I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I know you won't get very far
With the back seat driver in the carpetbagger
With the dagger heart grabber stuck in your car
And the yard is grown to a hilt
And the money spent money spent where it went
Embarrassment, embarrassment to pay for the car
And the man who left you for dead
He's the heart grabber back stabber double cheater wife beater
You don't need that man in your life
And you worked yourself to the bone
While the people say what they say
It's the neighbors anyway
They don't know what's good for your life
And I see your head hangs low
In the black shadow, half shadow
Living room is fitting is sitting room is fit for your crying
Don't be ashamed'don't hide in your room
For the woman is, woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
And the time you held to the light
When water ran water ran with the strange attic
And when the walls were wet with your life
And you pushed yourself to the floor
And the spirit went where it went
Hovering discovering uncovering your life, on the floor
And the walls were wet with your love
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Don't be ashamed, don't hide from me now
For the woman is the woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
Don't be ashamed, don't cry in the bath
For it's the story of, story of, morning glory story
It's the gloriole that comes to your path
There is a time when the lights will arise
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours to enjoy
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For you're beautiful, beautiful
All the fullness of the world is yours
With the back seat driver in the carpetbagger
With the dagger heart grabber stuck in your car
And the yard is grown to a hilt
And the money spent money spent where it went
Embarrassment, embarrassment to pay for the car
And the man who left you for dead
He's the heart grabber back stabber double cheater wife beater
You don't need that man in your life
And you worked yourself to the bone
While the people say what they say
It's the neighbors anyway
They don't know what's good for your life
And I see your head hangs low
In the black shadow, half shadow
Living room is fitting is sitting room is fit for your crying
Don't be ashamed'don't hide in your room
For the woman is, woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
And the time you held to the light
When water ran water ran with the strange attic
And when the walls were wet with your life
And you pushed yourself to the floor
And the spirit went where it went
Hovering discovering uncovering your life, on the floor
And the walls were wet with your love
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Don't be ashamed, don't hide from me now
For the woman is the woman is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Djohariah Djohariah, etc.
Don't be ashamed, don't cry in the bath
For it's the story of, story of, morning glory story
It's the gloriole that comes to your path
There is a time when the lights will arise
For the mother is, the mother is the glorious victorious
The mother of the heart of the world
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours to enjoy
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on! Little sister!
For your world is yours, world is yours
All the wilderness of world is yours
Go on! Little sister! Go on!
For you're beautiful, beautiful
All the fullness of the world is yours
Lyrics submitted by lesea, edited by Mellow_Harsher, Mundus
Djohariah Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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(fucktons of chanting)
thank you for making me laugh
It's hardly noticeable that this song is 17 minutes long. Hell, at the end I tend to be surprised it's already over.
Great, great song, very emotional (including the Neil Young-esque guitar solo).
"And the man who left you for dead He's the heart grabber back stabber double cheater wife beater You don't need that man in your life".
It couldn't have been easy for Sufjan to sing such angry words so softly and so beautifully.
Kinda reminds me of the restraint employed by Stevie Wonder on 'He's Misstra Know-It-All' - a gentle, lilting ballad, but with excoriating lyrics.
I think that the lyrics of this song are pretty self-explanatory, but I just have to comment that I think this is the most beautiful, touching song Sufjan has done thusfar. It gives me chills every time. I guess I relate somewhat because even though my sister's not married to some "heart grabber, double cheater, wife beater" I'm still protective of her and think she's an amazing person who doesn't think enough of herself. I'm always trying to build her up and tell her how much she means to me because even though he's a decent guy, her husband doesn't do that.
So when Sufjan's telling his sister that she's the "glorious victorious the mother of the heart of the world" and "Go on" "the world is yours" his words really resonate with me. I know women have made great strides (at least in our society) but those who become mothers often sacrifice a great deal and tend to get very little appreciation for it. You could argue that the urge to make those sacrifices comes naturally, but that doesn't change the fact that they are still sacrifices and deserve more recognition and gratitude than they get.
To end this on a note that's actually Sufjan-related, I think it's very interesting to contrast Djohariah with Sufjan's songs dealing with (what I presume to be) his own mother--Romulus and Pittsfield spring to mind. He can appreciate the good mother his sister is because--to whatever extent--he was deprived of having one of his own. That's my take on it anyway. He exults his sister (naming the song for her and chanting her name in the chorus) whereas he was literally afraid and ashamed of his own mom.
Your comment is a perfect representation of everything a feel towards this song. Thank you.
Great Song.
If his sister isn't at least kind of humbled by this song then she should be ashamed. This song makes me feel worthless for having never taken more than a second to consider my own sisters.
I think he's speaking to all women. This moved me deeply as I allowed myself to receive this song as the little sister herself.
This song is beautiful
honestly, when i read these lyrics i actually re-played the song to see if "fucktons of chanting" was ever sung.
Djohariah is actually his older sister, but she's the younger of his two sisters, if that makes sense. fuckyeahsufjanstevens.tumblr.com/post/1613831096/in-interviews-writings-sufjan-always-mentions
If anyones wondering, you can pretty much play the entire song with the capo 4, D Am Em C, all open chords.
I don't know what I like the most; the guitar build up and jam, the ooh and ahhs from the backing singers, the simple repetition, the way he simply repeats the motif again after the first six fantastic minutes for another six, the way the lyrics come in with such force, the obvious love he has for his sister, the repetition of her name, the way shame is identified as a KILLER emotion. The b word can be used here as this is genuinely beautiful where the 17 minutes almost seem too short. LOVE IT