All good nay sayers speak up or forever hold your peace
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


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"All good thoughts" in spite of righteousness
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
All we praise is parties, foreign 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!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sufjan Stevens’ “All Good Naysayers Speak Up! or Forever Hold Your Peace!” seem to be filled with contradictions and paradoxes that make it difficult to clearly understand the message he is trying to convey. At the core of the song, however, is a suggestion that true greatness and righteousness are not always synonymous with one another. According to the lyrics, “All good thoughts” are not necessarily the same thing as righteous thoughts. It is possible for someone to have great thoughts despite not behaving in a way that others would describe as righteous.


Throughout the song, the lyrics suggest that many people and institutions place greater importance on righteousness than on true greatness. In particular, the State is identified as an institution that often values righteousness above all else. Sufjan Stevens’ message, however, is that there is often a power in recognition that is more important than righteousness. Ideas of great communion and love are referenced as being more valuable than materials and commerce. Essentially, the lyrics suggest that true greatness and value can be found in non-material concepts like love and community rather than in external markers of success like commerce and righteousness.


In summary, the song seems to be a call to shift our focus away from externally defined markers of greatness and instead to recognize the inherent value of ideas, community, and love. It is a suggestion that true greatness can often be found in unexpected places, and that society’s preoccupation with righteousness may lead us to overlook important sources of value.



Line by Line Meaning

"All good thoughts" in spite of righteousness
The thoughts that are good are not solely based on righteousness.


is the kind of thoughts in spite of greatness.
Good thoughts are not only based on greatness or success.


Often now the State is advocation.
The government has started to promote certain ideas or beliefs.


If we form a power of recognition.
If we unite and recognize the power of our beliefs, we can achieve great things.


Forget loss and perfect advocation.
Don't dwell on failures and making everything perfect - this can prevent progress.


If it drops or stays in convocation.
Whether ideas are rejected or accepted in a group, it shouldn't discourage us from continuing to express them.


All we praise is all we want in commerce
We only value what benefits us economically.


All we praise is parties, foreign commerce.
We value political agendas and foreign transactions above everything else.


Entertain ideas of great communion,
Open yourself to the possibility of larger connections.


Shelter not materials in union
Don't let material possessions take precedence over what truly matters in a relationship.


(All we praise is not the kind of commerce.
The kind of economic system we promote is not necessarily the right one.


That's the right solution!)
A change in our economic system is necessary to create a better society.


"All good thoughts" is not the act of doing
Good thinking cannot replace good action.


What we want but what we should be proving
We should act in accordance with what is right and just, not solely based on personal desires.


(Properties?), ideas, a woman's pleasure
There are things more important than material possessions such as ideas and a woman's happiness.


is empowered by love, a perfect measure!
Love is the most important factor in creating true empowerment and success.




Lyrics © NEW JERUSALEM MUSIC
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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