Henney Buggy Band
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics

Oh life, with your shoulders in the mirror
Life, you always remind us of the past and the things that we have done.

From the park when Dakota ran and brought you there
We remember times when we were young and carefree, like when Dakota ran with us in the park.

In the car when your mother lost her temper
We remember challenging moments that test our patience, like when our mothers lost their temper while we were in the car.

The catalog and the catastrophic smile
We are reminded of the times when things were good, like looking through a catalog or the times when we smiled despite catastrophe.

Let the bugles play the sermon on the raid
We ask to be inspired by the bugle's trumpeting and its sermon on victory and perseverance during hard times.

I kissed you on the face
We remember expressing love and affection to those we hold dear, like a kiss on the face.

I kissed you on the playground
We remember youthful days when we first experienced love and affection, like when we had our first kiss on the playground.

Oh Father John, you cannot tell me
We tell a figure of authority, Father John, that they do not have power over us.

What's right and wrong you cannot tell me
We refuse to let others dictate what is right and wrong for us to do.

I jump before I get around you
We take risks and do what we want before letting anyone stop us.

Pick it up with the band on the Ronald Reagan tollway
We encourage ourselves and others to move forward and join in on the journey of life, like getting on a freeway with a band.

Don't give up, let's go forget about yourself
We tell ourselves and others to not get discouraged and keep moving forward without pride or ego getting in the way.

Illinois in it ran from the Ronald Reagan tollway
We reminisce about Illinois and the places we've been to that we have fond memories of from the Ronal Reagan tollway.

Forget about yourself and all your plans
We urge ourselves and others to just let go of everything and let the journey of life take us where it needs to.

Oh life, with your colorful surprises
We are amazed by life's many surprises and the colors of the world around us.

Eleanor, how you put one on disguises
We remember people who changed their outward appearances, like Eleanor who put on disguises.

In the mortal life far in the morning light
We dream of a time when we transcend our physical selves and into something greater.

We're back from Bloomington we let the runners win
We remember times when we return from a place like Bloomington having lost but knowing that it was for the best.

Far in the morning light we let the movies play
We imagine being at peace and watching the world go by like watching a movie far in the morning light.

A weekend from the holiday
We remember times when we take a break from all of our responsibilities and just enjoy ourselves, like on a holiday weekend.

If I'm wrong makes nothing right about yourself
We acknowledge that sometimes we make mistakes and wrong decisions that cannot be fixed by anything other than ourselves.

Snowmobile on the field where the gunners throw their weight around
We remember times when we were reckless and bold, like riding a snowmobile on a field where gunners throw their weight around.

Forget about yourself and all your plans
We urge ourselves and others to let go of everything and let life take us where it needs to.