I think this song, as the title suggests, is about working together to change a community or government.
"All good thoughts in spite of righteousness, is not the kind of thoughts in spite of greatness" means that it is not enough just to think good thoughts, no matter how "great" those thoughts might be.
"Often not the State is advocation, if we form a power of recognition." This means that if we work together we can change things even more so than the government (State).
He then laments our materialistic capitalistic outview on life. "All we praise is all we want in commerce. All we praise is parties, foreign commerce." The second line there refers to our reverence for political parties who will not make the kind of changes we want.
"Entertain ideas of great communion, shelter not materials in union. All we praise is not the kind of commerce. That's the right solution!" These lines say we must work together (communion) not for capitalist purposes (not materials) but for something other than "commerce," something greater and more important. That's the right solution!
I think this song, as the title suggests, is about working together to change a community or government.
"All good thoughts in spite of righteousness, is not the kind of thoughts in spite of greatness" means that it is not enough just to think good thoughts, no matter how "great" those thoughts might be.
"Often not the State is advocation, if we form a power of recognition." This means that if we work together we can change things even more so than the government (State).
He then laments our materialistic capitalistic outview on life. "All we praise is all we want in commerce. All we praise is parties, foreign commerce." The second line there refers to our reverence for political parties who will not make the kind of changes we want.
"Entertain ideas of great communion, shelter not materials in union. All we praise is not the kind of commerce. That's the right solution!" These lines say we must work together (communion) not for capitalist purposes (not materials) but for something other than "commerce," something greater and more important. That's the right solution!
Right on Sufjan!