Damascus

This has got to be one of my favourite Sufjan Stevens songs. I'm not really religious at all, but I still think it's incredible.

I think it's "back against the everglades, back against the out-of-state". I can see the conversion of Paul, but I also think there's a personal parallel there. When he says, 'This is the las place I go", that makes me think of someone seeking solitude. I think of him trying all of his usual places and not finding peace, then finally coming to this place (a 'Damascus' of sorts) where he can change. He recognizes his wrongs and asks to be forgiven of them.

also, it's "do you know the adversary?" not "end is airy".

How could no one else comment on this! This track is a B-side and is somewhat more rare, but its beautiful.

Testament to how good Sufjan is-- almost any other artist would consider this song one of their best works and feature it on their album, but Sufjan deemed this just a B-side. So cool.

This song is about the conversion of Paul.
Paul was on a road to Damascus to persecute Christians. Having never met Jesus, Paul was blinded by a light and heard the voice of Jesus asking why Paul was persecuting him. From then on, Paul became influential in the spreading the gospel.

The verse starting with "Does it matter that I fall down" is conveying that despite the worst of sins, a person can be saved with the faith and grace through Jesus.

I love it.

i thought he was saying everglades but i could be wrong. this song seriously hurts my heart. in the best way.

i think the lyrics are, "It takes me back (against the everglades) It takes me back (against the honest abe)"

and so on.

i could be wrong.

either way i love this song and i've been trying to obtain it, but the cd it's on is out of print.

I agree that it's about Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. But I wonder what this verse means: " Do you know the adversary And carry All the burdens of peoples' pasts "

The first half suggests Satan while the second half suggest Christ. Any ideas?

lyrics wise it sounds pretty clearly "out of state" to me. also, i don't think it's "airy" or "adversary," but "emissary" and though the difference seems small, i believe it's "of a people's past" and then there's this other part i actually hear "when the order isn't said (/set?) or remade." I'm not positive about that, but it's what i hear and it makes more sense to me than remained... i mean, something can't really BE remained.

That said, i'm not entirely sure what this song's about... but it's moving all the same. I particularly like the "this is the last place i go for now" there is something desperate and almost self-loathing about it to me.... but i couldn't even tell you why.

anyway... just saying what I thought I heard were the lyrics.

Definitely have to agree with almost all the lyrical adjustments by liquidhotmagma, "emissary" for sure and also "a people's past, it...", as for the other part, I listened a bunch of times trying to hear each of the versions written and what I have come up with is "When the order isn't certain or made, it..." brings me back.