Drawn to the Blood
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The flight of a one-winged dove
How? How did this happen?
How? How did this happen?
The strength of his arm
My lover caught me off guard
How? Head of a rabbit
How? Head of a rabbit
For my prayer has always been love
What did I do to deserve this?
With blood on my sleeve
Delilah, avenge my grief
How? God of Elijah
How? God of Elijah
As fire to the sun
Tell me what I have done
How? Heart of a dragon
How? Heart of a dragon
For my prayer has always been love
What did I do to deserve this now?
How did this happen?
In Drawn to the Blood, Sufjan Stevens creates a haunting atmosphere by exploring the idea of not understanding how and why things happen the way they do, particularly in situations of love and betrayal. The phrase "drawn to the blood", suggests a fascination with the darkest parts of our humanity, perhaps even seeking out pain and suffering. The image of a one-winged dove in flight symbolizes a creature that is somehow incomplete or damaged, making it vulnerable and perhaps even doomed.
The second verse takes an unexpected turn, as the focus turns to a lover who catches the singer "off guard", with the contradictory image of a "rabbit head". This could be interpreted in different ways - as a symbol of vulnerability or innocence, or a play on the phrase "like a rabbit caught in headlights". The question "What did I do to deserve this?" is repeated, and the tone shifts to one of rage and a desire for revenge. The reference to Delilah, a biblical figure who betrayed Samson, reinforces the theme of betrayal and highlights the power dynamics in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm drawn to the blood
I am attracted to the intensity and passion of life
The flight of a one-winged dove
The beauty of an imperfect creature
How? How did this happen?
Questioning how events in life unfold
How? How did this happen?
Questioning how events in life unfold
The strength of his arm
The power and control of a significant person in my life
My lover caught me off guard
My significant other surprised me in a way I wasn't expecting
How? Head of a rabbit
Confusion regarding the strange and unexpected events in life
How? Head of a rabbit
Confusion regarding the strange and unexpected events in life
For my prayer has always been love
My lifelong pursuit and desire has been centered around love
What did I do to deserve this?
Questioning why I am experiencing pain or suffering
With blood on my sleeve
After experiencing emotional pain, my feelings are now exposed
Delilah, avenge my grief
Asking for justice and revenge for my hurt
How? God of Elijah
Pleading to a higher power for retribution and vindication
How? God of Elijah
Expressing faith in a higher power to bring justice
As fire to the sun
As intense and inevitable as the natural elements
Tell me what I have done
Requesting an explanation for why I am experiencing pain or suffering
How? Heart of a dragon
An expression of intensity and strength in the face of adversity
How? Heart of a dragon
An expression of intensity and strength in the face of adversity
For my prayer has always been love
Despite adversity and confusion, my pursuit of love remains constant
What did I do to deserve this now?
Questioning why I am experiencing a new wave of pain or suffering
How did this happen?
Questioning how a specific event or situation came to pass
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pablo9592
I’m drawn to the blood
The flight of a one-winged dove
How? How did this happen?
How? How did this happen?
The strength of his arm
My lover caught me off guard
How? Head of a rabbit
How? Head of a rabbit
For my prayer has always been love
What did I do to deserve this?
With blood on my sleeve
Delilah, avenge my grief
How? God of Elijah
How? God of Elijah
As fire to the sun
Tell me what I have done
How? Heart of a dragon
How? Heart of a dragon
For my prayer has always been love
What did I do to deserve this now?
How did this happen?
@zubaidamajeed5756
This hurts my amygdala-
The verse
The strength of his arm,
My lover caught me off guard
How? Head of a rabbit
How? Head of a rabbit
I consider rabbits quick and sneaky enough to run off when you saw it coming although you didn't expect it.
It's similar, let alone the exact same to betrayal really, easy come, easy go. It leaves you with the remainders of you feeling so alone.
@TheWorkofOurHands
The strength of his arm,
my lover caught me off guard.
For my prayer has always been love,
what did I do to deserve this?
My heart goes out to all the domestic violence survivors that found this song💜
we deserve a tender love.
He will hide you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. -psalms 91:4
@Paul-jv5kw
“The strength of his arm- my lover caught me off guard” I don't know why but I really want to draw a scene depicting that
@lydiamcgowan9228
Paul did you do it?
@anujbohra
Dude did you do it?
@suneatingsinner8147
F in the chat
@folgoredore
when you thought you could trust a lover and she leaves you. rather imagined than lived, trust me on that one
@carrieholycross5669
Yes it's very vivid
@jordanshmoredan
Sufjan is the only artist who has the effect on me that I can't just dip in and out of his songs. I need to hear start to finish. And then put on repeat 47 times
@legibby
Sufjan. How you have touched my life. Thank you.
@nickynoodle235
i know right
@levyelliot5648
this song just hit me. it’s about physical abuse from the perspective of the abused: praying for love but getting violence instead, and blaming yourself for it. the whole song sounds like a prayer, but the narrator’s not praying for love anymore-- now it’s a question of “how did this happen, what have i done?”
(also, yeah, definitely loving the elliott smith sound.)