Desperate measures lead to death
From the mouth of Gabriel
Who died in his sleep when the world was a very big mess
A very big mess
He saw too much
From now on I will look away from every accident
That may or may not come my way

Saw you were talking up above the Aleph room
Masquerading as a loom
Both of us saw things
No one else would see as well
From the mouth of Gabriel
No one else would hear as well
From the mouth of Gabriel

Don't be so sure of what you feel (it might as well be trouble)
From now on just let the universe be your shelter from the enemy

Your face has changed
I hardly know who you are this time
And what a mess I've made of you
You probably would but I won't let you run away
You probably should but I won't let you run away this time

Don't be afraid of loneliness some refugee beside itself
Instead of what you've got
You probably would but I won't let you go away
You probably should but I won't let you go away this time

Your face has changed
I hardly know who you are this time
And when I came into your room
You tried to jump

Now I know this is strange to hear from the mouth of God
It was something like a scene from mars
In a struggle between loves and lies
The angel kept his face covered for to keep his word
And while I spoke something left from my life
Forget about the past
Be at rest I'll make things right
And while I held you at best you nearly died
Forget about the past
And I'll try to make things right


Lyrics submitted by lesea

From the Mouth of Gabriel Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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From the Mouth of Gabriel song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I love the reference to Jorge Luis Borges's Aleph :) my favorite write meets my favorite musician!

    Andgtomeon August 26, 2010   Link
  • +2
    Memory

    teared up the first time i heard this song. it was totally unexpected. blissful yet serious.

    livityon September 13, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song the most off of Sufjan Steven's new EP "All Delighted People" his style is great and I can't wait for more of his music!

    ChrisZechon August 24, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love the reference to Jorge Luis Borges's Aleph :) my favorite writer meets my favorite musician!

    Andgtomeon August 26, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this is my favourite of his new EP. I love the instrumental parts, they're so lovely. the song has a really nice pace as well. when he sings "and when I came into your room" the music get's that nervous kind of sound like its leading up to something.

    anyway, very cute song.

    talkingbirdon August 31, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Could also be Abraham singing to Isaac

    AmericanSuperHeroson October 08, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think that the song has to do with someone who has lost their faith or ignored God in their life, done awful things, and perhaps considering suicide. Gabriel (God's messenger) comes to visit and know the person wants to run away but Gabriel says forget about the past, let the Universe be your shelter. Forget about the past and I'll try to make things right.

    ldrafallon October 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my favourite too. i was scared to listen to this ep at first but i'm delighted to see that even after all these years sufjan still has what it takes to amaze me.

    Your face has changed I hardly know who you are this time And what a mess I've made of you You probably would but I won't let you run away You probably should but I won't let you run away this time

    brilliant :)

    brokenbiscuiton August 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favorite song off the EP as well. "From now on let the universe be your shelter from the enemy" - what a reassuring lyric in the face of the chaos of this tenuous world.

    solitary walkeron September 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favourite track from the EP as well. I really love the 'swell' of the final part as Sufjan's vocal gradually builds in intensity while backing vocals and instruments keep being added.

    themouseholecaton September 03, 2010   Link

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