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


Lyrics submitted by attractivecousin

John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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John Wayne Gacy, Jr. song meanings
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    I'm a Christian and to me Sufjan is something else. I agree, not every song of his has a religious meaning or needs one. And I know of the people you're talking about that "claim him", it's kind of embarrassing, haha. But I do think the last line is a reference to the way God views sins. All are equal. But I'm sure this can be said for humanity itself, what's to say stealing is worse than drinking under age? Sure we have laws... but everything is relative. I think it can go both ways. But Sufjan is wonderful, the sometimes Christian singer I like. Seriously, everything else Christian I've heard sucks.

    LovePeaceRachelon September 24, 2009   Link

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