Peoria! Destroy-a! Infinity! Divinity!

For Lydia, Octavia! And Jack-of Trades!
The Cubs hooray!

The Opera House where Emma sang!
America! Oh will it play?

And Santa Claus! The Great Parade!
Peoria! You have it made!

Into the crossfire faithfully run
Middle America one on one
Peoria! We saddle the fun times

Overall Meaning

The song "Prairie Fire That Wanders About" by Sufjan Stevens is an ode to the small town of Peoria, Illinois. The lyrics are a celebration of the town's local heroes and landmarks. The first verse mentions Lydia!Octavia! and Jack-of-Trades!, both of whom are likely local figures who have made a significant impact on the community. The second verse references the Opera House where Emma sang, which may be a real location in Peoria or a reference to a specific event. The chorus shouts out "The Cubs! Hooray!" which could be a reference to the town's minor league baseball team, the Peoria Chiefs, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.

The third verse mentions Santa Clause and the Great Parade, both of which could be references to holiday events in Peoria. Overall, the lyrics create a sense of community pride and affection for a small town that may be overlooked by outsiders. The final lines of the song, "Peoria!/ we saddle the fun times," suggest that, despite its small size and perhaps mundane reputation, Peoria is a place where people know how to have a good time and make the most of life.

Line by Line Meaning

For Lydia! Octavia!
This song is dedicated to Lydia Octavia, someone who the artist cares about deeply.

And Jack-of-Trades!
Lydia Octavia is someone who is talented in many different areas, like a jack-of-all-trades.

The Cubs! Hooray!
The Chicago Cubs baseball team is something to be celebrated and cheered for.

The Opera House
The lyricist is referring to a specific Opera House, which seems to hold an emotional value to him.

Where Emma sang!
Emma is someone who sang at the Opera House in question, perhaps indicating that the song is written about a specific event or place.

America! Oh will it play?
The lyricist wonders if this song or message will resonate with the American people as a whole.

And Santa Clause!
The mention of Santa Claus may be used here as a symbol of joy, happiness, and the holiday season.

The Great Parade!
The Great Parade is a joyful, celebratory event that brings people together.

Peoria! You have it made!
Peoria is a city that seems to have everything going for it, perhaps indicating that the lyricist has fond memories or experiences tied to this place.

Into the crossfire faithfully run
This could be interpreted as the lyricist acknowledging the risks and challenges associated with living one's life and pursuing what they believe in.

Middle America, one on one
This line suggests a sense of intimacy, as though the lyricist is in conversation with Middle America as a whole.

Peoria! we saddle the fun times
The lyricist seems to be making a commitment to enjoy themselves, no matter what challenges they face. They are preparing themselves for good times ahead.

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