The song is a lament about sexual misadventure, and the broken promises of a Millennial hook-up culture. There is freedom to do things, but that freedom is essentially empty because it’s unfulfilling, and fraught with risks.
[Verse 1]
I would never ask you
To do something I wouldn't do
I could never lose you
At least I'd never choose to
[Pre-Chorus]
All your friends are sober
Yeah we're gettin' older
Going out's a drag now
All my spots have closed
And we can fantasize
Without much of a mess
And makin' love is fine
But all I want is to forget
How old I am
[Chorus]
(Can't remember anything else)
Nothing good happens past 2 a.m
I put the ball in your court
Text me back
I want a full report
I want cash in hand
I'm still waitin' for my man
(Has he even left the house?)
Short a couple dollars but I think he'll understand
I put my best dress on, get back in bed
Nothing good happens past 2 a.m
[Verse 2]
Can't turn back, it's too late
I saw you drink the Kool-Aid
But I don't want no undue
Attention comin' from you
[Pre-Chorus]
All your friends are sober
Yeah we're gettin' older
Stayin' in at home
It's good enough for both us
Free to fantasize
Without hearin' "I told ya"
Makin' love is fine
But all I want is to forget
How old I am
[Chorus]
(Can't remember anything else)
Nothing good happens past 2 a.m
I put the ball in your court
Text me back
I want a full report
I want cash in hand
I'm still waitin' for my man
(Has he even left the house?)
Short a couple dollars but I think he'll understand
I put my best dress on, get back in bed
Nothing good happens past 2 a.m
[Bridge]
And what I thought was possible don't seem possible no more
I struggle to keep up with you
And what I thought was possible don't seem possible no more
I never could keep up with you
Can we forget how old I am?
[Chorus]
(Can't remember anything else)
Nothing good happens past 2 a.m
I put the ball in your court
Text me back
I want a full report
I want cash in hand
I'm still waitin' for my man
(Has he even left the house?)
27 years young don't make sense
I put my best dress on, get back in bed
Nothing good happens past 2 a.m
Amen
2AM was written by Dylan Rau & TJ Orscher & Val Loper & Ted Feldman.
2AM was produced by Ted Feldman.
Bear Hands released 2AM on Thu Feb 18 2016.
“Best dress” doesn’t refer to an actual dress. It is a phrase used to describe what type of clothes one is wearing. These clothes are usually fancy or highly decorated, insinuating the wearer has expensive tastes.