You’ve heard it. That frantic, ticking clock of a melody. It starts off almost like a lullaby before it spirals into something way more stressful. If you’ve spent any time in the indie gaming scene over the last few years, specifically the corners occupied by psychological horror, then my time bo en lyrics are probably burned into your brain.
It’s a weird song. Calming, yet terrifying.
Originally released back in 2013 on the album Pale Machine, the track "My Time" by London-based producer Calum Bowen—better known as Bo En—found a second, much darker life as the closing theme for the "Bad Ending" of the 2020 RPG Omori. Since then, the song hasn't just been a piece of music; it's become a cultural shorthand for guilt, escapism, and the terrifying relief of just giving up.
Most people come for the catchy J-pop-inspired beat. They stay because the lyrics are basically a transcript of a mental breakdown.
The Dual Nature of My Time Bo En Lyrics
There is a massive gap between how the song sounds and what it says. Bo En is a master of this "kawaii" dissonance. On the surface, you get these bright, glitchy synths and a rhythm that makes you want to nod along. But then you actually listen.
The song opens with a plea for sleep.
"Close your eyes, you'll be here soon."
On a first listen, without context, it sounds like a sweet invitation to dreamland. In the context of Omori, specifically the moment Sunny decides to step off a balcony to escape his trauma, those same words become chilling. It’s not an invitation to sleep; it’s an invitation to the "long sleep."
Bo En writes with a frantic energy. The middle of the song is a jumble of English and Japanese phrases that feel like someone trying to keep their head above water. You get lines like "Oyasumi" (Goodnight) and "Oyumi" (a play on words or a shortening, depending on who you ask in the fan community). It’s repetitive. It’s obsessive. It captures that 3:00 AM feeling where your brain won't shut up, so you start begging for the lights to go out.
Why This Specific Song Hit the Omori Fandom So Hard
Honestly, OMOCAT (the creator of Omori) couldn't have picked a better track. The game deals with a kid named Sunny who has spent four years locked in his room, hallucinating a colorful world called Headspace to avoid the reality that he accidentally killed his sister.
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The my time bo en lyrics mirror Sunny’s internal state perfectly.
- The Concept of "My Time": It’s a selfish phrase, isn't it? "It's my time." In the song, it feels like a reclamation of agency. If the world is too loud and the guilt is too heavy, taking "your time" to sleep—forever—is the only control you have left.
- The Language Blend: The mix of English and Japanese isn't just an aesthetic choice. It represents a fractured identity. For many listeners, the "Oyasumi" refrain is the most recognizable part, acting as a rhythmic anchor while the rest of the world (the music) descends into chaos.
- The Ending: The song doesn't fade out gracefully. It ends with a sudden, jarring stop. If you’ve seen the "Bad Ending" cinematic, you know that silence is the sound of the pavement.
It’s rare for a licensed song to fit a game's narrative so tightly that people forget it existed seven years before the game came out. But that’s what happened here. Bo En’s 2013 experimental pop track became the definitive anthem for 2020s digital nihilism.
Breaking Down the Lyrics: What’s Actually Being Said?
Let’s look at the specific phrasing because there’s a lot of debate online about the "correct" interpretation of certain bits.
The line "I know that it's hard to do" is often overlooked. Hard to do what? To stay awake? Or to finally let go? In the context of the album Pale Machine, Bo En was exploring themes of digital isolation and the weirdness of modern life. It was more about the exhaustion of being "online" and "present."
But words change meaning based on who is hearing them.
When the lyrics shift into the Japanese sections—"Oyasumi, oyasumi, close your eyes and you'll leave this dream"—it creates a paradox. Usually, we go to sleep to dream. Here, sleep is the way you leave the dream (the nightmare of reality).
The "One More Day" Misconception
A lot of fans get the lyrics confused with other songs on the Omori soundtrack, like "Duet." While "Duet" is about connection and memory, "My Time" is purely about the individual's desire to vanish. There is no "we" in these lyrics. It is a solitary experience.
It’s also worth noting the clock sounds. The "tick-tock" motif in the production isn't just a cool beat; it’s a reminder that time is running out. Whether that's the time before you have to face your friends or the time before you hit the ground, the pressure is constant.
