Tell me what you saw in me
And I'll try to replicate it with a scene
Mm-mmm
If it troubles you to breathe
Wait a moment; I could change the scenery

Don't carry on carrying efforts, oh no, oh oh oh oh
Somewhere there's a room for each of us to grow
And if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh
Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost
Mm-mmm

It's only that I meant to bring
Love and liveliness to your breast on the scene
Mm-mmm
Did you cut your hands on me?
Are my edges sharp? Am I a pest to feed?

Don't carry on carrying regrets, oh no, oh oh oh
Somewhere there's a room for us to speak alone
And if it grieves you to stay here, just go, oh oh oh oh
For I have no spell on you, it's all a ghost
Mm-mmm

I still have the things you gave me
Four anointing oils, the paper weight you made
Mm-mmm
For sure I haven't carried them
Or buried them in the name of your ghost, my friend

Don't carry on carrying efforts
Don't go! No oh oh oh
Stay with me until I sleep within your host
Or if it pleases you to leave me, just go, oh oh oh oh
Stopping you would stifle your enchanting ghost
Mm-mmm


Lyrics submitted by lesea

Enchanting Ghost Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Enchanting Ghost song meanings
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    My Opinion

    This entire EP just rattles my bones to my core. (As Sufjan tends to do, always.) This song -- along with The Owl & The Tanager -- speak to me in multitudes. I feel they were written to live in both my heart and my soul. His melancholy themes, honest lyrics, and soft vocal tones with a haunting falsetto have always appealed to me greatly. This is the kind of music I would make if I could make it. (I am instead left to admire music from both afar and down to the tiny details; I'm a music journalist.) Instead, I will just sing with this EP and continue to love every second of it.

    While I love this entire song, from every word to its acoustic guitar and gentle piano, my favorite lyric is this one: "If it troubles you to breathe, wait a moment; I could change the scenery."

    AshleyJayneon December 25, 2010   Link

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