Is it our job to deliver justice to the world? Is it our work to make appeals, to holler, to raise our banners, our megaphones and microphones and propaganda posters? Well, yes. At the very least, Americans are entitled to their opinions, however unfavorable, unlikable, untrustworthy, or unsound. Something must come of all this kicking and yelling and genuflecting!
Where are the naysayers, the go-getters, the antagonizers, the productive organizers? Where are the housewives and the church custodians and the street sweepers and the bathroom cleaners? These people, all of you, take up your seat on the platform that looks over the panorama of the entire world. This is your world, your nation, your community of workers!
What is the goal of democracy but to engage the pronunciations of the people? Our platform is the one of service — in all things, for all practical purposes, we regard the world as worthy of our care. Did we forget we are the Good Stewards. We are the farmers, the market makers, the businessmen, the astronauts, the dressmakers, the bakers, the bus drivers, the foreign students, the sick-in-bed. All of us, putting one and one together, each word attached to the next, in one gregarious sentence meant to pronounce all things worthy of our love and our service! Take up your flags and your posters and your folded flyers! The streets are waiting for your parades.
All Good Naysayers Speak Up! or Forever Hold Your Peace!
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
is the kind of thoughts in spite of greatness.
Often now the State is advocation.
If we form a power of recognition.
Forget loss and perfect advocation.
If it drops or stays in convocation.
All we praise is all we want in commerce
Entertain ideas of great communion,
Shelter not materials in union
(All we praise is not the kind of commerce.
That's the right solution!)
"All good thoughts" is not the act of doing
What we want but what we should be proving
(Properties?), ideas, a woman's pleasure
is empowered by love, a perfect measure!
The song All Good Naysayers Speak Up! or Forever Hold Your Peace! by Sufjan Stevens is a complex and abstract interpretation of government and society. The song begins with the idea that "all good thoughts", despite being righteous or great, must still be recognized by the state in order to have any influence. The lyrics suggest that forming a power of recognition is necessary in order to make any significant change.
The next verse seems to contradict the first, stating that we should forget about loss and instead focus on perfect advocation, or advocating for ourselves and our beliefs. Whether these beliefs drop or stay in convocation (in a meeting or assembly) shouldn't matter as much as the fact that we are advocating for ourselves. The next line speaks to the idea that we are always praising what we want in commerce, or the idea that we are constantly trying to gain something, often at the expense of others.
The song continues with a call to "entertain ideas of great communion", suggesting that instead of solely focusing on our own gain, we should consider how we can work together as a society. This line is followed by the exhortation to "shelter not materials in union", or not to prioritize material possessions over human connection. The final line of the song is a reminder that "all we praise is not the kind of commerce. That's the right solution!", or that we need to shift our focus away from solely wanting more and instead focus on what is genuinely beneficial for ourselves and others.
Line by Line Meaning
All good thoughts in spite of righteousness
Thoughts that are good, even if they don't align with what is considered morally right
is the kind of thoughts in spite of greatness.
These thoughts are still good, even if they don't align with greatness or power
Often now the State is advocation.
The government often takes a stance or advocates for certain things
If we form a power of recognition.
We can gain more influence if we form a group that recognizes the importance of these thoughts
Forget loss and perfect advocation.
Don't worry about losing or trying to achieve perfect alignment with one viewpoint
If it drops or stays in convocation.
Whether or not everyone agrees, let the discussion continue
All we praise is all we want in commerce
We tend to only value things that we can buy or sell
All we praise is parties, foreign commerce.
We value things that are associated with parties and entertainment, as well as foreign trade
Entertain ideas of great communion,
Consider the benefits of working together and forming a strong community
Shelter not materials in union
Don't prioritize material possessions over forming a strong group dynamic
(All we praise is not the kind of commerce.
A reminder that our current values are not necessarily the best ones)
That's the right solution!)
It's important to recognize this change needs to happen
All good thoughts is not the act of doing
Having good thoughts isn't enough, we still need to take action
What we want but what we should be proving
Rather than doing what we want, we need to prove our beliefs and actions are truly good
(Properties?), ideas, a woman's pleasure
Not all for-profit ideas, but also intangible concepts like values and human experiences
is empowered by love, a perfect measure!
All of these things can be improved by the power of love and compassion
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind