Blue Bucket of Gold
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My blue bucket of gold
Friend, why don't you love me?
Once the myth has been told
The lens deforms it as lightning
Raise your right hand
Tell me you want me in your life
Or raise your red flag
Just when I want you in my life
Search for things to extol
Friend, the fables delight me
My blue bucket of gold
Lord, touch me with lightning
Raise your right hand
Tell me you want me in your life
Or raise your red flag
Just when I want you in my life
The opening lines of Sufjan Stevens's "Blue Bucket of Gold" has a certain enigmatic quality that renders it both intriguing and somewhat mysterious. The first three lines, which are clearly meant to be a countdown, don’t offer much insight into the song's meaning, but they do create a sense of anticipation, suggesting that something is about to happen. The next line, "My blue bucket of gold", seems at first to be just a random image - one that’s difficult to decipher. The line itself is a curious mix of arbitrary and specific sensory details. The color blue is a strong, evocative one, suggesting both the sky and the ocean. "Bucket" is a quirkier, more specific noun, one that creates a more concrete image. However, something as valuable as gold doesn't typically belong in a bucket, so the phrase feels somewhat nonsensical.
In the second stanza, the song seems to switch from a list of random images to a demand for love. The singer is asking their friend why they don’t love them, addressing them directly in the second person, like a letter or an email. Then, the lyrics pivot again to a mysterious and somewhat abstract statement: "Once the myth has been told / The lens deforms it as lightning." This final phrase is another metaphor that’s hard to unpack, but it does give the song an otherworldly quality. It suggests that the idea of a "myth" is a powerful force, and that once it’s out in the world, it begins to change and warp.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three
Counting off, marking the beginning of something.
My blue bucket of gold
Referring to something valuable that the singer possesses, possibly their creativity or their heart.
Friend, why don't you love me?
Asking why the singer's friend or loved one doesn't reciprocate the singer's feelings of affection.
Once the myth has been told
Referring to the idea that once a story is told, its true meaning is lost or distorted over time.
The lens deforms it as lightning
The way that stories and myths are passed down or retold is often distorted, and the resulting interpretation can be striking and powerful, like a bolt of lightning.
Raise your right hand
Invoking a pledge or oath, asking the listener to make a commitment.
Tell me you want me in your life
Asking the listener to express their love and commitment to the singer.
Or raise your red flag
Alternatively, the listener can choose to signal their hesitation or unwillingness to commit, represented by a red flag.
Just when I want you in my life
Expressing the idea that the artist's desire for the listener is complicated and often unavailable when they want it most.
Search for things to extol
Seeking out things to praise or celebrate in life, appreciating beauty and wonder.
Friend, the fables delight me
The singer enjoys myths and stories, finding joy and inspiration in their grandeur and mystery.
Lord, touch me with lightning
Seeking divine inspiration or intervention, asking for the transformative power of lightning to touch the artist's life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bleaky8885
One, two, three
My blue bucket of gold
Friend, why don’t you love me?
Once the myth has been told
The lens deforms it as lightning
Raise your right hand
Tell me you want me in your life
Or raise your red flag
Just when I want you in my life
Search for things to extol
Friend, the fables delight me
My blue bucket of gold
Lord, touch me with lightning
Raise your right hand
Tell me you want me in your life
Or raise your red flag
Just when I want you in my life
@jeremymcfly9508
This song reminds me of home. For the past week before moving I’d listen to Sufjan Stevens sitting in my old childhood room.
I currently live somewhere I hate, I listen to this music to remind me of being home again.
Honestly I didn’t know leaving some places can cause so much heartbreak it’s almost feels like losing a close friend or a lover.
A few months before I moved my fiancé broke up with me, so honestly moving felt like a part of me was dying on the inside.
Sorry if this sounded depressing I guess I just needed to type out my thoughts somewhere
@babypickle07
Had sugery yesterday to remove cancer from my abdomen. Sufjan has kept me fighting. ..now i lay here in agony but find peace in his voice. ....and the dilaudid lol
@brennanstultz
+babypickle07 Hope you're better man!
@drewbocop
+babypickle07 lmao, godspeed and here's to a quick recovery
@dobbsiancant3699
+babypickle07 best wishes.and 3 cheers for dilaudid!
@andrewstevens4412
+babypickle07 Man, I hope you're making a great recovery. Best of wishes..
@1CarlosVillarreal
he's my brother.He died on December.
@cristhianserna
Sufjan didn't make an album this time, he created a piece of art.
@ZimmerSquash
He didn't make art, he made a piece of his life.
@ayoubigmir4530
And repaired a piece of mine
@danielbernas2293
ZimmerSquash he didn't make a piece of his life this time. he made a piece of the galaxy... am I doing this right?