songwriter, musician, composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist. Throughout her career in all of these areas, her work has focused on issues of indigenous peoples of the Americas. Her singing and writing repertoire also includes subjects of love, war, religion, and mysticism.
In 1997, she founded the Cradleboard Teaching Project, an educational curriculum devoted to better understanding Native Americans. She has won recognition and many awards and honours for both her music and her work in education and social activism.
Buffy Sainte-Marie was born in 1941 on the Piapot Plains Cree First Nation Reserve in the Qu'Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada. She was later adopted, growing up in Massachusetts, with parents Albert and Winifred Sainte-Marie. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, earning degrees in teaching and Oriental philosophy and graduating in the top ten of her class. She went on to earn a Ph.D in Fine Art from the University of Massachusetts.
In 1964, on a return trip to the Piapot Cree reserve in Canada for a powwow she was welcomed and (in a Cree Nation context) adopted by the youngest son of Chief Piapot, Emile Piapot and his wife, who added to Sainte-Marie's cultural value of, and place in, native culture.
In 1968, she married surfing teacher Dewain Bugbee of Hawaii; they divorced in 1971. She married Sheldon Wolfchild from Minnesota in 1975; they have a son, Dakota "Cody" Starblanket Wolfchild. That union also ended in divorce. She married her co-writer for "Up Where We Belong," Jack Nitzsche, on March 19, 1982. He died from a heart attack on August 25, 2000. As of 2007, she lives in Hawaii.
Although not a Bahá'í herself, she became an active friend of the Bahá'í Faith by the mid-1970s when she is said to have appeared in the 1973 Third National Bahá'í Youth Conference at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has continued to appear at concerts, conferences and conventions of that religion since then. In 1992, she appeared in the musical event prelude to the Bahá'í World Congress, a double concert "Live Unity: The Sound of the World" in 1992 with video broadcast and documentary. In the video documentary of the event Sainte-Marie is seen on the Dini Petty Show explaining the Bahá'í teaching of progressive revelation. She also appears in the 1985 video "Mona With The Children" by Douglas John Cameron. However, while she supports a universal sense of religion, she does not subscribe to any particular religion.
Sainte-Marie claimed in a 2008 interview at the National Museum of the American Indian that she had been blacklisted by American radio stations and that she, along with Native Americans and other native people in the Red Power movements, were put out of business in the 1970s.
In a 1999 interview at Diné College with a staff writer with the Indian Country Today, Sainte-Marie said "I found out 10 years later, in the 1980s, that President Lyndon B. Johnson had been writing letters on White House stationery praising radio stations for suppressing my music" and "In the 1970s, not only was the protest movement put out of business, but the Native American movement was attacked."
As a result of this blacklisting led by (among others) Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, and Nashville disc jockey Ralph Emery (following the release of I'm Gonna Be a Country Girl Again), Sainte-Marie said "I was put out of business in the United States".
God Is Alive / Magic Is Afoot
Buffy Sainte-Marie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Magic is afoot
God is alive
Magic is afoot
God is afoot
Magic is alive
Alive is afoot
Magic never died
God never sickened
Many poor men lied
Many sick men lied
Magic never weakened
Magic never hid
Magic always ruled
God is afoot
God never died
God was ruler
Though his funeral lengthened
Though his mourners thickened
Magic never fled
Though his shrouds were hoisted
The naked God did live
Though his words were twisted
The naked Magic thrived
Though his death was published
Round and round the world
The heart did not believe
Many hurt men wondered
Many struck men bled
Magic never faltered
Magic always led
Many stones were rolled
But God would not lie down
Many wild men lied
Many fat men listened
Though they offered stones
Magic still was fed
Though they locked their coffers
God was always served
Magic is afoot
God rules
Alive is afoot
Alive is in command
Many weak men hungered
Many strong men thrived
Though they boasted solitude
God was at their side
Nor the dreamer in his cell
Nor the captain on the hill
Magic is alive
Though his death was pardoned
Round and round the world
The heart did not believe
Though laws were carved in marble
They could not shelter men
Though altars built in parliaments
They could not order men
Police arrested Magic
And Magic went with them
For Magic loves the hungry
But Magic would not tarry
It moves from arm to arm
It would not stay with them
Magic is afoot
It cannot come to harm
It rests in an empty palm
It spawns in an empty mind
But Magic is no instrument
Magic is the end
Many men drove Magic
But Magic stayed behind
Many strong men lied
They only passed through Magic
And out the other side
Many weak men lied
They came to God in secret
And though they left him nourished
They would not say who healed
Though mountains danced before them
They said that God was dead
Though his shrouds were hoisted
The naked God did live
This I mean to whisper to my mind
This I mean to laugh with in my mind
This I mean my mind to serve 'til
Service is but Magic
Moving through the world
And mind itself is Magic
Coursing through the flesh
And flesh itself is Magic
Dancing on a clock
And time itself the magic length of God
Buffy Sainte-Marie's song "God is Alive/Magic is Afoot" offers a unique perspective on religion, spirituality, and the concept of magic. The repetition of the opening lines serves to emphasize the central message of the song, which is that God and magic are ever-present and coexist in the world. The line "God never sickened; Many poor men lied" highlights the idea that human interpretations of God can be flawed and corrupted by those in power. In contrast, magic is portrayed as an eternal force that cannot be weakened or hidden.
