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The Henney Buggy Band Lyrics
Oh life, with your shoulders in the mirror
From the park when Dakota ran and brought you there
In the car when your mother lost her temper
The catalog and the catastrophic smile
Let the bugles play the sermon on the raid
I kissed you on the face
I kissed you on the playground
Oh Father John, you cannot tell me
What’s right and wrong
You cannot tell me
I jump before I get around you
Oh Father John
Pick it up with the band on the Ronald Reagan Tollway
(Don’t give up, let's go forget about yourself)
Illinois in it ran from the Ronald Reagan Tollway
Forget about yourself and all your plans
Oh life, with your colorful surprises
Eleanor, how you put one on disguises
Oh Father John, you cannot tell me
What’s right and wrong
You cannot tell me
In the mortal life
Far in the morning light
We’re back from Bloomington
We let the runners win
Far in the morning light
We let the movies play
A weekend from the holiday
Pick it up with the band
On the Ronald Reagan toll way
(Don’t break down, let’s go: forget about yourself)
Illinois in it ran from the Ronald Reagan toll way
(If I’m wrong makes nothing right about yourself)
Snowmobile on the field
Where the gunners throw their weight around
Forget about yourself and all your plans
From the park when Dakota ran and brought you there
In the car when your mother lost her temper
The catalog and the catastrophic smile
I kissed you on the face
I kissed you on the playground
What’s right and wrong
You cannot tell me
I jump before I get around you
Oh Father John
(Don’t give up, let's go forget about yourself)
Forget about yourself and all your plans
Eleanor, how you put one on disguises
What’s right and wrong
You cannot tell me
Far in the morning light
We’re back from Bloomington
We let the runners win
We let the movies play
A weekend from the holiday
On the Ronald Reagan toll way
(Don’t break down, let’s go: forget about yourself)
(If I’m wrong makes nothing right about yourself)
Where the gunners throw their weight around
Forget about yourself and all your plans
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I think it's about how when we grow up we give ourselves more rules about how we should live and enjoy ourselves, where kids just do what makes them feel good. Father John represents any authority figure trying to reign in a child's carefree attitude, but the kids are having none of it . The fact that he's a priest makes him more stern and shows that until you teach them, kids don't even answer to "god." The title could allude to the fact that the Henney Buggy Co. was known for casket-carrying vehicles. Yet, they created a marching band. So they were working on cars for the dead, but still having a good time. Then again, I could be over analyzing.
I think fursoftasfur is right. Sometimes Sufjan seems more interested in making you feel how he wants the song to make you feel instead of filling it with lyrics that literally get you there (that's not the case in "Casimir Pulaski Day").
However I think there is also more of a religious reasoning to the song, as a child you believe without questioning, when you become an adult there is more to it than that and the responsibilities and what God asks of you becomes greater? I may be putting too much into this song as well, I agree with everthing else you said though!
However I think there is also more of a religious reasoning to the song, as a child you believe without questioning, when you become an adult there is more to it than that and the responsibilities and what God asks of you becomes greater? I may be putting too much into this song as well, I agree with everthing else you said though!
this is such a fun song! if only i had even a clue as to what it pertains to...
once the new album hits, this song will have way more comments. one of my new favorites along with adlai stevenson and lord god bird
umm two things
umm ok i'll fix.
One of my favorite Sufjan songs. The music, melody, it's all amazing.
I love the way he wispers "Forget about yourself..." And the little riff he does there. I love everything about this guy. He's my new Jeff Buckley.
"I kissed you on the face I kissed you on the playground"
Reminds me of elementary school every time I hear it.
I love this song!
aww soo fun!
this song is great!! absolutely great!! im not sure what it's about, though. has anyone noticed a lot of sufjan's songs just seem to use fragments of ideas that hardly seem to connect? i think this really adds to the meaning and the mood. only i can't decipher what the hell they mean.
aaaawww man i love this song