Impossible Soul Lyrics

Lyric discussion by logicase 

Cover art for Impossible Soul lyrics by Sufjan Stevens

Damn this took a long time. It's very detailed, and I compiled it from various sources, checking inconsistencies myself. Hope you guys like it. :)

==PART ONE (0:20)==

Ooh. Woman, tell me what you want And I'll calm down without bleeding out With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour

Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know: My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes

I was wigging out, too much worry, I could not get you at all And you said what you want, you would laugh it off But I know you won't go, not for either class Must you write it off for the impossible soul? And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow Lest I put it off, 'fore I put it right for the impossible soul

And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all my life to you, if I could get you at all Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all

Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone To the black of night, now I know it's not what I wanted at all And you said something like, "All you want is all the world for yourself" But all I want is the perfect love Though I know it's small, I want love for us all

All I couldn't sing, I would say it all my life to you, if I could get you at all Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh Trying to be something that I wasn't at all

==PART TWO (3:56)==

Do you want to be afraid? Do you want to be afraid? For life in the cage, where courage is made, runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved

Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be alone? Do you want to be alone? For life is instead, of righteousness led (?) The seat and the head, of impossible flights, or an interest in books(?)

Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to love me more? Do you want to love me more? For love is the grain If watered in pain(?), is cursed by the same thing that nurtured its shame Is it worth all the work?

Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Have you failed to feel delight? [No, I don't want to feel pain] Have you failed to feel delight? [No, I don't want to feel pain] Instead of the life, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts?

Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be afraid? [No, I don't want to feel pain] Do you want to be afraid? [No, I don't want to feel pain] For life in the cage, where courage is made, runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved

Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Don't be distracted, don't be distracted now

[Don't be distracted] (~x10)

==PART THREE (10:40)==

Stupid man in the window I couldn't be at rest All my delight, all that mattered I couldn't be at rest From what I liked, from what I gathered I couldn't be at rest Stupid man in the window I couldn't be at rest [judgement, judgement]

And don't be shy in the window Come down and give your best Oh, delight in the window I couldn't be at rest Stupid man in the window I couldn't be at rest From what I liked, from what I gathered I couldn't give my best

Now I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all Oh I know it wasn't safe., it wasn't safe to breathe at all [It wasn't safe, it wasn't safe] Now I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all [It wasn't safe, it wasn't safe] Oh I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to speak at all

==PART FOUR (13:26)==

[hold on Suf, hold on Suf, hold on Suf] (x2) [hold on Suf, hold on Suf, hold on Suf, hold on]

One two three four!

It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better get it right It's a long life Better hit yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight

It's a long life Only one last chance Could it get much better Do you wanna dance It's a long life Better pinch yourself Get your face together Better stand up straight

Boy, we can do much more together! Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together! Better get a love get a love get a life get a love Boy we can do much more together! Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together! It's not so impossible! It's not so impossible!

It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better roll along It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight

It's a long life Only one last chance Couldn't get much better Do you wanna dance It's a good life Better pinch yourself Is it possible? Is it possible?

Boy we can do much more together! Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together! Better get a love get a love get a life get a love Boy we can do much more together! Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together! It's not so impossible! It's not so impossible!

It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better get it right It's a long life Better hit yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight

In the wrong light Everything is chance, does it register Do you wanna dance In the right light It's a miracle Possibilities Do you wanna dance?

Boy we can do much more together! Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together! Better get a love get a love get a life get a love Boy we can do much more together! Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together!

It's not so impossible! (x5)

Do you wanna dance?

Boy we can do much more together It's not so impossible (x15)

[Boy, we can do much more together It's not so impossible] (x6)

==PART FIVE (22:52)==

I never meant to cause you pain My burden is the weight of a feather I never meant to lead you on I only meant to please me, however

And then you tell me: Boy, we made such a mess (x2) Boy, we made such a mess together (x2)

I'm nothing but a selfish man I'm nothing but a privileged brother And did you think I'd stay the night? And did you think I'd love you forever?

And then you tell me: Boy, we can do much more (x2) Boy, we can do much more together (x3) I gotta tell you: Girl, I want nothing less (x2) Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure (x2)

I gotta tell you: Boy, we made such a mess (x2) Boy, we made such a mess together (x6)

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