So You Are Tired

Sufjan Stevens' song 'So You Are Tired' delves into the emotional complexities of a relationship that has reached its breaking point. The lyrics paint a picture of weariness and disillusionment, capturing the essence of a love that has run its course. The repeated phrase 'So you are tired' serves as a poignant refrain, emphasizing the exhaustion felt by both parties. This weariness is not just physical but emotional, as the narrator reflects on the fourteen years of shared history, filled with actions and words that now seem burdensome.

The song employs vivid metaphors to convey the depth of this emotional fatigue. Phrases like 'breathing disaster' and 'seething with laughter' suggest a relationship fraught with tension and unresolved issues. The narrator's sense of invisibility and indivisibility highlights a feeling of being overlooked and unappreciated, despite their efforts to maintain the relationship. The line 'I was a man born invisible' speaks to a profound sense of isolation and misunderstanding, while 'I was a man indivisible' suggests a unity that was never truly recognized or valued.

Culturally, the song resonates with anyone who has experienced the slow, painful dissolution of a long-term relationship. Stevens' gentle, melancholic musical style enhances the lyrical content, creating an atmosphere of introspection and sorrow. The final lines, 'So you are tired of me / So rest your head,' encapsulate the ultimate resignation and acceptance of the relationship's end. The narrator's return 'to death' symbolizes the emotional void left behind, a poignant conclusion to a deeply personal and relatable narrative.