Log in now to tell us what you think this song means. Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. Log in. Lyrics Artists add. I have called you, children I have called you, son What is there to answer If I'm the only one Morning comes in Paradise Morning comes in light Still I must obey Still I must invite If there's anything to say If there's anything to do I there's any other way I'll do anything for you I was dressed in embarrassment I was dressed in white If you had a part of me Will you take your time Even if I come back Even if I die Is there some idea To replace my life Like a father to impress Like a mother's mourning dress If we ever make a mess I'll do anything for you I have called you, preacher I have called you, son If you have a father Or if you haven't one I'll do anything for you I'll do anything for you I'll do anything for you I'll do anything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you I did everything for you Edit Lyrics.
For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti song meanings. Add Your Thoughts Comments. General Comment This song is definitely about Jesus, but like Casimir Pulaski day it has some undertones that are distinctly different from "christian" music.
It certainly is about the sacrifice of Jesus "I'll do anything for you". But there is also a definite hint of uncertainty in his thinking "even if I come back, even if I die" this last line is amazing to me, because it implies that Jesus wasn't even sure that he would come back!
I think it's a mistake to read any more into it that that, like what that thing s is. This sort of "christian" music actually does so much more to make me sympathize with Jesus that so much "God is perfect all the time and we should always thank him" jibberish that most christian music is.
It points to a humanity that is lost in that stuff; Jesus' humanity, yes, but also his beliver's humanity, in admitting that there are periods of doubt even for the most devout. That sort of thought is anathema to most christian music. Stevens should be lauded for putting thought into christian music.
No Replies Log in to reply. There was an error. General Comment I think the reality of multiple meanings and Christian undertones has already been firmly established, and I'm quite happy with both ideas. The thing is, Christianity has become so repugnant to so many people, but artists like Sufjan have a way of transforming it into something that's so identifiable and human.
I'm not really a Christian, but I prefer to believe that the Christian interpretation is, in fact, one of several actual meanings. Given the story it tells, religious inclinations aside, that makes it all the more beautiful.
In it he explains the origin of the name of the song. I'll just quote what he says here: "Let me do a song really quick about a small town up here called Paradise.
Michigan has Paradise as well as Hell Michigan. It's kind of interesting. And, Um Paradise is a place I noticed when we went up there to play a football tournament in high school, I noticed that there was all these single mothers and women and grandmothers but there weren't any men, and so I had sort of devised a story in my mind that they had all died in the war and that they were all widows.
It spend most of its life underwater and a larva. I think the fly is a metaphor for the character, he lived a mundane life, only to advance into a stage where he was consumed only with sex, and his life fell apart.
General Comment This song is flippin' amazing. MixedUpConfusion on May 12, Link. General Comment Man, oh man. I love solid b-side albums. Nimbus the Kitten on May 14, Link. Nimbus the Kitten. General Comment In addition to wanderingmounty's information on the shadfly: I looked up Bobby and Springfield, Illinois. Towards the end of his career, he was simply waiting to get little one-liners in a few movies. That sounds similar to the story of the shadfly Or maybe he has nothing to do with the song, but Sufjan seems to introduce the history of these places into his stories Maybe I'll come back and critique it further some other time.
In the mean time, look it up urself and see what you find. General Comment That was Bobby Watson by the way General Comment I think this song is about a man losing faith in the world and undergoing something of a to use a terrible cliche mid-life crisis: he's realised that his life hasn't really meant anything to this point, and he tries to find meaning in an extramarital affair, but it doesn't work.
He doesn't even care about the death of his father, let alone anything else. The discordant guitar solo here is absolutely heartbreaking: I feel that it represents this man's internal struggle, railing against the meaningless of it all, his failed life, his marriage, etc.
I think that Sufjan intentionally uses the shadfly as a metaphor for this man and others, but I don't think it extends as far as the 'obsession' with sex: this man tries to break out of his meaningless life the larval stage or what-have-you with an affair, but other 'shadflies' try to make something of their lives with music the trumpet or travel, or a train collection, or whatever.
The one thing I'm not clear on is who Bobby is meant to be. Bobbys Jr. I think that should be obvious through music critics' praise in reviews and ranking though. That isn't to say that something is good or of worth simply because everyone likes it, but this is precisely what these critics deal with, exacting the aesthetic value within an album. This is a long response.
I know. I felt that is was of absolute necessity to run to Sufjan's defense though. BohemianPoet on November 11, I'm sorry. This was not directed towards you. I didn't mean to post it as a reply to your post. This was intended to just be a comment. One thing I want to point out may relate to Helen Keller and the cannery line or capital line, if capital means profit. General Comment Great tune, we need more Sufjan.
Marauder on August 02, Link. No Replies Log in to reply. General Comment I am absolutely disgusted by some of these posts by users who are under the assumption that Sufjan Stevens is not a poet. BohemianPoet on November 11, Link.
I was blown away by this comment! I don't really know much of anything about poetry, but once again Sufjan's genius is revealed in another way. Thanks for breaking this down so we can visually see it. My respect for him just grows and grows. LovePeaceRachel on June 09, TheHolyBromanEmpire on October 10, General Comment Awesome. General Comment i grew up in jacksonville illinois!
General Comment Can't believe no one commented on this song yet, one of the best of his phenomenal new album. Just the whole composition is beautiful, it all goes together so nice..
General Comment I love when he opens with those lines.. Fuck I love it. General Comment FYI: Jacksonville was a major stopping point on the underground railroad mentioned in the first lines It also contains the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired which is hinted at throught the song the last verse is about the question of where Jacksonville gets it's name: A.
Jackson a black preacher or Andrew Jackson? In truth it was named after Andrew Jackson rudiecantfail on September 07, Link. I'm fairly sure I know where Nichol's park is, it's long and rectangular and not far of the interstate. It has a ferris wheel, which I believe does not work. I believe the "ride the train and ride it after dark" could reference the undergroudn railroad.
As for Nichol's park, I don't know much more about it. Other than that, I love this song and this album. I am angry that Sufjan wrote a song about jacksonville and not about quincy, we are more than twice jacksonville's size and infinately more interesting and important.
Alas omnijohn on January 10, Link. Hi there! I'm from Jacksonville. Nichols Park is actually out south of town. The one you are referring to is called Community Park.
The ferris wheel does work! In nice weather, it runs on weekend evenings. Just thought I'd share that. My husband and I love Quincy, too. Visit there quite often! It would have inspired a good song, too. Artists - S.
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