Temporary
Producers
A lot of people ask me
Am I afraid of death?
The truth is, I think what scares me the most
Is not being able to say all the things I wanna say to you when I'm no longer here
So this song is for Hailie, for when that day comes
Where's Hailie? Where's she at?
This ain't Hailie
Who is it?
It's a monster (Ahh)
[Verse 1: Skylar Grey, Hailie Jade & Eminem]
I've been waiting all night for the sunrise
To take away the dark sky
You're the dad monster and them are the baby monsters and I'm the mom monster (Oh)
All it takes is a new day sometimes
To get me in a better state of mind
Give me a kiss, monster, give me a kiss
Love you (I love you)
[Pre-Chorus: Skylar Grey]
If I could just fall asleep
I'd be lost in a dream
But right now, it's misery
And I just have to remember
That when a heart breaks, it ain't broken forever
The pieces will grow back together
And in time, I'll be fine
The tears are temporary
[Verse 2: Eminem]
Yeah, so Hailie Jade, I wrote you this song
To help you cope with life now that I'm gone
How should I start? Just wanna say
Look after Alaina, Stevie, and Uncle Nate
And, sweetie, be strong, I know I was your rock
And I still am, saying goodbye is just not
Ever easy, but why you crying? Just stop
Hailie, baby, dry your eye, this is not
Forever
[Chorus: Skylar Grey]
That when a heart breaks, it ain't broken forever
The pieces will grow back together
And in time, I'll be fine
The tears are temporary
[Post-Chorus: Hailie Jade, Skylar Grey, Eminem & Kim Scott]
Daddy (Ooh)
What? (Ooh)
When, I used to have this when I was a little kid (Ooh)
Baby, are you okay? (Ooh)
Yeah, and you will get over me and move on
You can play me on repeat on a song
But don't you dare shed a tear, what'd I tell you?
"Straighten up, little soldier," them times when I held you
Jade, it'll be okay, baby, I'm here, hey
I'm watching you right now, baby girl, I vow
I will protect you, your guardian angel
As hard as this may feel, us parting is painful
And, darling, the rain will, drive you insane, still
You will remain strong, Hailie, just hang on
It won't be too long, I need you to move on
And remember, it will get better
'Cause time heals and when a
[Chorus: Skylar Grey]
When a heart breaks, it ain't broken forever
The pieces will grow back together
And in time, I'll be fine
The tears are temporary
The bad days will start to get better
Then we'll be laughin' together
And tonight, when I cry
The tears are temporary
[Post-Chorus: Eminem, Skylar Grey & Hailie Jade]
I know this big girl (Ooh)
And she's really pretty (Ooh)
You know what her name is?
Hailie (Ooh)
Hailie, how did you know? (Ooh)
Yeah, and if there's days where you wanna just lock yourself in your room and cry
Just think about how when you were little, how you and I
Back and forth to the studio, we used to drive
You strapped in the backseat 'cause you were my
Little sidekick, yeah, sweetie, I know this hurts
Bean, I'm wishing your pain away
Remember this, Hailie Jade
There's gonna be rainy days
I promise you'll get through 'em and make it regardless
Fuck it, Jade, I'll be honest
I knew that you was gonna take this the hardest
Sweetie, get up, I know that this is breaking your heart, it's
The hardest thing I've ever wrote (Daddy)
Hailie, sweetheart, it's okay for you to let me go
Baby, I promise you that when a
[Chorus: Skylar Grey]
When a heart breaks, it ain't broken forever
The pieces will grow back together
And in time, I'll be fine
The tears are temporary
The bad days will start to get better
Then we'll be laughin' together
And tonight when I cry
The tears are temporary
[Post-Chorus: Eminem, Skylar Grey & Hailie Jade]
What's your favorite song? (Ooh)
My favorite song (Ooh)
Mine and your favorite song, but
I like this part
It's your favorite part, Dad (Ooh)
[Outro: Hailie Jade & Eminem]
You're taping me, bitch
I got you on tape cussin'
Can you hear?
Yep
No, bitch
No what?
No, I said, I said, "No, bitch"
Okay, no cussing
About
A song made for Hailie (Eminem’s only biological daughter) for her to listen to after Eminem dies.
In this heartfelt track, Eminem reflects on his fears of not being able to communicate his feelings to Hailie once he’s gone. He recalls their close relationship, his struggles, and the guidance he wants to leave behind. Eminem emphasizes the importance of staying strong through tough times and assures Hailie that heartbreak is temporary. The song includes personal and candid moments, such as a childhood recording of Hailie, adding a layer of authenticity and intimacy. Throughout the song, Eminem balances expressing his deep love and concern for his daughter with his signature raw and unfiltered lyrical style.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Skylar Grey:
I had bad writers block all of last year… I was banging my head against the wall trying to come up with anything worth a shit. Then out of nowhere, “Temporary” happened. I haven’t written much of anything worth a shit since. But if this is all I have to show for a year of effort, I’d say it was well worth the struggle. Incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with @eminem again, especially on a song as deeply personal as this. If you haven’t yet, peep the song we did together, “Temporary,” at the link in my bio. Sorry for the tears… but I promise they’re #temporary #thedeathofslimshady #tdoss #coupdegrace
–via Twitter (July 13, 2024)
Yes! Skylar Gray and Eminem are close friends, who’ve collaborated eight times before “Temporary.”
- “I Need a Doctor” (February 2011)
- “C'mon Let Me Ride” (December 2012)
- “Asshole” (November 2013)
- “Kill for You” (September 2016)
- “Tragic Endings” (December 2017)
- “Leaving Heaven” (January 2020)
- “Black Magic” (December 2020)
- “Last One Standing” (September 2021)
“Temporary” debuted at #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week ending July 27, 2024. The song marked Skylar Grey’s ninth appearance on the chart, as well as her first appearance in three years after peaking at #78 for “Last One Standing” in 2021.
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