The lyrics suggest that while God may be associated with formal religious structures, magic transcends these boundaries and can be found in the everyday experiences of people. The line "Magic loves the hungry" reinforces this idea, suggesting that magic is associated with acts of kindness and charity.
The final lines of the song further emphasize the theme of magic as an elusive and ever-present force. The assertion that "flesh itself is magic/dancing on a clock/and time itself the magic length of God" speaks to the idea that magic and divinity can be found in the mundane, fleeting moments of everyday life.
Overall, "God is Alive/Magic is Afoot" offers a thought-provoking meditation on the nature of spirituality and the role of magic in the everyday experiences of people.
Line by Line Meaning
God is alive; Magic is afoot
Both God and Magic are present and active in the world
God is afoot; Magic is alive
God and Magic are in charge and thriving
Alive is afoot.....
There is an ever-present sense of energy in the world
Magic never died.
Magic has always been alive and well in the world
God never sickened;
God has never been weakened or debilitated in any way
Many poor men lied
Many people have lied about the power and status of God and Magic, especially those who are disadvantaged
Many sick men lied
Many people who are unwell have also spread falsehoods about God and Magic
Magic never weakened
Despite attempts to undermine it, the power of Magic has remained steadfast
Magic never hid
Magic has always been out in the open, regardless of whether or not people choose to acknowledge it
Magic always ruled
The power of Magic has always been in control
God is afoot
God is present, active and in charge
God never died.
God has always been alive and well, contrary to what some may believe
God was ruler
God was in charge and powerful
Though his funeral lengthened
Despite attempts to 'bury' God's power, it continued to persist
Though his mourners thickened
More and more people tried to suppress God's power, but were ultimately unsuccessful
Magic never fled
The power of Magic never backed down or retreated
Though his shrouds were hoisted
Even when God appeared to be concealed or hidden, he remained present and powerful
The naked God did live
Even without any outward signs of power or majesty, God continued to be present and thriving
Though his words were twisted
Even when people attempted to distort God's message and teachings, they could not undermine His power and influence
The naked Magic thrived
Magic continued to excel and be present, even in times when it may not have been obvious
Though his death was published
Even when those in power attempted to silence or destroy God's influence, He continued to thrive and grow
Round and round the world
Everywhere, people attempted to discredit and undermine God and Magic
The heart did not believe
Despite these efforts, many still believed in God and Magic's power and presence
Many hurt men wondered
Those who had been hurt or wronged by others often turned to the idea of Magic for comfort and guidance
Many struck men bled
Those who had been wounded or physically struck also turned to Magic for relief
Magic never faltered
The power of Magic remained strong and unwavering
Magic always led.
Magic was always a guiding force for those who followed it
Many stones were rolled
Many obstacles were thrown in the way, but God's power could not be stopped or slowed down
But God would not lie down
God refused to be weakened or defeated
Many wild men lied
Many people who were rebellious or unorthodox spread false stories about God, but they did not weaken His power
Many fat men listened
Many people in positions of power were willing to pay attention to God's message, regardless of what others might say
Though they offered stones
Even when people tried to strike out at God, He remained unyielding
Magic still was fed
People continued to draw energy and strength from Magic, even in tough times
Though they locked their coffers
Even when people tried to suppress or control Magic, it still found ways to thrive
God was always served.
