Detroit Lift Up Your Weary Head!
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


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Once a great place. Now a prison
All I can say. All I can do
People Mover: Bad Decision
From suburban. Now a prison
All I can say. All I can do

From the trembling walls. It's a great idea!
Everything you want. It's a great idea!

Once a great place. Now a prison
All I can say. All I can do

Henry Ford. Henry Ford
Public Trans. Public Trans
Pontiac. Pontiac
Feed the poor. Feed the poor
City Hall. City Hall
Windsor Park. Windsor Park
Saginaw. Saginaw
After dark. After dark
Tigers game. Tigers game
Eighty-four. Eighty-four
Industry. Industry
Unemployed. Unemployed
Gun control. Gun control
Wolverine. Wolverine
Iroquois. Iroquois
Industry. Industry
Public Trans. Public Trans
Auto Cars. Auto Cars
Jefferson. Jefferson
Michigan. Michigan

From the trembling walls. It's a great idea!
Everything you want. It's a great idea!
From the Renaissance. It's a great idea!
Everything you want. It's a great idea!
Throw them all away. It's a great idea!
From the Renaissance. It's a great idea!




Everything you want
(Hesitate to burn the buildings)

Overall Meaning

The song "Detroit Lift Up Your Weary Head!" by Sufjan Stevens talks about the industrial decline of Detroit and its conversion from a prosperous city to a struggling one. The lyrics refer to the city as a once-great place that is now a prison, which represents the confinement felt by the city's inhabitants and its inability to escape the cycle of poverty and decay. The People Mover, a mode of transportation that was meant to serve the city's residents, is referred to as a bad decision, signifying the failure of urban planning and the lack of investment in infrastructure. The song also mentions various landmarks and issues related to Detroit, such as Henry Ford and his influence on the automotive industry, public transportation, Pontiac, Saginaw, and Iroquois, among others, which highlights the complexities of the city.


The repetition of "It's a great idea!" in the lyrics is sarcastic and invokes a sense of frustration with the city's shortcomings. The mention of the Renaissance and hesitation to burn the buildings shows the potential for the city to revitalize itself, but also the reluctance to move forward and the fear of losing the past. The song's overall message is one of despair and hopelessness but also a call for action and change.


Line by Line Meaning

Once a great place. Now a prison
Detroit was once thriving, but now it feels like a place of confinement


All I can say. All I can do
The singer feels helpless in the face of the problems Detroit faces


People Mover: Bad Decision
The People Mover train system was not a wise investment for Detroit


From suburban. Now a prison
Even the surrounding suburbs of Detroit are affected by the city's decline


From the trembling walls. It's a great idea!
Despite the physical decay of Detroit, there are still ideas worth exploring within the city


Everything you want. It's a great idea!
There are still great, innovative ideas to be found in Detroit


Henry Ford. Henry Ford
Henry Ford's legacy and impact on Detroit is still felt


Public Trans. Public Trans
A call for more investment in public transportation


Pontiac. Pontiac
Referencing the Pontiac brand's history and impact on Detroit's auto industry


Feed the poor. Feed the poor
A plea to address Detroit's poverty crisis


City Hall. City Hall
A call for improvements in local government and leadership


Windsor Park. Windsor Park
A reference to a park in Detroit that could benefit from revitalization efforts


Saginaw. Saginaw
Mentioning a nearby city to highlight the broader region's struggles


After dark. After dark
The dangers and challenges of Detroit's nightlife


Tigers game. Tigers game
The Detroit Tigers baseball team is still an important part of the city's identity


Eighty-four. Eighty-four
Referencing the year 1984, possibly to highlight a specific moment in Detroit's history


Industry. Industry
Emphasizing the importance of Detroit's manufacturing and industrial history


Unemployed. Unemployed
A reminder of the many people in Detroit who are struggling to find work


Gun control. Gun control
A plea for stronger gun control measures to address Detroit's high crime rates


Wolverine. Wolverine
Referencing Michigan's state animal, a nod to regional pride


Iroquois. Iroquois
Referencing the Iroquois Gas station, a reminder of Detroit's working-class roots


Auto Cars. Auto Cars
Another reference to Detroit's auto industry and its importance to the local economy


Jefferson. Jefferson
A major road in Detroit that could benefit from improvements and investment


Michigan. Michigan
A reminder that Detroit is a part of a larger state with its own set of issues and challenges


Throw them all away. It's a great idea!
The singer suggests that tearing down some of Detroit's crumbling buildings may be a good idea


From the Renaissance. It's a great idea!
Referencing the Renaissance Center, a symbol of hope and revitalization in Detroit


Everything you want
A reminder that despite its problems, Detroit still has much to offer


(Hesitate to burn the buildings)
A reference to a controversial idea of burning down abandoned buildings in Detroit to create new opportunities




Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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