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Casimir Pulaski Day Lyrics
Goldenrod and the 4H stone
The things I brought you when I found out
You had cancer of the bone
Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car into the Navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry
In the morning, through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulderblade
I could see what you were reading
All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth
Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens
I remember at Michael's house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse
In the morning at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared
All the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you
Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I find the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of your mother
On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom
In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window
In the morning in the winter shade
On the first of March, on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing
All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications when I see His face
In the morning in the window
All the glory when He took our place
But He took my shoulders and He shook my face
And He takes and He takes and He takes
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Bmg Rights Management
Writer
Sufjan Stevens
Duration
5:53
Submitted by
downhillracer On Apr 26, 2005
The "shirt tucked-in and shoes untied" phrase, repeated twice, is the one I kind of found most intriguing. Basically put, I think this is a gorgeous way of describing how these two people, in the face of one of life's most difficult situations, are attempting to put on a strong, smiling facade "tucked-in shirt," while actually, at their very core, being functionally "untied."
A tucked-in shirt is what? Completely aesthetic. There is no physical benefit or reason to have a shirt tucked in or not, - it's simply something you do to appear a little more "put together" to those around you.
An untied shoe, on the other hand, will probably be noticed after the shirt. This is something that's a little "below the radar." That being said, an untied shoe is more than simply an aesthetic problem, it's a functional one as well - you can very well fall down, and possibly hurt yourself from tripping on a shoelace. So to me, this phrase really, and I think purposefully, highlights the juxtaposition of appearances/reality, strength/weakness, maturity/age - all themes which kind of undercurrent through the song.
Any thoughts?
I didn't even think about that. But reading it, I completely agree. That's a really interesting way to think about, but I would believe that's what he was going for.
I didn't even think about that. But reading it, I completely agree. That's a really interesting way to think about, but I would believe that's what he was going for.
What a fantastic lyricist.
What a fantastic lyricist.
I'd realized that it meant not being functional - but I hadn't realized the putting on a facade of being put together. But you're exactly right. He's trying to put on a brave face, while completely falling apart...
I'd realized that it meant not being functional - but I hadn't realized the putting on a facade of being put together. But you're exactly right. He's trying to put on a brave face, while completely falling apart...
@IndieLover I interpret the idea that one's shirt is tucked in yet their shoes are untied as someone either getting dressed or getting undressed. For the purpose of the subject of the song, I picture she was hastily getting dressed while leaving her house to avoid dealing with her father and his knowledge of the prior night. For the narrator, he was slowly undressing following some kind of service (it is a Sunday). Therefore, I picture each character in a different state of undressing/dressing which caters to their situation in a relatively fitting way.
@IndieLover I interpret the idea that one's shirt is tucked in yet their shoes are untied as someone either getting dressed or getting undressed. For the purpose of the subject of the song, I picture she was hastily getting dressed while leaving her house to avoid dealing with her father and his knowledge of the prior night. For the narrator, he was slowly undressing following some kind of service (it is a Sunday). Therefore, I picture each character in a different state of undressing/dressing which caters to their situation in a relatively fitting way.
@IndieLover i agree absolutely. it's such a fabulous line, so poetic. it paints such a specific image in your head, and can have so many connotations. the buildup with the moments of intimacy ("I almost touched your blouse" & "When your father found out what we did that night") make this line remind me of a "morning after" or "walk of shame" type of look, something thrown together messily before running out the door.
@IndieLover i agree absolutely. it's such a fabulous line, so poetic. it paints such a specific image in your head, and can have so many connotations. the buildup with the moments of intimacy ("I almost touched your blouse" & "When your father found out what we did that night") make this line remind me of a "morning after" or "walk of shame" type of look, something thrown together messily before running out the door.
@IndieLover this idea of yours also ties into the John Wayne Gacy song where he provides a conversational and friendly exterior while hiding horrors under his floorboards (that at the end ties into the narrator and all of us really with hidden secrets underneath the mask we present to everyone besides our most intimate loved ones, if we do at all)
@IndieLover this idea of yours also ties into the John Wayne Gacy song where he provides a conversational and friendly exterior while hiding horrors under his floorboards (that at the end ties into the narrator and all of us really with hidden secrets underneath the mask we present to everyone besides our most intimate loved ones, if we do at all)
I'm an atheist, and even I absolutely LOVE Sufjan Stevens. I even like the album Seven Swans. Anybody who criticizes him for having some Christian elements in his music is an idiot. He's not preachy at all, and his Christianity, to me, adds an extra layer of beauty to all of his music. Whether his beliefs are right or not (I think not), they still play a very important role for me in his lyrics.
