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 shoulder blade
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 you 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 1st 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


Lyrics submitted by downhillracer, edited by Stockholm

Casimir Pulaski Day Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Casimir Pulaski Day song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    I've always been intrigued by the repetition of the "shirt tucked in and shoes untied" line, especially since I interpret it two different ways. A lot of people have suggested that the tucked in shirt shows that he's trying to maintain a polished appearance, while the untied shoes show that he's really falling apart. I tend to interpret the second occurrence of the line that way since he's trying to maintain composure in the face of death but isn't doing well at it. The first time, when the person he's singing about (I usually assume it's a girl, but that doesn't matter) runs outside, she's leaving in a hurry. In that instance I interpret her tucked-in shirt as a mistake, like when your shirt gets awkwardly tucked in by accident when you're getting dressed quickly. I think the repetition of the line is another way of juxtaposing the carefree and unpolished relationship they once had with the current, very strained (by the inevitable ending) situation.

    ukuleledon July 04, 2013   Link

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