3AM

## *Manic* Chronology

"**3AM**" (stylized in lowercase) is a song performed by Halsey. It is featured as the eighth track on her third album, *Manic*. It was released on January 17, 2020 through Capitol Records.

## Background

The song was announced on December 3, 2019 through social media. When asked how "3AM" came to be by a fan on Twitter Halsey explained:

"*After a night out where I came home and was ringing everyone in my contacts cause I was dying to talk to literally ANYONE so I wouldn’t have to sit with my own thoughts. I realized 'hmm this is...bad.' and wrote a song about it!*"
—Halsey

Halsey further explained the song through Spotify's storyline feature:

"*I wrote '3am' about all the lonely moments where I would return from a night out with friends. The times where I would furiously dial everyone in my phone book because I desperately needed someone to talk to to keep me from my own thoughts; afraid of where those thoughts might go. It's about the insecuirty that people like me better over text than in person!*"
—Halsey

Moreover, she also confirmed that the song was written at 3 AM. The song features a voicemail from American singer-songwriter John Mayer who is good friends with Halsey. In it he predicted the success of album follow-up "Without Me" "before [Halsey] had faith in [herself]".Mayer remained true as the song became #1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified 6x Platinum by 2020.

## Official versions

* Album version - 3:55
* Stripped version - 3:33

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Darling, I've just left the bar

And I've misplaced all my credit cards

My self-preservation and all of my reservations

Are sittin' and contemplating what to do with me, do with me

Think I took it way too far

And I'm stumblin' drunk, getting in a car

My insecurities are hurtin' me

Someone please come and flirt with me

I really need a mirror that'll come along and tell me that I'm fine

I do it every time

[Pre-Chorus]

I keep on hanging on the line, ignoring every warning sign

Come on and make me feel alright again

[Chorus]

'Cause it's 3 AM

And I'm callin' everybody that I know

And here we go again

While I'm runnin' through the numbers in my phone

And yeah, I'll take fake moans and dial tones

Let 'em spill right down the microphone

I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical

I end up alone, end up alone

[Post-Chorus]

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical

I end up alone, end up alone

[Verse 2]

And every night, I wanna live in color through a white-blue screen

I got a technicolor vision going vivid in my white-blue jeans

I know it's complicated

'Cause everyone that I've dated says they hate it

'Cause they don't know what to do with me, do with me

Know that my identity's always getting the best of me

I'm the worst of my enemies

And I don't really know what to do with me

Yeah, I don't really know what to do with me

[Pre-Chorus]

I keep on hanging on the line, ignoring every warning sign

Come on and make me feel alright again

[Chorus]

'Cause it's 3 AM

And I'm callin' everybody that I know

And here we go again

While I'm runnin' through the numbers in my phone

And yeah, I'll take fake moans and dial tones

Let 'em spill right down the microphone

I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical

I end up alone, end up alone

[Post-Chorus]

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical

I end up alone, end up alone

[Bridge]

I'm reckless, treat it like a necklace

Take a different version and I try it on for size with everybody that I know

And will you please pick up the fucking phone?

[Chorus]

'Cause it's 3 AM

And I'm callin' everybody that I know

And here we go again

While I'm runnin' through the numbers in my phone

And yeah, I'll take fake moans and dial tones

Let 'em spill right down the microphone

I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical

I end up alone, end up alone

[Post-Chorus]

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

I need it digital 'cause, baby, when it's physical

I end up alone

[Outro: John Mayer]

Your, your best song is a song that's currently on the radio

How many people can say that?

That their best song is the one that's currently about to be a massive hit?

It's already a hit, it's just gonna get more massive

How many people can say it? Not very many

Congratulations!

## References

1. ↑ *Twitter* - "January 17, 2020"
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Twitter* - @halsey - "yes! After a night out where I came home and was ringing everyone in my contacts cause I was dying to talk to literally ANYONE so I wouldn’t have to sit with my own thoughts. I realized “hmm this is...bad.” and wrote a song about it! haha #manicthealbum"
3. ↑ *Spotify* - "3am" by Halsey
4. ↑ *Twitter* - @halsey -"It’s @JohnMayer ! Haha. He predicted the success of without me before I had faith in myself #manicthealbum"
5. ↑ *Just Random Things* - "Halsey – 3am | Lyrics Review and Song Meaning
6. ↑ *MTV* - "THAT VOICEMAIL IN HALSEY'S '3AM' ISN'T HER DAD — IT'S JOHN MAYER

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