The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Everything You are
Is everything we have,
You're the only good thing
A sun came
Burned our faces round
Burned our faces red
You are still the rage a rock
From the enemy
There is still a house, a cage
For the enemy
When my friends turned out, I found out
There is still a Lord
But I never felt so lonely
A sun came
Is everything we have,
You're the only good thing
A sun came
Burned our faces round
Burned our faces red
You are still the rage a rock
From the enemy
There is still a house, a cage
For the enemy
When my friends turned out, I found out
There is still a Lord
But I never felt so lonely
A sun came
Lyrics submitted by infranippies, edited by anointmyhead, Mellow_Harsher
A Sun Came Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Hey! you forgot: "I remember when my mother would get sick, she would vomit all over the kitchen, she would vomit on the tables and on the countertops, and in the refrigerator. and uh, oh when we called the dog, the dog would come in and slip on the vomit.
Here are the exact lyrics for this song, transcribed from Sufjan's handwriting in the first pressing of the album. The lyrics are originally written without line breaks.
A sun came: everything You are is everything we have. You're the only good thing: a sun came and burned our faces brown, burned our faces red. You are still the rage, a run from the enemy. There is still a house, a cage for the enemy. And when my friends turn out I found out there's still the Lord. I never felt so lonely: a sun came.
Not that it's incorrect to find literal meaning in the line "a sun came" but it just occured to me that he could be meaning a son came. The rest of the song points to Jesus Christ, the son of God, coming.
you could even add an extra word in the last three lines:
There is still a Lord but I never felt so lonely UNTIL a sun (son) came.
Such a Christian song, yet so beautiful.
"Everything You are is everything we have" I find so much meaning in that line.
"After St. Augustine"
Sunshine let it be or frost, Storm or calm, as Thou shalt choose; Though Thine every gift were lost, Thee Thyself we could not lose. -- Mary Elizabeth Coleridge
Campfirestring, that's the beginning to the song "Satan's Saxophones", not the end to "A Sun Came".
this song sums up sufjan's music: its a sun coming, a new day
this song reminds of summer
It's when you're left alone with God. When you're standing and no one's next to you, he's still there. When your friends turn their backs it's lonely and really sucks, but nothing about God is going to change. He's everything he's always been.