A Good Man is Hard To Find
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


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Once in the backyard,
she was once like me,
she was once like me.
Twice when I killed them,
they were once at peace,
they were once like me.

Hold to your gun, man,
and put off all your peace,
put off all the beast.
Paid a full of these, I wait for it,
but someone's once like me.
She was once like me.

I once was better.
I put off all my grief.
I put off all my grief.
So I go to hell, I wait for it,




but someone's left me creased.
Someone's left me creased.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sufjan Stevens's "A Good Man is Hard To Find" are somewhat cryptic and can be interpreted in various ways. However, they primarily center around the themes of violence, guilt, and redemption. The opening lines, "Once in the backyard, she was once like me," could reflect on the innocence of childhood and the transformation that occurs as one grows older, potentially alluding to the singer, once a child, becoming a killer.


The next lines, "Twice when I killed them, they were once at peace, they were once like me," suggests that the singer has committed a violent act, resulting in the death of others. The lyrics hint that the victims were at peace before their untimely demise, and once again, there is a sense of identification with the singer, suggesting that he once shared their innocence.


The line "Hold to your gun, man, and put off all your peace," expresses a sense of danger and a need to remain alert and guarded. There is perhaps a feeling that the singer is being pursued or has committed a crime that puts him in a dangerous position. Finally, the lines "I once was better, I put off all my grief" and "So I go to hell, I wait for it, but someone's left me creased" could suggest a desire for redemption or atonement for sins committed.


Overall, "A Good Man is Hard To Find" is a haunting and thought-provoking song that leaves the listeners with many questions and interpretations.


Line by Line Meaning

Once in the backyard,
At some point in the past, perhaps a garden, park or other green area,


she was once like me,
This female was once similar to me in some way, maybe in personality or life experience,


she was once like me.
This similarity existed before, but it may not exist any longer,


Twice when I killed them,
On two separate occasions, I ended the lives of others.


they were once at peace,
Before the killings, the individuals were in a peaceful state,


they were once like me.
Like the first mention of this phrase, there was a similarity between us beforehand.


Hold to your gun, man,
Continue to rely on firearms for protection, survival or other reasons,


and put off all your peace,
Resist the urge to surrender or make peace, keeping aggression or tension instead,


put off all the beast.
Suppress or control any primal or aggressive urges,


Paid a full of these, I wait for it,
I have endured or suffered the consequences of my actions and am waiting for something to happen,


but someone's once like me.
Someone else is or was similar to me in some way.


She was once like me.
The similarity was true for a female person in particular.


I once was better.
At some point in time, I was in a better state (perhaps morally or emotionally),


I put off all my grief.
I avoided or suppressed any feelings of sadness or pain,


So I go to hell, I wait for it,
As a consequence of my actions, I anticipate experiencing some form of punishment or discomfort,


but someone's left me creased.
Someone else has caused me to feel crumpled, damaged or hurt in some way.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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