You Are the Rake

I like this song, but I can't figure out what he means by "You arer the on when I watch myself." Anyone have any ideas?

When I first heard it made me think that he meant that she makes him a better man. That when nobody is around, she is the one that keeps him from doing wrong. That he watches himself because of her, and abstains from doing bad things because he doesn't want to dissapoint or hurt her.

maybe it has something to do with how love is about trying to be another person, and we try so hard to do that, and we just can't, but we still have to try.

This is kind of random.

But in the movie Garden State, Zach Braff's character says a line very similiar to the first line of this song...and since this came out way before Garden State and Zach is a fan of Sufjan's music, I thought this song might have sort of inspired that line (maybe not consciously?)

to me, he's saying that he feels really comfortable and safe with her... she's his "rock" (foundation), what makes him happy, the one he depends on, and the one who keeps him going day after day. she also makes him watch himself and try to be a better person for her.

it's beautiful...i'm not sure what 'the significance of 'rake' is in this song though. unless she sort of rakes out the ugly things from his life and makes him a better person all-around. ...?

"You are the one when I watch myself" That is probably my favorite line. I think it's very down to earth and easy to relate to.

Given the strong Christian theme to most of Sufjan's music I'd say that it's not a woman he's talking about, but God.

Even so, all of the previous interpretations still fit exceptionally well.

I think your lyrics are a little off. I thought he was saying, "We ran into a safe. When the walls came closer." It's kind of hard to understand in the song though. Since he said, "A line I once told her." I get the idea that he wasn't completely genuine with his heart's feelings and more so with his body's even if it wasn't intentional at the time. I think maybe when he says, "You are the rock. You are the rake. You are the one when I watch myself." he is saying it his head to remind himself of his relationship with God. (Don't whine to me about not accepting God ever. He's a christian and it shows up consistently in his writing.) When he says, "We ran into a safe when the walls came closer." perhaps he means that the he and the girl put themselves under God's conviction when they were relying too well on the wants of their flesh. So maybe when he says, "She turned into a cave where it turned colder." He means that without the "warm resting place" of their physical connection she became mysterious or alien and dark. Somewhere that he would get lost trying to understand. It is such a vague song. Like a broken memory attached to very personal symbolism. I admit, though, that I could be 100% wrong.

How embarrassing. I was wrong. Your lyrics are RIGHT! Haha. Sorry.

thats all good feedback to sufjans song..does anyone know what he means by rake?..i know you could say someones a rock and that could be understood relativly easily but a rake??..just wondering.i dont see the metaphor....any feedback is much appreciated