The Meaning Behind The Song: Five Minutes to Midnight by Boys Like Girls - Beat Crave (2024)

The Meaning Behind The Song: Five Minutes to Midnight by Boys Like Girls

Five Minutes to Midnight is a song by the American rock band Boys Like Girls. It was released as the second single from their self-titled debut album in 2007. The song is a powerful emotional ballad that showcases the band’s ability to combine poignant lyrics with haunting melodies. With its rich layers of instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics, Five Minutes to Midnight has become one of Boys Like Girls’ most beloved songs.

The song captures the essence of love and its complexities. It talks about the struggle of holding on to someone you love and how sometimes, even with the purest intentions, relationships can fall apart. The lyrics of the song suggests that it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.

The song begins with a bang, with a guitar riff that captures the listener’s attention right away. The lyrics are sung with raw emotion that can tug at the heartstrings of even the most stoic individual. In the first verse, the lead singer talks about how he and his partner are holding back the tears and trying to find a way to fix their fractured relationship.

FAQs About the Song

1. What inspired Boys Like Girls to write Five Minutes to Midnight?

Boys Like Girls frontman Martin Johnson has stated that the song is about a personal relationship he went through that inspired the lyrics. He has said that it was a time in his life where he was fighting for something he didn’t quite understand.

2. What does the phrase “Five Minutes to Midnight” mean in the context of the song?

The phrase is used metaphorically in the song. It signifies the moment when a relationship is on the brink of ending. It’s symbolic of the final moments they have to save their love before it’s too late and the clock strikes midnight.

3. Who is the song addressed to?

The song is written from the perspective of someone who is desperately trying to save a relationship that’s falling apart. It’s not clear who the song is addressed to, but it seems to be directed towards someone he once loved and is trying to win back.

4. What is the meaning behind the lyric “We’re both looking for something we’ve been afraid to find?”

This lyric speaks to the fear of vulnerability that many people experience in relationships. Often, we’re too scared to open up and reveal ourselves to others. This line implies that both people in the relationship are looking for something that they’re afraid to confront.

5. What is the significance of the line “We’re holding back the tears, but barely hanging on” in the song?

This is a powerful line that conveys the struggle of holding on to a relationship that’s falling apart. The two people in the relationship are trying to hold back their tears, but they’re barely managing to keep it together. It’s a poignant moment that highlights the agony of a relationship that is coming to an end.

6. What does the “burning bridge” referred to in the song symbolize?

The burning bridge is a metaphorical representation of a relationship that is beyond repair. It symbolizes the point of no return, where the damage has been done, and it’s too late to fix things.

7. What inspired the music video for the song?

The music video for Five Minutes to Midnight was directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Marcos Siega, who has directed videos for some of the biggest names in music. The video is a metaphorical representation of the struggle to hold onto a relationship that’s falling apart. It features Boys Like Girls performing the song on a construction site, intercut with scenes of people struggling to hold on to their relationships.

8. What is the message that Boys Like Girls wanted to convey through the song?

The message of the song is that even when we go through difficult times in relationships, the memories and experiences we had together are always worth cherishing. The song encourages people to hold onto the love they’ve shared, even if their relationship didn’t work out.

9. What is the significance of the ending of the song, where the lead singer says “I’ll always remember you this way”?

This line is a poignant moment in the song that signifies the memories that the lead singer will always cherish, even if the relationship is over. It’s a powerful metaphor for how memories can sustain us when we’ve lost someone we love.

10. Why do you think Five Minutes to Midnight has become such a beloved song among fans of Boys Like Girls?

The song resonates with people because of its universal themes of love, loss, and heartbreak. The raw emotion and honesty in the lyrics, combined with the haunting melody, make it a powerful ballad that hits close to home for many. It’s a song that captures the essence of what it means to love someone deeply and the pain of losing them.

11. Has Boys Like Girls performed Five Minutes to Midnight live?

Yes, the band has performed the song live numerous times to thunderous applause. It’s a fan favorite that always gets the audience singing along.

12. Are there any other songs by Boys Like Girls that deal with similar themes?

Yes, Boys Like Girls have several other songs that deal with the complexities of love, loss, and heartbreak. Some notable examples include Thunder, Two Is Better Than One, and Heels Over Head. Each of these songs showcases the band’s ability to combine poignant lyrics with unforgettable melodies.

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