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  1. Tracks
  2. AJR
  3. The Maybe Man
  4. 2085

TRACK

AJR

2085

Release date: 10th November 2023

From The Maybe Man
Spotify More on AJR

About This Track

AJR's '2085' is a five-minute closing statement built on regret and the arithmetic of mortality. The song imagines dying at forty, or at some fixed point in the future, and works backwards from that endpoint to ask what a life spent chasing approval actually adds up to. The lyrics move between specific moments of missed connection and broader self-interrogation: a girl not kissed, friendships allowed to drift, a career spent becoming whatever others wanted rather than discovering who the artist actually is. There is no resolution, only the repeated refrain that you work hard for now, just now, just now. Musically, the track leans on acoustic instrumentation and layered, distorted vocal textures that blur the line between confession and performance. The song's title points to a year far enough away to feel abstract, yet the emotional weight is immediate and present tense. AJR refuses easy comfort here. The final verses admit that it may already be too late to figure out who he is, that the person singing might be a stone, might be nothing at all. What remains is the bridge's insistent plea: you gotta get better, you're all that I've got.

"2085" is a track by AJR, from the album The Maybe Man, released 10th November 2023. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

AJR

AJR

Lyrics

2085

[Intro]

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

[Verse 1]

If somebody told me I'd die at forty

I wouldn'ta spent my time in bed

Writin' my dumb songs and my growin'-up songs

I shoulda just grown up instead

[Refrain]

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

[Verse 2]

Now all of the interns are no longer interns

How long have I been outta town?

'Cause sometimes I wonder if I had kissed her

How different life would be right now

[Pre-Chorus]

I smile when I cry to hide what I felt

"I'm doin' fine," speak for yourself

I shoulda just asked for help

[Chorus]

Hey

It's 2085 and we're old as shit

Whatever

Hey

I'd hate to have to die 'fore I gеt my head

Together, whatеver

[Post-Chorus]

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

[Verse 3]

So finish your work now, it's gettin' warm out

If you got friends, don't let them leave

I turned twenty-somethin', it didn't mean nothin'

'Cause not one of them were there to see

[Refrain]

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

[Verse 4]

And go tell your grandson to go tell his grandson

You don't have to try so hard, ya know

'Cause I spent my whole life tryna be so liked

That only made 'em hate me more

[Pre-Chorus]

Did I make you proud? Did I screw this up?

Sing with me loud, it's all that I've got

To know if I did or not (Okay, okay)

[Chorus]

(Hey, hey) Hey

It's 2085 and we're old as shit

Whatever

Hey

I'd hate to have to die 'fore I get my head

Together, together, together, whatever

[Post-Chorus]

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

Whatever

(You work hard for now, just now, just now)

Whatever

[Bridge]

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Don't take forever, you're not here for long

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ah-ah-ah-ah

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Ah-ah-ah-ah

[Verse 5]

I wish I was me, whoever that is

I could just be and not give a shit

Hey, I'll be whatever makes you a fan

'Cause I don't know who the hell I am

[Verse 6]

I think it's too late to figure this out

If I could be me, I would've been it by now

Maybe I'm a stone or big as my house

It looks like our time is runnin' out

[Verse 7]

So if this is me, then I'll do my best

I'll take all the shit so you'll never have to

You can be you, and I'll be the rest

Yeah, maybe that's who the hell I am

[Outro]

Ah-ah-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh-oh

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Ah-ah-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh-oh

Don't take forever, you're not here for long

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da

But don't take forever, you're not here for long

Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm

I gotta get better, I'm all that I've got

Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm

For two or three minutes, then I'm gone

Track details

From The Maybe Man

2023
Listen
Album
The Maybe Man
The Maybe Man
AJR
Release year
2023

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2019
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The Click
2017
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2016
I'm Ready
2014

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Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →
—
Hole in the Bottom of My Brain
  • —Yes I'm A Mess
  • —Maybe Man
  • —Inertia
  • —2085
  • —I Won't
  • —Touchy Feely Fool
  • —Steve's Going to London
  • —Turning Out Pt. iii
  • Venture
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    2010
    Weak (Nicolas Julian Remix)
    Weak (Nicolas Julian Remix)
    World’s Smallest Violin (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Sober Up (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Marching Band Finale (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Way Less Sad (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Yes I’m A Mess (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Weak (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Wow I’m Not Crazy (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • The Big Goodbye (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • 100 Bad Days (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Karma (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • Betty (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • We're on our way (demo)
  • A Bunch of Songs We Haven't Played in a Long Time (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)
  • A Bunch of Songs We Haven’t Played In a Long Time (Live from the Hollywood Bowl)Live From The Hollywood Bowl
  • A Dog SongWhat No One’s Thinking - EP
  • View all tracks by AJR →

    Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Adam Met, Jack Met, Ryan Met
    Producer
    Ryan Met
    Engineer
    Rob Piccione
    Drums
    Chris Berry
    Guitar
    Jack Met
    Additional Vocals
    Austin Roa, Daniel Cruz, Ezra Donellan, Jabari Golding, Jiliane Russo, Kevin Grammer, Naia Lika, Rob Piccione, Robert Hanley, Sarah Piccione
    Cello
    Ruth Kornblatt-Stier
    Trumpet
    Arnetta Johnson
    Violin
    Emelia Suljic
    READ MORE ABOUT AJRREAD MORE ABOUT AJR
    READ MORE ABOUT AJRREAD MORE ABOUT AJR

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