He Woke Me Up Again

Sufjan Stevens

He was, he was in the churchyard
My father was in the first part
He came, he came to my bedroom
But I was asleep
He woke me up again to say:

Halle Halle Halleluiah
Holy Holy is the sound

And I hope, I hope you are tired out
And I know, I know there is joy endowed
But I was asleep

And he woke me up again
And he woke me up again to say

Hold on hold on to your old ways
Or put off put off every old face
And I know, I know you are changed out
I hope, I hope you're arranged out

But I'm still asleep
And you woke me up again
And I'm still asleep
But you woke me up to leave


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He Woke Me Up Again Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

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16 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentI really like the parallel between his father literally waking him up and God figurtively waking up his father. When I first realized what this song was about, I couldn't stop smiling for about five minutes. There's so much joy in it.
    Miss Miseryon February 27, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThe thing I like about Sufjan is that though he is very spiritual and speaks of God in his songs, they are figurative enough that I (a person of no religion) can enjoy them on a less christian level
    donnarellaon August 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Commentthe last line of the song is "you woke me up again ... to be holy." (It is pretty much whispered.) And I think it is "changed now," not "changed out." This song is encouraging to me and reminds me of the God who "wakes us up" and calls us to be holy.
    beulahrawkon July 12, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentActually Sufjan says at one of his performances that this song is about being woken up in the middle of the night by his parents when they came up with ideas.

    you can hear him say it here: youtube.com/…
    Barrowon August 25, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI agree with most of what ya'll have brought up but I think it's worth mentioning that he might be referring to being woken up to music as well as his spirituality. Many people are first introduced to music through church, and as someone who sings forth his sense of spirituality, Sufjan Stevens here can be seen literally singing out Hallelujah. It is no wonder so many people are made happy by this song, as Hallelujah isn't just a praising of God, but a praising in joy through song. As far as words go, Hallelujah is one of the most joyous of terms. Praise be to Sufjan for connecting us all through something so powerful and simple: his own expressions of joy.
    redefinedchaoson April 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song he said described the night his father woke up the family and told them they would be (some religion)...I think it was catholicism but I don't remember.
    Morpheus02812on December 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is a song about a spiritual awakening , if every one wants to know you can check out his opinions in his interview articles Sufjan is a man after my own heart, he is very in love with our Lord Jesus
    misskate27on December 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love sufjan. and i love the banjo. hallelujah!
    drowningnoahon March 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentgosh sufjan is genius
    yaywhooweeon August 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentgreatsong!
    theformatloveon September 18, 2006   Link

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