"3 A.M." is the third single and the third track from Matchbox Twenty's debut album Yourself or Someone Like You. This song was written by Rob Thomas and was inspired by his mother's bout with cancer. When Thomas was 12, his mother was given six months to live. But by the time he left home at 17 she was alive and well. Thomas felt that after her illness, his mother failed to take life seriously, preferring to go and party. This song is about his frustration and loneliness during this time. He chose the time 3 a.m. because this was when the bars shut.

"3 A.M." is considered a defining song of post-grunge.