Barcarola
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


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Oh, no one else is happily, recklessly
Asking for more than what they may need
I can't say what I need

Oh, temper what you say if you've nothing nice to say
So my grandmother says to me
With her heart on her sleeve
So, sadly I left the door open
And I let the dog out in the snow
Oh where did she go?

Oh, father friend, will you punish me, punish me
With a look of contempt, with a look of contempt
I can't recall

Oh, I know you did right by me, right by me
Wagging your hands when you found me
With the bag of your things

Please, please don't be a stranger here
A stranger who takes from the world
Who takes from the world

You, you must be a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree
You light up the room, oh, you light up the room
Oh, you light up the room

So suddenly you kissed me
You tickled me in front of your mother, who looked away
With her hands on her face

Don't run away my friend
You won't be back again, you said you needed me
But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You said you needed me
But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You ran your hands through my hair, through the snow
Where the frost-blooded flows with the terrible ghost

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again




You said you needed me
But I know

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sufjan Stevens's song Barcarola are hauntingly beautiful, with layered meanings that invite close listening and interpretation. The opening lines "Oh, no one else is happily, recklessly / Asking for more than what they may need / I can't say what I need" suggest a longing for more than just material comfort, and a struggle to articulate that need. The singer seems to be acknowledging that asking for too much may be seen as reckless, but at the same time, is unable to express what they truly want or need.


The next few lines introduce the singer's grandmother, who offers advice on being mindful of what you say. The phrase "with her heart on her sleeve" suggests a deep emotional connection between the singer and their grandmother, who is a source of wisdom and guidance. However, the following lines about leaving the door open and letting the dog out in the snow hint at a sense of irresponsibility or recklessness on the singer's part.


The rest of the song is filled with conflicting emotions and themes, from a sense of betrayal and punishment by a father figure, to a lyrical portrayal of someone being compared to a Christmas tree, radiant and beautiful. The repeated refrain "Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again / You said you needed me / But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me" suggests a relationship that has gone sour, with one person needing distance and separation from the other.


Overall, Barcarola is a complex and emotionally charged song that explores themes of love, loss, and the difficulty of communication. The imagery is vivid and evocative, and the musical arrangement helps to reinforce the song's underlying emotional tone.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, no one else is happily, recklessly
No one else is living as carefree and without worry as I am.


Asking for more than what they may need
Requesting or desiring things that they do not necessarily require.


I can't say what I need
I am unable to express my wants or necessities.


Oh, temper what you say if you've nothing nice to say
Choose your words carefully and kindly, or say nothing at all.


So my grandmother says to me
These words of advice were shared by my grandmother with me.


With her heart on her sleeve
She speaks from a place of honest, heartfelt emotion.


So, sadly I left the door open
I departed while leaving the entrance ajar, feeling a sense of melancholy.


And I let the dog out in the snow
I allowed the dog to leave my sight, exposed to the cold winter weather.


Oh where did she go?
I am now unsure of the location of the dog.


Oh, father friend, will you punish me, punish me
Addressing a paternal figure or friend, expressing a desire for discipline or consequence.


With a look of contempt, with a look of contempt
With disdain or disapproval in your expression or gaze.


I can't recall
I cannot remember the specific incident being referred to.


Oh, I know you did right by me, right by me
I acknowledge that you treated me well and appropriately.


Wagging your hands when you found me
You expressed joy or excitement upon encountering me.


With the bag of your things
Carrying your possessions, which are of importance to you.


Please, please don't be a stranger here
Expressing a desire for someone to be a familiar presence in this place.


A stranger who takes from the world
Someone who does not belong here and who takes more than they give or contribute.


Who takes from the world
Reiterating the idea of someone who is selfish in their interactions with the world around them.


You, you must be a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree
You are emblematic of the festive, celebratory spirit of the holiday season.


You light up the room, oh, you light up the room
You bring joy and brightness to the space around you.


So suddenly you kissed me
With no warning or expectation, you kissed me.


You tickled me in front of your mother, who looked away
You playfully and affectionately touched me in the presence of your parent, who averted their gaze.


With her hands on her face
Her reaction is one of surprise or perhaps awkwardness.


