| Sufjan Stevens – The Vivian Girls Are Visited in the Night by Saint Dargarius and His Squadron of Benevolent Butterflies Lyrics | 16 years ago |
| I just went to see an exhibit of Darger's work at the folk art museum in NYC, and realized this is where Sufjan got the title from! Totally crazy and twisted art. | |
| Sufjan Stevens – In the Devil's Territory Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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I think what's important to remember when looking at Sufjan's songs is that they're all *extremely* personal. He's quoted as saying his songs all come from personal experiences, as they make the best stories to tell. That said, I personally see this song not as a general statement about Christians waiting for Jesus, but the struggles Christians (specifically Sufjan) face as they grow up, the necessity to resist temptation to sin that everyone faces, and the ultimate reward. "Be still and know your sign/The Beast will arrive in time" => the sign of the cross, to fight off the devil? Like an adult telling a small child that the struggles and temptations WILL come, in time, and you have to be ready to face them the best you can. This line is what sparked my interpretation. It's at the beginning so it does set the tone. Throughout your life, you see many things, including what happens to the evil among us (the dragons and the witches). Even the most devout commit sins (stealing in one of its many forms is a sin that IMO no one on earth is free of). But still, the virtuous continue to fight on earth against sin, struggling to one day overcome it and, well in my interpretation, be able to face the devil without fear of temptation, knowing oneself above sin. |
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