At the very end of the song, what seems to be nonsensical mumbling can be heard in the background. The mumbling, if played backwards can be imagined as something along the lines of "Paul is a dead man. Miss him. Miss him. Miss him." This only adds to the many supposed references to the "Paul is dead" conspiracy scattered throughout the White album. Mark Lewisohn has said that the nonsensical mumbling is actually Lennon muttering, "Monsieur, monsieur, how about another one?"
I'm So Tired
Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no
I'm so tired, I don't know what to do
I'm so tired, my mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind
I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh
He was such a stupid get
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got
For a little peace of mind
The Beatles’ song “I’m So Tired” is one of their most introspective and gloomy songs. Beginning with the lyrics “I’m so tired, I haven’t slept a wink,” the song conveys a sense of fatigue and exhaustion. It’s not clear whether the singer is tired physically, emotionally or both. The melancholic tone of the song with its slow and intense rhythms, eerie keyboard melody, and heart-wrenching guitar solo, reinforces the idea that the singer is worn out and has reached his limit.
The lyrics convey a deep sense of longing and frustration about feeling trapped inside one’s own head, unable to stop thinking. The line “my mind is on the blink” suggests that the singer is struggling with his own thoughts and is losing control of his cognitive faculties. He contemplates whether to get up and fix himself a drink, but rejects the idea as a potential crutch. He then admits to feeling unsettled and uncertain about what’s going on around him. In the second verse, the singer is consumed by thoughts of a loved one, but realizes that reaching out to them may not be fruitful.
The line, “curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git,” is an obscure verse that doesn't seem to have direct relevance to the song's theme. However, Paul McCartney explained later that at the time of recording the song, he was staying in a hotel room on Montagu Square, and the room was decorated with a wallpaper with a prominent image of Raleigh which annoyed him so much that he put the image down. The wallpaper, as it were, was a much-despised reminder of a half-remembered historical British figure treating indigenious peoples brutally during colonialism.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink
I am extremely exhausted from lack of sleep.
I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink
My sleep deprivation has made my mind stop functioning properly.
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
I am considering whether an alcoholic drink would help me feel better, but ultimately decide against it.
I'm so tired, I don't know what to do
My fatigue has left me feeling helpless and unsure of how to proceed.
I'm so tired, my mind is set on you
My lack of sleep has led me to fixate on you.
I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do
I am considering reaching out to you, but believe you will only dismiss my feelings.
You'd say I'm putting you on
You would accuse me of joking if I were to tell you how tired I am.
But it's no joke, it's doing me harm
My exhaustion is causing me harm and leading to a decline in my mental and physical health.
You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain
My inability to sleep has resulted in constant racing thoughts.
You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane
I have been sleep deprived for three weeks and am beginning to lose my grip on reality.
You know I'd give you everything I've got
I am willing to offer you all that I have for just a little peace of mind.
For a little peace of mind
I desperately crave some peace and quiet to help me rest.
I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset
My fatigue has left me overwhelmed with negative emotions.
Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette
Despite being exhausted, I am turning to nicotine to help me cope with my exhaustion.
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid get
I am expressing frustration and anger towards an unlikely target, Sir Walter Raleigh.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind