I think I’ve mentioned before that I adore Taylor Swift. One morning on my commute, blasting her songs, different lyrics popped into my head. Instead of “James Dean daydreams” I imagined “big black circles.” And instead of “you come and pick me up, no headlights,” I found myself thinking, “the baby woke me up the first time.” Clearly, late nights at my house look a lot different than those pop-romance scenes.
That train of thought kept going, picturing how a sleep-deprived mom might sing “Style.” The little parody “So Tired” took shape: a short, honest snapshot of nights with an infant and how often you get up when you’re a new parent.
I’m sharing it because I suspect many other moms (and parents) relate. This was written not long before I left my full-time job outside the home, which explains the offhand line about forgetting to brush my teeth—something that, ahem, hasn’t actually happened… often. I have no shame, though. Bring me to karaoke night and I’ll sing it loud and proud.
So Tired lyrics
Midnight
The baby woke me up the first time
Wet the bed
I guess I’ll change the sheets again tonight
Those diapers, oh
They don’t hold up like they say that they should do
They should do
And so I’ll try to go to sleep but I
Know you’ll call on me again tonight
Yeah you’ll do it three or four times
Now I’ve got these big black circles
Under my eyes
And I’ve had three cups of coffee
All before nine
And I don’t know how I’m gonna make it through this alive
Oh baby I’m so, so tired
I’m so, so tired
You’re in your comfy pj’s playing with your feet
And I was so late that
I forgot to brush my teeth
And now I’ll be stuck in my office
From seven to three
And baby I’m so, so tired
I’m so, so tired
Four am
You can’t find your binky or your bear
I stumble in
When I look down it’s sitting right there
It was right there, oh
How could you not know that it was in your hand?
All along
And when I walk back to my room
My alarm clock starts to boom
I’ll be running all day on fumes
Oh I think this baby hates me
Secretly
It’s been three days
And I’ve only had six hours of sleep
What I wouldn’t do for a nap
Maybe just once a week
Oh baby I’m so, so tired
I’m so, so tired
You’re in your comfy pj’s playing with your feet
And I was so late that
I forgot to brush my teeth
And now I’ll be stuck in my office
From seven to three
And baby I’m so, so tired
I’m so, so tired