The 'Wake Me Up Inside' meme originates from the 2003 hit song 'Bring Me to Life' by the rock band Evanescence. It focuses on the call-and-response dynamic between lead singer Amy Lee's soaring vocals and the male vocal response of 'can't wake up.' In internet culture, the meme usually features images of people or animals appearing to scream the lyrics in a moment of existential crisis or dramatic realization. Often paired with high-contrast or 'deep-fried' visual filters, it is widely used for ironic humor, shitposting, and capturing the specific brand of angst associated with early 2000s nu-metal and gothic rock.