This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I would like to throw a field
Yes, I would like to be a man
I would serve the Kingdom's will
Yes, I would enter to the end
Blessed is the man who waits
And blessed is the man who starts
I believe in (page)
Believe in (page)
Believe in (page)
Believe in (page)
I read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Hey, (name?)
Yes, Sufjan?
So, what do you believe in?
Oh, a lot of things
Oh yeah, like what?
Well, peace and justice for all
In the middle when you came
Will the animals invite?
Every syllable the same
Every letter every line
I believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
I believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
I believe in joy
Believe in joy
Believe in joy
Believe in joy [x A Lot]
(After the first two repetitions)
I, I, I, am, am, am, joy, joy, joy, and, and, and
I, I, I, am, am, am, joy, joy, joy
I read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Yes, I would like to be a man
I would serve the Kingdom's will
Yes, I would enter to the end
Blessed is the man who waits
And blessed is the man who starts
I believe in (page)
Believe in (page)
Believe in (page)
Believe in (page)
I read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Hey, (name?)
Yes, Sufjan?
So, what do you believe in?
Oh, a lot of things
Oh yeah, like what?
Well, peace and justice for all
In the middle when you came
Will the animals invite?
Every syllable the same
Every letter every line
I believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
I believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
Believe in peace
I believe in joy
Believe in joy
Believe in joy
Believe in joy [x A Lot]
(After the first two repetitions)
I, I, I, am, am, am, joy, joy, joy, and, and, and
I, I, I, am, am, am, joy, joy, joy
I read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Read every page
Lyrics submitted by lostpencil
Joy! Joy! Joy! Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"I believe in" and "I've read every page"
"Every syllable the same Every letter, every line"
This song is about the heart of the Christian worldview, about holding to the core doctrines of the Bible, specifically Biblical historicity and inerrancy. When you define your worldview by the reality of God and his purposes for us, it definitely shapes your life. This song is a lyrical declaration of his adherence to this worldview.
"Hey, Shar? Yes, Sufjan? So, what do you believe in? Oh, a lot of things Oh yeah, like what? Well, peace and justice for all"
The dialogue between Sufjan and his friend speak of the postmodern mentality that Christianity is simply a philosophy or moral ideology. There is a common idea held by postmodernism and orthodox Christianity, mainly that "God wants us to be nice (peaceful) to each other and have a good time (joy)," which is mostly true. However, the Christian worldview of how to end up at that goal of joy and peace is completely opposite of all other worldviews.
"I believe in peace" & "joy"
The culmination of the Christian worldview is that God redeems His people, leading us to peace and joy, amidst and in spite of the tragedy of the Fall and of sin. If everyone was a practicing Christian, the world would have more peace and joy. Sufjan is proclaiming his belief in that ultimate end result of God's plan for humanity.
If you find meaning in Sufjan's music, please take the time to read the Gospels, particularly Luke. Know that there are large bodies of scientific (historical) evidence for the accuracy of Luke's paritial biography of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.