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.
I know you won't get very far
With the back seat driver in the carpetbagger
With the dagger heart grabber stuck in your car
And the yard is grown to a hilt
And the money spent money spent where it went
Embarrassment, embarrassment to pay for the car
And the man who left you for dead
He's the heart grabber back stabber double cheater wife beater
You don't need that man in your life
And you worked yourself to the bone
While the people say what they say
It's the neighbors anyway
They don't know what's good for your life
And I see your head hangs low
In the black shadow, half shadow
Living room is fitting is sitting room is fit for your crying
Don't be ashamed'don't hide in your room
For the woman is, woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
And the time you held to the light
When water ran water ran with the strange attic
And when the walls were wet with your life
And you pushed yourself to the floor
And the spirit went where it went
Hovering discovering uncovering your life, on the floor
And the walls were wet with your love
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Don't be ashamed, don't hide from me now
For the woman is the woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
Don't be ashamed, don't cry in the bath
For it's the story of, story of, morning glory story
It's the gloriole that comes to your path
There is a time when the lights will arise
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours to enjoy
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For you're beautiful, beautiful
All the fullness of the world is yours
With the back seat driver in the carpetbagger
With the dagger heart grabber stuck in your car
And the yard is grown to a hilt
And the money spent money spent where it went
Embarrassment, embarrassment to pay for the car
And the man who left you for dead
He's the heart grabber back stabber double cheater wife beater
You don't need that man in your life
And you worked yourself to the bone
While the people say what they say
It's the neighbors anyway
They don't know what's good for your life
And I see your head hangs low
In the black shadow, half shadow
Living room is fitting is sitting room is fit for your crying
Don't be ashamed'don't hide in your room
For the woman is, woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
And the time you held to the light
When water ran water ran with the strange attic
And when the walls were wet with your life
And you pushed yourself to the floor
And the spirit went where it went
Hovering discovering uncovering your life, on the floor
And the walls were wet with your love
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Don't be ashamed, don't hide from me now
For the woman is the woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
Don't be ashamed, don't cry in the bath
For it's the story of, story of, morning glory story
It's the gloriole that comes to your path
There is a time when the lights will arise
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours to enjoy
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For you're beautiful, beautiful
All the fullness of the world is yours
Lyrics submitted by lesea, edited by Mellow_Harsher, Mundus
Djohariah Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Just some religious interpretations from a Catholic:
"For the woman is, woman is the glorious victorious The mother of the heart of the world .... For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious The mother of the heart of the world"
I believe this is a reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, the "Heart of the world." This is a title given to Jesus Christ. See the book Heart of the World by Hans Urs Von Balthasar, for example: ignatius.com/Products/HW-P/heart-of-the-world.aspx
I believe Sufjan is saying that his sister, and all women, share in the dignity, the glory, and the victory (over Satan, sin, evil, the victory of bringing the Son of God, the Savior of mankind, into the world) of Mary the Mother of God. For his sister, who seems to have suffered much evil, this sharing in the victory and dignity and glory of Mary is especially poignant.
"When the walls were wet with your life And you pushed yourself to the floor And the spirit went where it went hovering discovering Uncovering your life on the floor
And the walls were wet with your love"
For the Hebrews, blood essentially equaled life. And the true essence of life is love. I believe these lines may be a reference to her "wife beater" husband and a particularly violent beating which caused her to bleed on the walls. Horrific.
Following this interpretation, the "spirit" is the Holy Spirit, Who miraculously saved her life when she was "left for dead" on the floor.
What think ye?