Savoy Brown is a British blues band formed in the 1960s, originally known a… Read Full Bio ↴Savoy Brown is a British blues band formed in the 1960s, originally known as the Saveloy Brown Blues Band. Their 1969 single, Train to Nowhere (with singer Chris Youlden), was viewed by many as the last gasp of the blues scene in Great Britain. Although Savoy Brown never reached much acclaim in their home nation, they developed a loyal core following in the United States. In the 1960s and 1970s, the band managed to penetrate the Billboard Hot 100. Superstardom perpetually evaded them, perhaps in part because of their frequent lineup changes. Indeed, while the band is still active today, only one founding member, Kim Simmonds, has been with the band since the beginning. Guitarist "Lonesome" Dave Peverett, bassist Tony Stevens, and drummer Roger Earl went on to form Foghat. Original member and harmonica player John O'Leary is still active on the British blues circuit with The John O'Leary Band. Savoy Brown's first album, Shake Down, featured lead vocalist Bryce Portius. Portius was one of the first black blues musicians to be a part of a British rock band. Another singer, Dave Walker, would later join Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath.

I'm Tired
Savoy Brown Lyrics

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I'm tired of being a fool
And my mind going from hot to cool
And trying to conform to others ideas
And someone else's rules

The life I'm living ain't mine
I'm supposed to feel that's fine
I didn't make the world I'm living in

And I ain't gonna toe the line

I'm tired of trying to be something I know ain't me
I'm tired of living up to what people expect me to be
You know some people are different
Now ain't that a crying shame
Now wouldn't be a real drag if we were all the same

And I'm not going to try to please
Eyes that just don't see
If I get myself together
You'll have the blues not me

I'm tired of trying to be something I know ain't me
I'm tired of living up to what people expect me to be
You know some people are different
Now ain't that a crying shame
Now wouldn't be a real drag if we were all the same

And I'm not going to try to please
Eyes that just don't see
If I get myself together
You'll have the blues not me

You'll have the blues not me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Savoy Brown's "I'm Tired" express a sense of weariness and frustration with societal expectations and pressure to conform. The singer is tired of living up to others' ideas and rules and trying to be something they know is not true to oneself. They reject the notion that they should simply accept their circumstances and conform, asserting that they did not make the world they live in and do not have to toe the line.

The song implies that conformity is not only stifling but also produces unhappiness. When one tries to be something they are not, there is conflict within oneself and a sense of living a life that is not theirs. The singer argues that trying to please those who do not see or accept them is pointless, and instead they will focus on getting themselves together and being true to themselves.

The bold declaration of "you'll have the blues not me" at the end of the song is a rejection of the idea that conforming to societal expectations is the only path to happiness. The singer is willing to take risks to be true to themselves, recognizing that this may bring them into conflict with those around them. The message is clear: it's okay to be different, to reject conformity, and to chart one's own path.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm tired of being a fool
I'm exhausted from behaving foolishly.

And my mind going from hot to cool
I'm tired of having a fickle mind that quickly changes.

And trying to conform to others ideas
I'm worn out from attempting to agree with other people's opinions.

And someone else's rules
I'm drained from following somebody else's regulations.

The life I'm living ain't mine
I'm tired of living a life that doesn't belong to me.

I'm supposed to feel that's fine
I'm expected to believe that's okay.

I didn't make the world I'm living in
I'm exhausted because I didn't create the world I live in.

And I ain't gonna toe the line
I'm not going to conform anymore.

You know some people are different
I'm tired of others not accepting that some people are unique.

Now ain't that a crying shame
It's sad that people can't appreciate others' differences.

Now wouldn't be a real drag if we were all the same
Wouldn't it be terrible if everyone was identical?