Temporary

"Temporary"
Eminem featuring Skylar GreyThe Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)
Released	July 12, 2024
Genre	Hip-Hop
Length	4:57
Label
Writer(s)	Holly Hafermann • Luis Resto • Marshall Mathers III
Producer(s)	Eminem • Skylar Grey
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) chronology
Previous	"Head Honcho"
Current	"Temporary"
Next	"Bad One"

"Temporary" is a song by American rapper Eminem featuring American singer Skylar Grey. It was released as the 15^th track from the former's twelfth studio album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024).

The song is dedicated to Em's daughter, Hailie Jade. It also features archival audio of her as a baby.

Background

The hook is sung by Skylar Grey, one of Eminem's frequent collaborators. She explained how it was actually supposed to be for Ed Sheeran, where she wrote it in the summer of 2023 and sent it to Em, requesting to send it to Sheeran. She continued, "And he was like 'yeah, I got you girl.' And then he was like 'wait, no. I'm keeping this.' And then he turned it into this beautiful masterpiece of him talking to his daughter from the grave, basically. It's beautiful. It's stunning. It made the whole world cry."

Personnel

• Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
• Holly "Skylar Grey" Hafermann – featured vocals, writing, production
• Luis Resto – writing, additional keyboards
• Marshall "Eminem" Mathers III – lead vocals, writing, co-production
• Mike Strange – mixing, recording
• Tony Campana – recording

Music video

The official music video was released on October 3, 2024, to Em's official YouTube channel. Directed and edited by James Larese, it alternates between old late-1990's to early-2000's home video footage of Hailie and her father Eminem, and new video footage from more recent years when Hailie tells him about her pregnancy.

Video	Information
	Released	October 3, 2024
	Director	James Larese
	Producer	Kathy Angstadt
	Prod. Company	London Alley
	Editor	James Larese
	Length	5:02

Lyrics

"Temporary"

[Intro: Eminem, Hailie Jade]
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 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

[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

[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)

[Verse 3: Eminem]
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)
'Cause

[Verse 4: Eminem, Hailie Jade]
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, Daddy, is your favorite song (Ooh)
Mine and your favorite song, but
On the radio, 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

Charts

Chart (2024)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	49
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	36
Global 200 (Billboard)	67
New Zealand (RMNZ)	33
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)	41
US Billboard Hot 100	56