"Bored to Death" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Bored to Death (The Soundtrack) — Music From the HBO Series" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. Bored to Death (The Soundtrack) was released September 21, 2010 by WaterTower Music and compiles songs and witty in-character interludes from the HBO series. (as listed on Apple Music)

What’s the theme song?

“Bored to Death” by Coconut Records (Jason Schwartzman). It doubles as the opening theme and appears on the album.

Does the album include cast audio bits?

Yes—Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, and Zach Galifianakis appear on several brief interludes (e.g., “Moonlighting,” “My Feet Feel Interesting”). (according to WaterTower Music)

Which notable artists show up on the compilation?

Lykke Li (“Little Bit”), M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel (“Rave On”), Freelance Whales (“Kilojoules”), The Real Tuesday Weld, The Explorers Club, among others. (per AllMusic’s album page)

Who handled music supervision for the series?

Michael Hill is credited as music supervisor across the show’s 24 episodes. (IMDb full credits)

Is this a movie soundtrack?

It’s actually the official album for the HBO TV series (not a feature film). The album arrived alongside the Season 1 home-video release in 2010. (according to Pitchfork’s news brief)

Notes & Trivia

• The label is WaterTower Music (HBO’s in-house imprint); street date: September 21, 2010. (as listed on Apple Music)
• The theme is performed by Coconut Records—i.e., series lead Jason Schwartzman’s project. (Apple Music; IMDb)
• Cast interludes (Ted Danson, Zach Galifianakis, Schwartzman) were cut as playful, noir-adjacent miniatures between songs. (according to WaterTower Music)
• The album dropped the same day as the Season 1 DVD and was teased in music press roundups. (according to Pitchfork)
• Musically, it triangulates Brooklyn indie, loungey croon, and light retro-noir pop—exactly the show’s wink. (AllMusic overview)

Overview

Why does a detective comedy breathe like a mixtape? Because Bored to Death scores private-eye fantasy with indie tactility. The compilation couples Coconut Records’ title theme with crate-digger favorites—Lykke Li, M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel, Freelance Whales—then threads in tiny cast sketches so the playlist feels like the show talking back. (as stated on WaterTower Music)

It’s not a wall of hits; it’s tone management. Bright, jangly cuts handle Jonathan’s Brooklyn meanders, while lounge-leaning selections and vintage-kissed croons soften the series’ hang-out pace. The result is an unusually characterful TV soundtrack: a snapshot of 2010 indie culture wearing a trench coat. (according to AllMusic)

Genres & Themes

• Indie pop & blog-era favorites → the show’s Brooklyn pulse (Lykke Li, Freelance Whales).
• Retro-noir croon & lounge → the PI daydream in sepia (The Real Tuesday Weld).
• Actor-voiced interludes → comedic meta-narration between cases (Schwartzman, Danson, Galifianakis).
• Bedroom pop (Coconut Records) → the handmade charm of the main title.

Key Tracks & Scenes

“Bored to Death” — Coconut Records
Where it plays: Opening titles across the series; non-diegetic theme.
Why it matters: A breezy mission statement—Jonathan’s earnest delusion wrapped as a hummable hook.

“Little Bit” — Lykke Li
Where it plays: Needle-drop in an early-series social setting; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Soft-glow intimacy that sandpapers the PI fantasy back to real life.

“Rave On” — M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel
Where it plays: Mid-episode montage energy; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Buddy-Holly spark filtered through indie croon—optimism with a wink.

“Kilojoules” — Freelance Whales
Where it plays: Bike-and-subway hustle beats; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Clattery brightness that fits Brooklyn sleuthing on a budget.

“I’ll See You in My Dreams” — The Real Tuesday Weld
Where it plays: Late-night reflection cue; non-diegetic.
Why it matters: The romantic noir shrug the series loves to wear.

Track–Moment Index (approximate)