So You Are Tired album art

So You Are Tired

Sufjan Stevens
Javelin (2023)
Moderate 70 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Stylesoft vocals
Notes: The song unfolds with warm piano and husky whispers, gradually layering in choral harmonies, strings, guitar, and light percussion for an enveloping yet gentle build without harsh edges. Its emotional depth creates a transcendent lift, ideal for introspective listening but potentially stirring for high sensitivity.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A lush, introspective chamber-folk ballad reflecting on regret, lost love, and spiritual searching, building from stripped-back piano to choral grandeur.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: introspective, melancholy, transcendent

Traditions: chamber folk, indie folk

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: soft vocals.

Where this sits in Sufjan Stevens's catalog

We have 44 songs from Sufjan Stevens in the library. Of those, 18 are rated Safe, 20 Moderate, and 6 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 5.4, making it the #14 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Javelin

We have 7 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2023 context

Released in 2023. We have 184 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.1/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2020s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
introspective · 5721melancholy · 5399transcendent · 815
Traditions
chamber folk · 5indie folk · 243

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "So You Are Tired"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "So You Are Tired" by Sufjan Stevens?

"So You Are Tired" by Sufjan Stevens rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "So You Are Tired" — what is its dynamic range?

"So You Are Tired" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "So You Are Tired" have sudden or surprising changes?

"So You Are Tired" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "So You Are Tired" best for?

In our library "So You Are Tired" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "So You Are Tired" released?

"So You Are Tired" is from 2023, on the album "Javelin". It appears in our 2020s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "So You Are Tired"?

We tag "So You Are Tired" as introspective, melancholy, transcendent. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "So You Are Tired"?

The vocal style is soft vocals.

Should I listen to "So You Are Tired"?

"So You Are Tired" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Green Light
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intense
DR 8
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intense
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Sleep
Godspeed You Black Emperor
safe
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Drop
Red House Painters
moderate
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Penda Yoro
Ali Farka Toure
moderate
DR 6
Charny Water
Tortoise
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

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Brian Eno safe
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Bob Dylan safe
If You Could Read My Mind
Gordon Lightfoot safe
It's Too Late
Carole King safe

What this song means to people

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