This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
His father was a drinker and his mother cried in bed
Folding John Wayne's t-shirts when the swing set hit his head
The neighbors, they adored him
For his humor and his conversation
Look underneath the house there
Find the few living things, rotting fast, in their sleep
Oh the dead
Twenty-seven people
Even more, they were boys, with their cars, summer jobs
Oh my God
Ooh, are you one of them?
He dressed up like a clown for them
With his face paint white and red
And on his best behavior
In a dark room on the bed he kissed them all
He'd kill ten thousand people
With a slight of his hand, running far, running fast to the dead
He took off all their clothes for them
He put a cloth on their lips, quiet hands, quiet kiss on the mouth
And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floor boards
For the secrets I have hid
Folding John Wayne's t-shirts when the swing set hit his head
The neighbors, they adored him
For his humor and his conversation
Look underneath the house there
Find the few living things, rotting fast, in their sleep
Oh the dead
Twenty-seven people
Even more, they were boys, with their cars, summer jobs
Oh my God
Ooh, are you one of them?
He dressed up like a clown for them
With his face paint white and red
And on his best behavior
In a dark room on the bed he kissed them all
He'd kill ten thousand people
With a slight of his hand, running far, running fast to the dead
He took off all their clothes for them
He put a cloth on their lips, quiet hands, quiet kiss on the mouth
And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floor boards
For the secrets I have hid
Lyrics submitted by attractivecousin
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well, from a Christian perspective, when Sufjan sings "I am really just like him," it is harking back to the foundational belief that all men are sinful and none of them are worthy in God's eyes. So even though Sufjan probably hasn't ever murdered anyone or committed any act that heinous in human terms, the state of his soul (before coming to Christ) was no better than John Wayne Gacy's.
you dont know that he hasnt murdered anyone. dont be ignorant.
That is one of the many reasons why Christianity makes absolutely no sense. It is ridiculous to me that people actually believe that saying "god damn it" is just as bad as kidnapping, molesting, and murdering little innocent children. If that is really the way "God" thinks, then he is really a fucking asshole and I don't see why anyone would want to worship him.
I couldn't aggree with you more, dagsman.
stay calm dagsman, no reason for name calling. no one ever said the two things where just as 'bad' as eachother, they are merely signs of our imperfections, the same thing to a vastly different degree. if anyone one of us was hit in head with a swingset as a kid, its possible we could have been just as mental as john wayne gacy jr. thats the point, we are all hiding our imperfections and stuff like that. saying swear words in front of grandma and stealing candy from a child will never equate to murder and rape, thats stupid. however it is safe to say that you shouldn't do those things for the sake of other people feelings, in that sense they are also the same, they are wrong, something is wrong, something is under the floorboards. yknow?
well, i think a better way to explain it is that physically, the acts have a different value, and can hurt other people more or less, but it's different spiritually for the person committing them. it depends not so much on the act, but how much you know the act is wrong and how much you go against your nature to do it. in other words, if you're a person with bad upbringing, brain damage, etc; when you murder someone, it's like a Mother Theresa insulting someone. <br /> You see, the government judges us to protect others, so the more people you hurt, and the more you hurt them, the more of a crime you commit. <br /> However, God judges purely our soul. He's not an idiot, so if you had a terrible childhood, He'll hold you less accountable than someone who's been raised well. Be grateful, dagsman - I'm assuming you won't be held as accountable for calling Him a "fucking asshole" as I would be :)
total depravity doesn't mean that your are as bad as you can be it just means in every way you are sinful.
total depravity doesn't mean that your are as bad as you can be it just means in every way you are sinful.
Some people just can't appreciate things that are a little complex. The simplest answer to Dagsman is this:<br /> <br /> Whether we are murderers or small-time crooks, we are guilty before an omnipotent and infinitely holy God. <br /> <br /> I'm not a Christian (at all) but I will be the first one to declare that non-Christians are so often just plain arrogant. Christians have at least begun to understand humanity's nature and state in the universe.
Dagsman, it is in no way a matter of being "just as bad". It's a fundamental understanding for us Christians that sin is sin and no matter how much community service and good deeds that we do we are still unworthy of grace. However, we have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and we are all like John Wayne Gacy Jr. because we are all sinners, but if we really want forgiveness then God is compassionate enough to forgive us. And please, do control your tongue because calling God a "fucking asshole" is rather offensive and I can speak for others when I say that's just not necessary nor true.