Now That I'm Older
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


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It's different now I think
I wasn't older yet
I wasn't wise, I guess
Somewhere I lost whatever else I had
I wasn't over you
I see it run inside itself
And then I called you out
I'm not such older than I was
I'm feeling so much righter now
And then I woke myself, confused
Your dress comes down
To you, don't get it wrong, don't get excited
I wanted so much to be at rest
Now that I'm older
So be it so of love

The silent man comes down
All dressed in radiant colors
You see it for yourself
To demonstrate my love for you
You, I thought I was so in love
Some say it wasn't true
Now that I'm older
Now, now that I'm older

There's so much travel
And now that I'm older
Someone else, can see it for myself




So much travel, yeah
Now that I'm older

Overall Meaning

In Sufjan Stevens's song Now That I'm Older, the singer reflects on how he has changed over time. He expresses that he is not as naive or foolish as he used to be and that he has lost some of the innocence and passion that he had in his youth. He alludes to a past failed relationship, admitting that he wasn't over it at the time, but now he sees it differently. He has come to the realization that he wanted to be at peace and to let go of his former love. He contrasts his past and present selves, emphasizing that he has gained greater clarity and understanding; he is now wiser and more in tune with his feelings. The song ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that he has found peace with himself and his past.


The song is striking for its simple yet evocative lyrics that convey a sense of longing and introspection. Its melody is subtle and understated, giving the lyrics space to breathe and dwell in the listener's mind. The song resonates with anyone who has gone through a similar experience of growing up and discovering themselves. The themes of reflection, self-discovery, and acceptance are timeless and universal.


Line by Line Meaning

It's different now I think
I perceive things differently now


I wasn't older yet
I was younger before


I wasn't wise, I guess
I lacked wisdom then


Somewhere I lost whatever else I had
I've lost something important along the way


I wasn't over you
I still had feelings for you


I see it run inside itself
I can see it spiraling inward


And then I called you out
I confronted you


I'm not such older than I was
I'm not that much older than before


I'm feeling so much righter now
I feel more correct now


And then I woke myself, confused
I woke up bewildered


Your dress comes down
Your dress drops down


To you, don't get it wrong, don't get excited
Don't misinterpret it or get too excited


I wanted so much to be at rest
I longed for peace and tranquility


Now that I'm older
Now that I'm more mature


So be it so of love
This is the reality of love


The silent man comes down
A quiet man descends


All dressed in radiant colors
Wearing bright and vivid colors


You see it for yourself
You witness it first-hand


To demonstrate my love for you
To show my love for you


You, I thought I was so in love
I believed I was deeply in love with you


Some say it wasn't true
Some people doubt it was genuine


Now, now that I'm older
Nowadays, now that I've grown older


There's so much travel
There's so much movement


And now that I'm older
And now that I'm more experienced


Someone else, can see it for myself
Another person can observe it for me


So much travel, yeah
So much movement, indeed




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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