@Massive Attack I am new to Sufjan Steven's and before delving into his music I didn't know he had Christian themes running throughout. As a fellow atheist, I agree. You don't have to agree with it to realize it's brilliant. I also grew up Christian and still feel nostalgic about some more upfront Christian brands (reliant K lol) because the themes can still resonate despite me not believing in the faith.
@Massive Attack I am new to Sufjan Steven's and before delving into his music I didn't know he had Christian themes running throughout. As a fellow atheist, I agree. You don't have to agree with it to realize it's brilliant. I also grew up Christian and still feel nostalgic about some more upfront Christian brands (reliant K lol) because the themes can still resonate despite me not believing in the faith.
"I would say that this song is definitely about being mad at God" - jady
well said, although i would probably myself want to suggest something more along the lines of "confusion" and/or "frustration." perhaps that is a mere semantical point, though... what i am most struck by is the HONESTY stevens uses in his music. truly - he is willing to express BOTH the joy and the despair that are regular parts of our lives. i think it is a form of defensiveness and denial when people are not willing to acknowledge their fear, disappointment, rage, jealously, etc... unfortunately, many have been made to feel that the only emotions welcome in a religous enviornment are joy and happiness. how discouraging this must be (and is) when much of our experience is in reality a great deal less pleasant than such affectivity would imply.
"and he takes, and he takes, and he takes." a wise person told me once that true worship can only happen when we are willing to be honest with God - be that a moment of thankful praise - or one of darkness and doubt.
This song at one point made me cry. I NEVER cry to songs haha, this is one of the very few.
@oneloverequiem I agree. I bawled when I understood the meaning.
@oneloverequiem I agree. I bawled when I understood the meaning.
I don't know if anyone has posted this yet because there are so many comments. I accidentally posted this as a reply the first time BUT Sufjan Stevens on Casimir Pulaski Day: “I was a teenager and this was my first experience with death. At that age, you’re easily confused. I couldn’t understand why she had to die. Experiences like this always cause doubt. Because we don’t cope well with the idea of evil in this world. Then you doubt the existence of God and His intentions.. actually everything. But that’s good. One of the foundations of faith is the lack of it - the disbelief. It’s very important. Firm belief is a bit unreal. That leads to religious fanaticism. Doubt is inseperable from Christianity. With every figure in the bible you find doubt - Abraham, Moses, all the kings and the apostles. Even Jesus doubted. So isn’t it funny how religions - especially Christian institutions in the US - have eliminated all doubt? They don’t understand how important it is to doubt. With all its consequences.” (Roughly translated from a Dutch interview)
they should let us flag comments as awesome
they should let us flag comments as awesome
I love this song:
Two of my favourite elements: the contrast between the happy melody and the subject - and the pain in the lyrics. The ending ultimately is happy: despite the pain Sufjan is celebrating his friend's life.
Also: the bit that chokes me up most is the whispered 'and he takes and he takes and he takes'. Sufjan is expressing his doubts here: his faith is shaken - sometimes it seems to him that God just takes.
My favourite thing about all of Sufjan's songs is the humanity in them. Really beautiful.
I wish I could've known her.
This song gave me goosebumps. Beautiful song about loss.
Sufjan stevens is often criticized for writing "Christian" music, but here is a good example of why that isn't so... this song is about the loss of a friend but also, more importantly, how God can seem not to care about those who pray to him. Sufjan may well be a Christian but this is not christian music, which has at its core the desire to praise God; just music about how he feels... in other words, "music". I love that last line. I guarantee you will never hear that on an Amy Grant record.
thats the greatest thing about Sufjan, he's not romanticizing Christianity! its amazing, he has struggles just like any other man, and he wrestles with the circumstances god puts in his life, but instead of hate God, he writes his feelings and struggles out to better understnad the purpose of it all. he's a genious!! beautiful!!!!
thats the greatest thing about Sufjan, he's not romanticizing Christianity! its amazing, he has struggles just like any other man, and he wrestles with the circumstances god puts in his life, but instead of hate God, he writes his feelings and struggles out to better understnad the purpose of it all. he's a genious!! beautiful!!!!
Sufjan talked a bit in an interview about why his songs waver between offering Christian messages and humanist woes.
Sufjan talked a bit in an interview about why his songs waver between offering Christian messages and humanist woes.
Sufjan:
Sufjan:
"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap."
"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap."
"It’s not so much that faith influences us as it lives in us. In every circumstance (giving a speech or tying my shoes), I am living and moving and being. This absolves me from ever making the embarrassing effort to gratify God (and the church) by imposing religious content on anything I do."