People continued to believe in and serve God, no matter what others might try to do
Many weak men hungered
Those who were vulnerable or disadvantaged struggled to find nourishment in the world around them
Many strong men thrived
Those who were in positions of power and status continued to excel and succeed
Though they boasted solitude
Even those who claimed to be independent continued to be influenced by God and Magic
God was at their side
God's presence continued to be felt in even the most unexpected places
Nor the dreamer in his cell
Even those who were imprisoned or confined continued to draw strength and inspiration from God and Magic
Nor the captain on the hill
Even those who were highly respected or celebrated still relied on God and Magic for guidance
Magic is alive
Magic is not just present, but also thriving
Though his death was pardoned
Even when Magic's power was suppressed, it was eventually allowed to return
The heart did not believe.
People continued to believe in the power and vitality of Magic, even when it was overshadowed by other forces
Though laws were carved in marble
Even when laws were put in place to suppress Magic, it continued to excel
They could not shelter men
Even those in power were unable to protect themselves from the power of Magic
Though altars built in parliaments
Even when official institutions tried to incorporate Magic into their system, it remained a wild and uncontrollable force
They could not order men
Even the most powerful institutions could not control or suppress people's belief in Magic
Police arrested Magic
Even when those in power attempted to suppress Magic, it continued to be a force for change and inspiration
And Magic went with them,
Even when oppressed, Magic would not break
For Magic loves the hungry.
Magic has always been a source of hope and inspiration for those who are in need
But Magic would not tarry
Magic would not remain in one place for too long, as it is always on the move
It moves from arm to arm
Magic is passed along between different people
It would not stay with them
Even those who initially draw from the power of Magic cannot keep it for themselves
Magic is afoot
Magic is alive and present, constantly on the move
It cannot come to harm
Magic is infinitely resilient
It rests in an empty palm
Magic can be found in the most unexpected places
It spawns in an empty mind
Magic is not limited to any particular individual or group
But Magic is no instrument
Magic is not just a tool or an accessory, but a fundamental force in the world
Magic is the end.
The power of Magic is not just a means to an end, but an end in and of itself
Many men drove Magic
Many people have attempted to use Magic for their own purposes
But Magic stayed behind
Magic cannot be taken or controlled by any individual or group
Many strong men lied
Even those in positions of power and influence have spread lies about Magic
They only passed through Magic
Even those who experienced Magic's power firsthand cannot fully understand or control it
And out the other side
Once they have experienced Magic's power, they are forever changed
Many weak men lied
Those who are vulnerable or oppressed have also spread falsehoods about Magic
They came to God in secret
Even those who are afraid or ashamed still seek out God's guidance and support
And though they left him nourished
Even when they don't openly acknowledge it, those who seek out God's help can find the nourishment they need
They would not say who healed
Even when they receive help and support from God, some people are unwilling to publicly acknowledge it
Though mountains danced before them
Even when faced with extraordinary experiences, some people still deny the power of God and Magic
They said that God was dead
Some people claim that God is no longer present or relevant in the world today
This I mean to whisper to my mind
These truths about God and Magic are things I want to internalize and remember
This I mean to laugh with in my mind
I want to find joy and humor in the knowledge of God and Magic's power
This I mean my mind to serve 'til
I intend to use this knowledge to guide my thoughts and actions
Service is but Magic
Service to others is a way of embodying and spreading the power of Magic
Moving through the world
This power of Magic is not static, but constantly in motion
And mind itself is Magic
The thoughts and beliefs we hold can have a powerful impact on the world around us
Coursing through the flesh
The power of Magic is not just intellectual, but also physical
And flesh itself is Magic
Our physical bodies and experiences are part of this larger universe of Magic
Dancing on a clock
Our experiences of life are fleeting and temporary, but part of a larger, timeless world of Magic
And time itself the magic length of God.
Even time itself is subject to the power of God and Magic
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Buffy Sainte-Marie, Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richboyprado
This went perfectly with the Yellowjackets finale
@dennisadams8775
Everyone knows a misty! :)
@SirCoughsalot
The show has great music in general, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear this track. Used to great effect.
@superhetoric
@SirCoughsalot same
@victorhernandez5516
Fuck yeah!!!
@Ashabea21
10000%
@stewieadams2656
Yellowjackets brought me here. Heard it in the season 2 finale and thought it was a really cool song. Wanted to hear it again.
@harrymorgan595
Me too
@ItsNotSakai
Same
@gowonfan12
lottie matthews we are so sorry girl