Once when our mother called
She had a voice of last year's cough
We passed around the phone
Sharing a word about Oregon
When my turn came, I was ashamed
When my turn came, I was ashamed

Once when moved away
She came to Romulus for a day
Her Chevrolet broke down
We prayed it'd never be fixed or be found
We touched her hair, we touched her hair
We touched her hair, we touched her hair

When she had her last child
Once when she had some boyfriends, some wild
She moved away, quite far
Our grandpa bought us a new VCR
We watched it all night, we grew up in spite of it
We watched it all night, we grew up in spite of it

We saw her once last fall
Our grandpa died in a hospital gown
She didn't seem to care
She smoked in her room and colored her hair

I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her


Lyrics submitted by etcetera_whatever, edited by josh113245, CompressedAire

Romulus Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Romulus song meanings
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  • +7
    General Comment

    This song isn't just about some kid. It's about him, this is a biographical song. I don't remember where I read this, maybe it was a transcript of a radio interview or something. Sufjan and his Brother moved in with their grandparents while their mother went out to Oregon for a guy, his Grandpa bought them a VCR to try and get their mind off of it, and even though they were enveloped in the VCR and that's all they wanted to do was watch it, they still grew up Then when their Mother finally drove back, because their Grandfather was dying, her crappy chevrolet broke down, and even though he had done all of that for them She still tried to repress her feelings, and just acted like she didn't care and it was at that point Sufjan lost all respect for his mother

    Brighteyesboyon February 07, 2008   Link

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