"It’s not so much that faith influences us as it lives in us. In every circumstance (giving a speech or tying my shoes), I am living and moving and being. This absolves me from ever making the embarrassing effort to gratify God (and the church) by imposing religious content on anything I do."
...
"As for your question of faith (which I think has nothing to do with Dan’s statement): on a certain level you cannot separate art from faith, because it is our persuasions which drive us to create."
"Whether you are religious about politics or fashion (or saving the whales), you are still motivated by your convictions to participate in art. But I don’t think that means faith should necessarily prescribe art. In fact, this is a dangerous assumption, which often leads to music that is pedagogical, or a novel that is moralistic. As for our intentions, well, that’s all bunk. We may intend our music for one person or another, but who’s to say? I can’t decide who reads my novel or buys my record. Look what that did for Jonathon Franzen, who snubbed Oprah for liking his book. It’s an arrogant, imperialist motive to try to determine who will receive you and who won’t."
adequacy.net/2006/09/interview-with-sufjan-stevens/
To wredfearn: I've been waiting for years to hear those words from another Christian. Thanks so much for posting that link!
To wredfearn: I've been waiting for years to hear those words from another Christian. Thanks so much for posting that link!
Less like Hillsong and more like Job. Brilliant
Less like Hillsong and more like Job. Brilliant
Guess you've never heard "Better than a Hallelujah". Jerk. Do some research before you make such pompous statements.
Guess you've never heard "Better than a Hallelujah". Jerk. Do some research before you make such pompous statements.
No they clearly haven't heard the song "Seven Swans"
No they clearly haven't heard the song "Seven Swans"
He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord" He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord"
He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord" He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord"
He will take you If you run He will chase you He will take you If you run He will chase you Because he is the Lord
He will take you If you run He will chase you He will take you If you run He will chase you Because he is the Lord
I think it's a deeply Christian song. There's nothing un-Christian about being angry at God, and feeling frustrated at God.
I think it's a deeply Christian song. There's nothing un-Christian about being angry at God, and feeling frustrated at God.
I performed this song at church. It's a great Good Friday song.
I performed this song at church. It's a great Good Friday song.
This song is obviously about the death of one of his childhood friends. I can be sure that this song is not about any one single emotion, (anger, sadness, etc.) because death is never simple. Sufjan uses a beautiful vagueness in all of the details he uses in this song. For example, I don't believe that Goldenrod and the 4H stone are intended to be delved into too deeply, but are intended to be some sort of nostalgic items which, I would guess, the speaker (Sufjan) and his girl friend both associated memories with. Sufjan's story-telling is really brilliant in this song. He omits large amounts of contextual information, but allows what is important to rise out of the details- I remember at Michael's house/In the living room when you kissed my neck/And I almost touched your blouse. I love how he skips around chronologically with each set of verses, because it makes the song feel very reminiscent, like he is sorting through memories. From the details of the lyrics there is confusion, fear, and anger that is evoked in perfect proportions. The theme of her father seems to indicate that he was abusive or at least negligent. He stands next to the other father referred to, God, with whom he is to be contrasted and compared. This is a really great move that Sufjan makes. Both are tied up with fear and the unknown, but the girl's father is essentially brought to his knees (at the navy yard) whereas God the Father has his character resolved quite differently. All the fear and pain come together and intersect with the repeated claims of glory as Sufjan is touched by God's confusing, awesome, and painful redemption.
All the glory when He took our place But He took my shoulders and He shook my face And He takes and He takes and He takes
@speakforthwords -- This is one of the best written synapses of the song - nice work. Although, I think the interpretation of her father, might be slightly off. I don't really get the "abusive or at least negligent". To me, it seems more of a strict and religious father, whom she would never want to know what happened between her and Sufjan. Not necessarily a sinister figure or situation, but she's definitely in deep trouble.
@speakforthwords -- This is one of the best written synapses of the song - nice work. Although, I think the interpretation of her father, might be slightly off. I don't really get the "abusive or at least negligent". To me, it seems more of a strict and religious father, whom she would never want to know what happened between her and Sufjan. Not necessarily a sinister figure or situation, but she's definitely in deep trouble.
Having grown up in a similar household, I was petrified of disappointing my parents and/or the punishments that came along with it, thus...
Having grown up in a similar household, I was petrified of disappointing my parents and/or the punishments that came along with it, thus "scared", but never actually scared for my physical well-being. Maybe I'm naive, or maybe I'm inserting a little personal narrative into it.