The Cultural Impact: From Soundcloud to TikTok
You can't talk about my time bo en lyrics without mentioning how it blew up on social media. It became a "vibe."
It’s the "Traumacore" aesthetic in audio form.
People use the "Oyasumi" clip for everything from vent art to memes about being tired at work. This is the fascinating thing about how music travels now. A song about a total mental collapse becomes a 15-second background loop for someone showing off their sketchbook.
But for those who know the source material, it’s impossible to hear the song without feeling a slight pit in the stomach. That’s the power of good songwriting. It’s infectious, but it carries a weight.
A Look at Bo En's Style
Calum Bowen isn't your typical pop star. He’s a composer who has worked on soundtracks for games like Snipperclips and Pikuniku. His style is usually bouncy, bright, and incredibly complex.
"My Time" is his most famous work because it balances that "bouncy" energy with a genuine sense of dread. Most "sad" songs are slow and acoustic. Bo En proved that you can make someone feel devastated at 170 BPM with bright synth leads.
It’s "glitch-hop" with a soul.
The production on the track is intentional in its messiness. Around the two-minute mark, the song begins to break apart. The vocals get chopped. The piano becomes more erratic. It’s as if the song itself is losing its grip on reality, which is exactly what happens to the protagonist of the game it's now synonymous with.
Common Questions About the Lyrics
People always ask if the Japanese lyrics have a secret meaning. Not really. "Oyasumi" (Goodnight) is straightforward. "Oyasumi, punpun" is a common reference people make (linking it to the depressing manga Goodnight Punpun), though Bo En hasn't explicitly confirmed that as the primary inspiration.
Another big question: Is it "Oyasumi" or "Oh, you see me"?
It's "Oyasumi." But the phonetic similarity is definitely there, and in the world of lyrical analysis, these "accidental" double meanings often add to the depth of the track. If you hear "Oh, you see me," the song becomes a plea for visibility. If you hear "Oyasumi," it's a plea for rest. Both fit.
How to Truly Experience the Song
If you want to understand why these lyrics matter, you have to do two things.
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First, listen to the full version of "My Time" on the Pale Machine album. Don't just listen to the 30-second TikTok clip. Listen to how the song builds, how it gets frantic, and how it eventually collapses.
Second, if you have the stomach for it, look at the "Bad Ending" of Omori. Seeing the lyrics synced to the visuals of a character falling through a sky made of memories and clouds changes the song forever. You can't un-see it.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you're a songwriter or a fan of the "Omori-core" aesthetic, there are a few things to learn from the success and depth of this track.
- Contrast is King: If you're writing about dark themes, try using a "happy" or upbeat melody. The dissonance makes the lyrics hit ten times harder than a standard ballad.
- Repetition with Purpose: The repetition of "Oyasumi" isn't lazy writing. It’s a mantra. It shows the character's obsession. When writing lyrics, find a word that anchors the emotion and don't be afraid to lean into it.
- Vulnerability over Polish: Bo En’s vocals aren't "perfect" in the traditional radio sense. They sound intimate, almost like he’s whispering to himself. This creates a direct connection with the listener that high-production pop often misses.
To dig deeper into this style of music, check out the rest of the Pale Machine album or explore artists like Kikuo and Jack Stauber. They all play in that same sandbox of "weirdly catchy but deeply unsettling."
The legacy of "My Time" isn't going anywhere. As long as there are people feeling overwhelmed by the world and looking for a way to "close their eyes," these lyrics will continue to resonate. It’s a masterpiece of modern indie music—scary, beautiful, and completely unforgettable.
If you're looking to analyze the sheet music or the specific chord progressions, look for MIDI transcriptions online that highlight the jazz-influence in Bo En's "My Time." The use of major seventh chords against the darker lyrical content is a masterclass in tension and release. For those trying to translate the full Japanese sections, many fan-translated lyric sites offer a line-by-line breakdown that clarifies the slight variations in the "Oyasumi" refrain throughout the song's duration.
Start by identifying the specific emotional trigger in the song for you. Is it the ticking clock? The abrupt ending? The soft "Goodnight"? Understanding why it affects you is the first step in appreciating the sheer craft Bo En put into this 2013 classic.