parents ’cause they taught us their ways
Stay out of politics, stay on the fence
Stay out of all of it to keep half your fans
Isn’t this obvious? Am I insane?
There might be two sides to everything that you say
It’s all a bit cloudy but there’s one thing I know
That if you’re fucking racist then don’t come to my show
(No, we have to do one more)
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da, da
In the eclectic symphony of pop-centric anthems, AJR has once again tuned into the zeitgeist with ‘3 O’Clock Things.’ The song is a sonic journey through the corridors of a generation’s conscience, embellished with the group’s signature mix of bouncy rhythms and candid lyricism.
It’s a track that operates on multiple levels, harmoniously blending the literal with the symbolic, the personal with the political. Throughout, AJR poses questions that resonate within the echo chamber of late-night introspection.
The Cost of Modern Education VS Self-Taught Success
The opening verses swiftly establish a backdrop of contemporary dilemmas, as AJR dives into a nuanced critique of the education system. ‘It’s kinda funny how I paid for college when YouTube was an option,’ the lyrics begin, juxtaposing the traditional path of higher education with a potential self-taught career in the age of digital ubiquity.
This conundrum reflects a broader societal debate: the value of a college degree versus the rise of alternative, often digital, forms of education. It’s a stark look at the investment and opportunity costs that weigh down millennials and zoomers alike.
Late Night Loneliness and the Social Media Mirage
AJR doesn’t shy away from the existential angst that plagues the nights of many young individuals. ‘It’s three AM I should be sleeping,’ but instead there’s a preoccupation with social dynamics and the fear of missing out on the hedonistic pursuits evident in ‘hooking up and getting wasted.’
This segment of the song echoes a generation’s struggle with the hyper-connectivity and ensuing loneliness of the social media era. The reference to sex being ‘overrated’ hints at the disconnection that underlies the seemingly connected lives showcased online.
Unmasking Authenticity in a Performance-Obsessed World
AJR contemplates the masks we wear and the deep yearning to be seen and accepted for our genuine selves. ‘Would you go running if you saw the real me?’ they ask, illustrating the fear of vulnerability that prevents true intimacy and self-expression.
Within the context of the song, this reluctance to reveal one’s true self is not only a matter of interpersonal relationships but also speaks to the pressures of maintaining a public image in an increasingly performative culture.
A Candid Take on Political Apathy and Activism
‘My friends will dip, they’re over it,’ AJR admits, acknowledging the polarizing nature of political discourse. Yet, there’s no avoiding the indirect impact of one’s political choices, aptly put as ‘vote for someone to vote for someone.’
Despite the potential to alienate, AJR takes a stand, eventually drawing the line with the unequivocal ‘if you’re fucking racist then don’t come to my show.’ It’s a moment of clarity in the muddy waters of political correctness and artist responsibility.
The Unseen Depth Within ‘3 O’Clock Things’
Beneath the infectious hooks and melodic da-da-das lies the song’s hidden meaning—a manifesto on self-awareness, social responsibility, and the desire to break free from the paradox of choice in modern society.
It’s as though AJR has tapped into a stream of consciousness that flows beneath the surface of our memes and status updates, revealing the multidimensional angst of a generation seeking purpose in the white noise.
