Oh God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickeral Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)

Sufjan has a way of incorporating religion into his songs that seems so unobtrusive as compared to the majority of religious (Christian) music. This song seems to be about the need for God, especially during times when someone feels alone and isolated. Lyrics such as "oh Lord, say somehow, the devil is hard on my face again ... there's no other man who could raise the dead" give an image fo someone in desperate need of the presence of God or religion.

Mike

this song is beautiful in its simplicity. It seems to be written form the perspective of someone who is worn out with fighting against the world. But there is faith in the peaceful tone and calm but beautiful melodies. It reminds me of the verse "Be still and know that I am God".

most beautiful song of all time.

I agree with everyone. The line "The world is a hundred to one again" reminds me of the prophet Elijah. If you're not familiar with him, he was THE prophet of Israel for a while in the Old Testament. Because he preferred to work alone rather than with a support team, he often got lonely. In one instance he had a price on his head, and seemingly everyone wanted to kill him. At one point Elijah cried out to God that he was the only one who still loved the Lord, and God replied that He had reserved for Himself a remnant of 7,000 Israelites who still believed in God (instead of the myriad false gods worshipped by the masses), and that was a great encouragement to Elijah.

This song totally makes me think of that story. Whenever you feel persecuted, that the world is against you, remember that the Lord is faithful, and will always be with you.

I dont understand how someone can write a song that is so ambiguous and at the same time so specific. One of his best for sure!

i agree. i love sufjan's ways of showing his struggle with his faith. because every christian comes to terms with his religion at some point or another. this song is beautiful. beautiful.

Absolutly beautiful. Miss Misery, it does a little. It also makes me think of Psalm 119:50 "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preservs life."

I was looking for Sufjan lyrics, and I clicked on this song, and it made me cry because I was feeling like God wasn't listening and I felt that this really conected with how I felt.

This song has a really intense, yet hopeful feel to it. One thing that I love musically is the last 1:45 seconds of the song where you just hear the horns and all the other instruments are absent. The way I hear it is like finally finding peace in Gods presence after the uncertainty of Him being there. Its truly beautiful. Sufjan Stevens is a master songwriter.

I agree with Mike, completely.

I would agree that the simplicity is one of the best things about the song. It's just about being frustrated and desperate, and then sort of stepping out of the situation and thinking about where God is in this. It's such a relaxing, calming song, I'll usually listen to it when i'm falling asleep.