Fix what’s wrong, but don’t rewrite what the artist wrote. Stick to the official released version — album booklet, label site, verified lyric video, etc. If you’re guessing, pause and double-check.
Respect the structure
Songs have rhythm. Pages do too. Leave line breaks where they belong. Don’t smash things together or add extra empty space just for looks.
Punctuation counts (but vibe-editing doesn’t)
Correct typos? Yes. Re-punctuating a whole verse because it ‘looks better’? Probably not. Keep capitalization and punctuation close to the official source.
Don’t mix versions
If you’re editing the explicit version, keep it explicit. If it’s the clean version, keep it clean. No mashups.
Let the lyrics be lyrics
This isn’t the place for interpretations, memories, stories, or trivia — that’s what comments are for. Keep metadata, translations, and bracketed stage directions out unless they’re officially part of the song.
Edit lightly
If two lines are wrong… fix the two lines. No need to bulldoze the whole page. Think ‘surgical,’ not ‘remix.’
When in doubt, ask the crowd
Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.
I live in the Rock River Valley.
Basically we have (or at least used to) the highest unemployment rate in the state.
Thanks Sufjan. Your album is kick-ass.
My dad actually got laid off from a manufacturing position, so it's weird to know there's an instrumental song about the whole deal. I like how it's supposed to sound like the river.
i also live in the rock river valley,in rockford and my dad also got layed off years ago. when i hear it i think of the abondonded industrial factories in rockford and how the boom of the industrial revolution in rockford is gone. i love rockford though.its home and i wished sufjan would have made a whole song about it. it is the 3rd biggest city in Illinois
i also live in the rock river valley,in rockford and my dad also got layed off years ago. when i hear it i think of the abondonded industrial factories in rockford and how the boom of the industrial revolution in rockford is gone. i love rockford though.its home and i wished sufjan would have made a whole song about it. it is the 3rd biggest city in Illinois
I also live in the Rock River Valley, in Roscoe (Rockford area). My dad has been out of work for almost 2 years now. Teenagers can't even find jobs at fast food places. It's gotten a little better, but it's really uncertain times living around here right now. Thanks Sufjan, for recognizing the struggle.
Questions and Answers
Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
it's rock not rockford.
I live in the Rock River Valley. Basically we have (or at least used to) the highest unemployment rate in the state. Thanks Sufjan. Your album is kick-ass.
i live in the rock river valley region, too. i thought we were the only ones that knew we existed. nice to know sufjan does, too.
My dad actually got laid off from a manufacturing position, so it's weird to know there's an instrumental song about the whole deal. I like how it's supposed to sound like the river.
i also live in the rock river valley,in rockford and my dad also got layed off years ago. when i hear it i think of the abondonded industrial factories in rockford and how the boom of the industrial revolution in rockford is gone. i love rockford though.its home and i wished sufjan would have made a whole song about it. it is the 3rd biggest city in Illinois
i also live in the rock river valley,in rockford and my dad also got layed off years ago. when i hear it i think of the abondonded industrial factories in rockford and how the boom of the industrial revolution in rockford is gone. i love rockford though.its home and i wished sufjan would have made a whole song about it. it is the 3rd biggest city in Illinois
It's sad to go through the Rock River Valley region and see all the empty buildings.
I also live in the Rock River Valley, in Roscoe (Rockford area). My dad has been out of work for almost 2 years now. Teenagers can't even find jobs at fast food places. It's gotten a little better, but it's really uncertain times living around here right now. Thanks Sufjan, for recognizing the struggle.