Don't run away my friend
An appeal to not depart, to remain in this situation or relationship.


You won't be back again, you said you needed me
Implying that the other person has stated they are unable to return and have expressed a need for the singer.


But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me
Acknowledging that the person who left had their own reasons for doing so, which may have included a desire to break with the singer.


You ran your hands through my hair, through the snow
Recalling a moment of physical interaction characterized by tenderness or intimacy that took place in the snow.


Where the frost-blooded flows with the terrible ghost
A description of the natural environment, possibly evocative of the fears or anxieties being experienced by the artist.


You said you needed me
A repetition of the idea that the other person had expressed vulnerability and a desire for the artist.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@atrijitdas1704

Oh, no one else is happily, recklessly
Asking for more than what they may need
I can't say what I need

Oh, temper what you say if you've nothing nice to say
So my grandmother says to me
With her heart on her sleeve

So, sadly I left the door open
And I let the dog out in the snow
Oh where did she go?

Oh, father friend, will you punish me, punish me
With a look of contempt, with a look of contempt
I can't recall

Oh, I know you did right by me, right by me
Wagging your hands when you found me
With the bag of your things

Please, please don't be a stranger here 
A stranger who takes from the world
Who takes from the world

You, you must be a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree
You light up the room, oh, you light up the room
Oh, you light up the room

So suddenly you kissed me
You tickled me in front of your mother, who looked away
With her hands on her face

Don't run away my friend 
You won't be back again, you said you needed me
But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You said you needed me
But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You ran your hands through my hair, through the snow
Where the frost-blooded flows with the terrible ghost

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You said you needed me
But I know



@emorockband4725

sufjan in 2012 really thought "if the world ends & this is the last xmas ever im gonna release the saddest xmas song for the gays"

& that's how we got this song

"So suddenly you kissed me
You tickled me in front of your mother, who looked away
With her hands on her face"

wow



All comments from YouTube:

@brianspenst1374

This is one of my favorites. I love how it slowly churns along with a lopsided rhythm. It has the feeling of a wheel with an off center axle. It just adds to to the emotions portrayed in the lyrics.

@HistoriasdeunaVaca

In music school we called this musical ball or sphere haha

@matthewleger5605

this song is absolutely incredible. fucked up really bad around christmas time when i was a teenager & the lyrics "oh, father friend, will you punish me, punish me / with a look of contempt, with a look of contempt / i can't recall" hurt unlike any lyric i can recall. still gives me chills. thank you, sufjan

@HistoriasdeunaVaca

I feel that

@atrijitdas1704

Oh, no one else is happily, recklessly
Asking for more than what they may need
I can't say what I need

Oh, temper what you say if you've nothing nice to say
So my grandmother says to me
With her heart on her sleeve

So, sadly I left the door open
And I let the dog out in the snow
Oh where did she go?

Oh, father friend, will you punish me, punish me
With a look of contempt, with a look of contempt
I can't recall

Oh, I know you did right by me, right by me
Wagging your hands when you found me
With the bag of your things

Please, please don't be a stranger here 
A stranger who takes from the world
Who takes from the world

You, you must be a Christmas tree, a Christmas tree
You light up the room, oh, you light up the room
Oh, you light up the room

So suddenly you kissed me
You tickled me in front of your mother, who looked away
With her hands on her face

Don't run away my friend 
You won't be back again, you said you needed me
But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You said you needed me
But I know that you needed yourself to be cleaned of me

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You ran your hands through my hair, through the snow
Where the frost-blooded flows with the terrible ghost

Don't run away my friend, you won't be back again
You said you needed me
But I know

@faqu5195

Omg i can't believe this Song exist. I recently discover sufjan and i fell in love. I'm from Argentina, i hope one day i can see you live performing

@ethancundiff6422

Why is no one talking about this?!?!?!? Forget Christmas, this is one of his best compositions PERIOD!!!!

@neslibzkrt

Sufjan stevens, My soul needs you, and I didn't know i needed you so much until I listened to you.

@ashleyhill105

This is so brilliant and powerful. I cry every time.

@o_felipecampos

Incrível 💖

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