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.
Well I have known you
For just a little while
But I feel I've known you
I feel I've seen you
When the Earth was split in fives
And in your words, I
Should let it out, I
Would see you die
But I'm a watcher
I see it watch her
It's in your afterlife
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
Oh keep from trying
Oh keep from caring
You are the light
We see you trying to
Be something else that
You're not, we think you're nice
The circumstances
Of what I thought, I
Could see it now
I wouldn't be so
I wouldn't feel so
But it's a running wild
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal lving
When it dies, when it dies
It rots
And when it lives, when it lives
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
It rots
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
In all reflections
I see your method
I see it all
And what about you?
And what about me?
Are we the lost of lost
Don't speak too soon, don't
be fruit of loom, don't
Excite yourself
For what you see is
Not fantasy, it's
Not what it gets, but gives
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
In all reflections
I see it mentioned
I see it all
The gorgeous mess of
Your face impressed us
Imposed of all its art
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
When it dies, when it dies
It rots
And when it lives, when it lives
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
It rots
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
When I die, when I die
I'll rot
But when I live, when I live
I'll give it all I've got
When I die, when I die
I'll rot
But when I live, when I live
I'll give it all I've got
Gloria, Gloria
Victoria, Victoria
It lives in all of us
Gloria, Gloria
Victoria, Victoria
It lives in all of us
I've lost the will to fight
I was not made for life
I've lost the will to fight
I was not made for life
Now I have known you
For just a little while
I feel I must be wearing my welcome
I must be moving on
For my intentions were good intentions
I could have loved you
I could have changed you
I wouldn't be so
I wouldn't feel so
Consumed by selfish thoughts
I'm sorry if I seem self-effacing
Consumed by selfish thoughts
It's only that I still love you deeply
It's all the love I've got
For just a little while
But I feel I've known you
I feel I've seen you
When the Earth was split in fives
And in your words, I
Should let it out, I
Would see you die
But I'm a watcher
I see it watch her
It's in your afterlife
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
Oh keep from trying
Oh keep from caring
You are the light
We see you trying to
Be something else that
You're not, we think you're nice
The circumstances
Of what I thought, I
Could see it now
I wouldn't be so
I wouldn't feel so
But it's a running wild
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal lving
When it dies, when it dies
It rots
And when it lives, when it lives
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
It rots
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
In all reflections
I see your method
I see it all
And what about you?
And what about me?
Are we the lost of lost
Don't speak too soon, don't
be fruit of loom, don't
Excite yourself
For what you see is
Not fantasy, it's
Not what it gets, but gives
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
In all reflections
I see it mentioned
I see it all
The gorgeous mess of
Your face impressed us
Imposed of all its art
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
When it dies, when it dies
It rots
And when it lives, when it lives
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
It rots
It gives it all it gots
This is the Age of Adz
Eternal living
When I die, when I die
I'll rot
But when I live, when I live
I'll give it all I've got
When I die, when I die
I'll rot
But when I live, when I live
I'll give it all I've got
Gloria, Gloria
Victoria, Victoria
It lives in all of us
Gloria, Gloria
Victoria, Victoria
It lives in all of us
I've lost the will to fight
I was not made for life
I've lost the will to fight
I was not made for life
Now I have known you
For just a little while
I feel I must be wearing my welcome
I must be moving on
For my intentions were good intentions
I could have loved you
I could have changed you
I wouldn't be so
I wouldn't feel so
Consumed by selfish thoughts
I'm sorry if I seem self-effacing
Consumed by selfish thoughts
It's only that I still love you deeply
It's all the love I've got
Lyrics submitted by browncrayon, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Age Of Adz Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This site is supposed to be about interpreting the lyrics...there's about a zillion other sites where people can complain about how Sufjan's "changed." Personally, I love it.
Anyhow, the lyrics: most are correct above (there's a few spots it's off) except the entire ending is missing:
When I die, when I die I'll rot but when I live, when I live I'll give it all I've got
(repeats)
Gloria, Gloria Victoria, Victoria It lives in all of us
(repeats)
I've lost the will to fight ?
I have known you for just a little while I feel I must be wearing my welcome I must be moving on
For my intentions, were good intentions I could have loved you I could have changed you
I wouldn't be so I wouldn't feel so Consumed by selfish thoughts
I'm sorry if I seem self-effacing Consumed by selfish thoughts It's only that I Still love you deeply It's all the love I've got
I think the line you couldn't get is...<br /> <br /> "I was not made for life"