I'm Tired

Album: Euphoria: Season 2 (Original Score from the HBO Series) (2022)
Charted: 47 53
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Labrinth wrote "I'm Tired" for the HBO teen drama series Euphoria, which stars Zendaya as teenage drug addict Rue. Season 2 starts with Rue's substance abuse spiraling out of control, and by the end of the fourth episode, she's reached a crossroads. Labrinth performs this gospel song from Rue's perspective in a scene where, after taking drugs, she hallucinates her late father in a church.

    Hey Lord, you know I'm tired
    Hey Lord, you know I'm tired of tears
    Hey Lord, just cut me loose


    Rue has reached the end of the road with her drug issues and is tired of life. She cries out to God she's ready to die.
  • Though Labrinth has been composing the music for Euphoria since season 1, this marks the first time he's appeared on screen for the series.
  • Labrinth co-wrote "I'm Tired" with Zendaya and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. The English singer-songwriter also served as the producer of the track. "I was asked to write a song about reaching that pivotal moment when you want to transform but you also want to die - like killing the old you to make space for a new one," said Labrinth." I sat with Z and Sam to finish writing 'I'm Tired' and it's one of my fave studio sessions I've ever done."
  • Labrinth and Zendaya perform the song as a pair in Season 2's finale. Their duet version comes from a different context as Rue is now sober. She's still tired of life, but is fighting to stay alive and clean.
  • So why did Labrinth revamp the song for the finale? "I didn't love the version we released, so I took it offline because I wanted to make it sound better," he told MTV News, "and also, I heard Zendaya sing it... and I was just like, I actually like her version better."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."