2:45 am
Elliott Smith · Either/Or [1997]
I'm going out sleepwalking
where mute memories start talking
the boss that couldn't help but hurt you
and the pretty thing he made desert you
I'm going out now like a baby
a naïve unsatisfiable baby
grabbing onto whatever's around
for the soaring high or the crushing down
with hidden cracks that don't show
but that constantly just grow
I'm looking for the man that attacked me
while everybody was laughing at me
you beat it in me that part of you
but I'm gonna split us back in two
tired of living in a cloud
if you're gonna say shit now you'll do it out loud
it's 2:45 in the morning
and I'm putting myself on warning
for waking up in an unknown place
with a recollection you've half erased
looking for somebody's arms to
wave away past harms
I'm walking out on center circle
the both of you can just fade to black
I'm walking out on center circle
been pushed away and I'll never go back
where mute memories start talking
the boss that couldn't help but hurt you
and the pretty thing he made desert you
I'm going out now like a baby
a naïve unsatisfiable baby
grabbing onto whatever's around
for the soaring high or the crushing down
with hidden cracks that don't show
but that constantly just grow
I'm looking for the man that attacked me
while everybody was laughing at me
you beat it in me that part of you
but I'm gonna split us back in two
tired of living in a cloud
if you're gonna say shit now you'll do it out loud
it's 2:45 in the morning
and I'm putting myself on warning
for waking up in an unknown place
with a recollection you've half erased
looking for somebody's arms to
wave away past harms
I'm walking out on center circle
the both of you can just fade to black
I'm walking out on center circle
been pushed away and I'll never go back
2:45 am
Released on the 1997 album Either/Or, "2:45 am" stands as a quintessential example of Elliott Smith's intimate, confessional songwriting style. The track features Smith's signature falsetto and sparse acoustic arrangement, creating a haunting atmosphere that reflects the late-night introspection often found in his work. As a key component of his discography, the song exemplifies the blend of folk and indie rock that defined his career, capturing a moment of quiet vulnerability that resonated deeply with listeners and critics alike.