Say Yes! to M!ch!gan!
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
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Raised from the start
By a priest and
the maid on the part.
Still know what
to wear on my back:
Michigan!
Ponshewaing!
Cadillac!
If I ever meant to go away
I was raised, I was raised
In the place, in the place.
Still I often think of going back
To the farms, to the farms
Golden arms, golden arms
Start to remind me.
If the lakes took
the place of the sea.
If the cars drove
themselves, way to be!
Opposite to the trains moving in
Rivers run interstate, Michigan!
Still I never meant to go away
I was raised, I was raised
In the place, in the place.
Still I often think of going back
To the farms, to the farms
Golden arms, golden arms.
Tried to change the
Made in Michigan
I was raised, I was raised
In the place, in the place,
Part to remind me.
The lyrics of Sufjan Stevens's song Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! reflect the artist's fond memories and strong emotional connection to his home state, Michigan. The first stanza introduces the idea that the singer was raised by a priest and a maid and emphasizes the importance of where he was from by listing specific places, such as Cadillac and Ponshewaing, that he associates with his upbringing. The chorus emphasizes his attachment to Michigan and his reluctance to leave it - "If I ever meant to go away, I was raised in the place" - and shows that even though he has left, he frequently thinks of going back to the "golden arms" of the farms and landscapes of Michigan.
In the second verse, the lyrics continue to reflect the singer's love for Michigan by imagining what it would be like if the state were even more special than it already is - "If the lakes took the place of the sea" - and by referencing the unique structure of the state's highways - "rivers run interstate, Michigan!". The chorus repeats the theme of the singer's connection to Michigan, and the final line of the song suggests that even though he may have tried to change his attachment to his home, it remains a significant part of who he is.
Overall, the lyrics of Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! are a nostalgic and loving tribute to the artist's home state, emphasizing not only the specific places that shaped him but also the sense of belonging and identity that he associates with Michigan.
Line by Line Meaning
Demonstrate I was
I want to show that I exist and that I come from somewhere.
Raised from the start
I grew up and was nurtured from early childhood in Michigan.
By a priest and the maid on the part.
My upbringing was influenced by both religious and secular experiences in Michigan.
Still know what to wear on my back:
I still maintain a connection to Michigan culture and lifestyle.
Michigan! Ponshewaing! Cadillac!
These are places in Michigan that I associate with my heritage.
If I ever meant to go away
Although I may have considered leaving Michigan at times,
I was raised, I was raised
my formative experiences have always been linked to Michigan.
In the place, in the place.
Michigan is the place where I feel at home and where I belong.
Still I often think of going back
I sometimes consider returning to Michigan, even though I may be living elsewhere.
To the farms, to the farms
I have fond memories of rural life in Michigan.
Golden arms, golden arms
This may refer to the sunshine, natural beauty, or prosperity of Michigan.
Start to remind me.
These memories of Michigan make me feel nostalgic and emotional.
If the lakes took the place of the sea.
This is a hypothetical scenario, where the Great Lakes would replace the vast oceans of the world.
If the cars drove themselves, way to be!
This is another hypothetical scenario, where cars have become fully autonomous and efficient.
Opposite to the trains moving in
Trains are typically associated with travel away from home, while Michigan represents a return to home and familiarity.
Rivers run interstate, Michigan!
This suggests that Michigan is an integral part of the geographical and cultural landscape of the United States.
Tried to change the Made in Michigan
This may refer to attempts to modernize or transform Michigan's economy or industries.
I was raised, I was raised
Regardless of these changes, my identity and upbringing are still rooted in Michigan.
In the place, in the place,
Michigan will always be the place that I call home and where I have a deep emotional connection.
Part to remind me.
These memories of Michigan continue to shape and influence my life, no matter where I go or what I do.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind