Fourth of July
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was night when you died, my firefly
What could I have said to raise you from the dead?
Oh could I be the sky on the Fourth of July?
Well you do enough talk
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
We're all gonna die
Sitting at the bed with the halo at your head
Was it all a disguise, like Junior High
Where everything was fiction, future, and prediction
Now, where am I?
My fading supply
Did you get enough love, my little dove
Why do you cry?
And I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best
Though it never felt right
My little Versailles
The hospital asked should the body be cast
Before I say goodbye, my star in the sky
Such a funny thought to wrap you up in cloth
Do you find it all right, my dragonfly?
Shall we look at the moon, my little loon
Why do you cry?
Make the most of your life, while it is rife
While it is light
Well you do enough talk
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
Sufjan Stevens's song "Fourth of July" is a deeply emotional and reflective ballad that speaks of loss, grief, and mortality. The song is largely about the death of a loved one, possibly a child or a sibling, and the aftermath of that death on the singer. The opening lines of the song set a somber tone, with the evil spreading like a fever, foreshadowing the grief that is to come. The reference to the Fourth of July further underscores the theme of mortality, reminding listeners of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.
The singer addresses the deceased as "my firefly" and "my little dove," suggesting a close and affectionate relationship. The lines "Did you get enough love, my little dove, why do you cry?" are particularly haunting, suggesting that the singer may feel guilt or regret for not having loved the deceased enough, or for not having been able to save them from death. The reference to the Tillamook burn, a devastating forest fire that swept through Oregon in the 1930s, further emphasizes the theme of loss and the singer's attempts to make sense of it.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on their own mortality and the fragility of life. The lines "My fading supply" and "Make the most of your life, while it is rife, while it is light" suggest a sense of urgency and a desire to live life to the fullest. The final lines of the song, "We're all gonna die," are a stark reminder of the song's main theme and a call to embrace life before it's too late.
Overall, "Fourth of July" is a haunting and deeply moving song that explores themes of grief, loss, and mortality with a rare vulnerability and emotional depth.
Line by Line Meaning
The evil it spread like a fever ahead
The negativity in the world was spreading rapidly and was bound to cause damage.
It was night when you died, my firefly
You passed away in the darkness, leaving me alone with my thoughts and memories.
What could I have said to raise you from the dead?
I'm left wondering if I could have done anything to prevent your passing or brought you back to life.
Oh could I be the sky on the Fourth of July?
I wish I could be something significant and powerful, like the sky on the Fourth of July.
Well you do enough talk
You always have something to say, my little hawk,
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Why do you feel so sorrowful and heartbroken, little hawk?
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
What did you learn about life or yourself from witnessing the devastation of the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
Perhaps you learned something from the Fourth of July too?
We're all gonna die
Death is something we all must face and it's inevitable.
Sitting at the bed with the halo at your head
I remember sitting by your bedside with your halo shining above your head.
Was it all a disguise, like Junior High
I wonder if everything we experienced together, including your life and death, was just a facade, like the exaggerated world of high school.
Where everything was fiction, future, and prediction
High school was full of uncertainty and speculation about the future, just like how I feel now in the aftermath of your passing.
Now, where am I?
I feel lost and confused without you here.
My fading supply
My emotional energy and stability is dwindling away.
Did you get enough love, my little dove
I hope you knew how much I loved you while you were still with me, little dove.
And I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best
I feel guilty for leaving you, but deep down I know it was for the best.
Though it never felt right
Even though it felt wrong to be away, I couldn't stay by your side forever.
My little Versailles
You were once my palace, my safe haven, but now you are gone.
The hospital asked should the body be cast
The hospital staff inquired whether you should be wrapped in cloth before we say our final goodbyes.
Before I say goodbye, my star in the sky
Before I bid you farewell, my beloved star in the sky,
Such a funny thought to wrap you up in cloth
It seems strange to wrap your body in a shroud before we lay you to rest.
Do you find it all right, my dragonfly?
Are you at peace with the idea of being wrapped in cloth, my free-spirited dragonfly?
Shall we look at the moon, my little loon
Shall we take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the moon, my playful little loon?
Make the most of your life, while it is rife
Live your life to the fullest, while it's still full of potential and opportunities.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Monayoutube
LYRICS :
The evil, it spread like a fever ahead
It was night when you died, my firefly
What could I have said to raise you from the dead?
Oh, could I be the sky on the Fourth of July?
"Well, you do enough talk
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Tell me, what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
We’re all gonna die."
Sitting at the bed with the halo at your head
Was it all a disguise, like Junior High?
Where everything was fiction, future, and prediction
Now, where am I? My fading supply
"Did you get enough love, my little dove?
Why do you cry?
And I’m sorry I left, but it was for the best
Though it never felt right
My little Versailles."
The hospital asked should the body be cast
Before I say goodbye, my star in the sky
Such a funny thought to wrap you up in cloth
Do you find it all right, my dragonfly?
"Shall we look at the moon, my little loon?
Why do you cry?
Make the most of your life, while it is rife
While it is light
Well, you do enough talk
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Tell me, what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
We’re all gonna die."
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
We're all gonna die
@Shendihgal
When I listen to this music, I remember every person I have lost.
My twin brother who didn't even have the chance to see the day. Every time I listen to this music, I imagine how my life would have been with him, and when the music stops, I remember that this Reality will never exist, and sometimes I wish our places were exchanged, that he could see the world even without me.
To my grandmother who left in her sleep... And that when I saw her body in her coffin I didn't cry because I didn't want it to be real.
To my dog Maya who died on a Sunday, the day before my French test (I am French). When I saw her body lying on the ground which no longer moved and my mother shouted at me to come and help her carry her.. I was paralyzed.. I still have this horrible image in my mind and I never I would manage to forget...
I screamed my sadness and my anger so much that my throat hurt, screaming for someone to give her back to me, that they had no right to take her from me.. And my mother who DARED to tell me: “Pass your French baccalaureate, do it for Maya.” my best friend and I were disgusted by her words....
Even now when I go home, I hope every day to see her waiting for me on her couch.. And unfortunately, I'm always disappointed. And she hasn't been here for 4 months now..
@annastesia4547
We’re all gonna cry.
@Bfakz
Beautiful number of likes
@scamingnewt3016
@@Bfakz lemme guess, it was at 666
@Bfakz
@@scamingnewt3016 yep
@pau1057
Yes we are
@stayrospaparunas3062
I count it again n it is 667...$orr¥
@ewanoxborrow1024
“I’m sorry I left, but it was for the best, though it never felt right”
I’m sobbing
@thedogsquad2451
me too
@Joarch24
I’m sad because it will always feel right to me
@sofiehansen1382
My little versailles