Oh Detroi… Read Full Bio ↴Sufjan Stevens on 'Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head!' :
Oh Detroit, you complicated old man, nearly dead, with your shoulders arched over the river, polluted and grey, the threads of your shirt worn down with disease and car exhaust. You have grown fat and thin with industry, car factories, Motown music, riots, raids, transportation nightmares. You have eaten Coney dogs with relish and onion. You have built magnificent buildings only to burn them. Your children’s children have squandered their dowry. They piss on the streets. They throw trash in the trees and hang their laundry on ropes fit for hanging.
Oh Detroit, what have you done to the black man, his wife and kids, his cousins, his music, his hairstyles, his shoes with white tips, his pleated pants, his elbow slung out the car window, his basketball courts, his officers downtown, his nightclub, his shirtsleeves tucked over a pack of Pall Malls, his imagination, his industry, his sense of humor, his home?
Oh Detroit, what have you done to city hall, the public trains, the workers’ union, the Eastern Market, Boblo Island, the Ambassador Bridge? Where have you put your riches, where have you hid your treasure? Your concrete over-passes, your avenues as wide as rivers, your suburbs bloated with brick homes and strip malls and discount liquor stores and resale shops. Where have you hid our grandmother’s ukulele, the swimming pool out back, the lawn chairs, the car seats wrapped in plastic? Where are the rain shakers and the basketball nets? Where are the full court presses, the sneakers tied to phone lines, the windows broken in, the crazy old man on his porch yelling profanities, the old woman with the African statues in the stairwell, the kids with bikes with flat tires, the stray cats and guard dogs and prophylactics thrown in alleyways.
Oh Detroit, when you are dead and gone, who will care for your children’s children. They have run wild with the bastard boys around the streets, reckless car rides downtown, rigorous dancing, drug taking, knife-stabbing, pillow-stuffing, tail wagging restlessness. They have been drunk with this for years. They have been out of their minds. They have been left with nothing.
Oh Detroit Lift Up Your Weary Head!
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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)
In "Oh Detroit Lift Up Your Weary Head!," Sufjan Stevens reflects on the decline of the once-great city of Detroit. The opening lines contrast the city's past greatness with its current state as a "prison," possibly referring to the economic depression and urban decay Detroit experienced in the late 20th century. The mention of the People Mover as a "Bad Decision" highlights the mismanagement and poor planning that contributed to Detroit's decline. The second verse includes a series of rapid-fire references to various Detroit institutions and issues such as Henry Ford, public transportation, poverty, and gun control. The repetition of "industry" and "unemployed" serves to underscore the importance of the automotive industry to the city's history and its eventual decline.
The refrain of "It's a great idea!" is both sarcastic and hopeful, highlighting the tension between the city's past glories and its uncertain future. The repetition of "throw them all away" in the final lines may suggest a desire to start anew or to let go of the past in order to move forward.
Overall, the song can be read as a poignant commentary on the struggles of a city that has faced tremendous economic and social upheaval. Through lyrical references to both the city's past and present, Stevens captures the multifaceted nature of Detroit's identity and offers a meditation on the challenges of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Once a great place. Now a prison.
Detroit used to be a flourishing city, but now it has turned into a confinement for its residents due to economic and social issues.
All I can say. All I can do.
Despite being aware of the issues plaguing Detroit, the singer feels powerless as an individual to make any meaningful change.
People Mover: Bad Decision.
The construction of the People Mover was not a beneficial decision for the city and its residents.
From suburban. Now a prison.
Even the suburbs of Detroit are affected by the problems of the city, making it feel like a confining place to live.
From the trembling walls. It's a great idea!
Despite the physical decay of the city, the artist believes that there are still great ideas to be found within Detroit.
Everything you want. It's a great idea!
Detroit's potential is still tangible, there are still opportunities for growth and innovation.
Henry Ford. Henry Ford.
A reference to Ford's impact on the automotive industry and the subsequent growth of Detroit.
Public Trans. Public Trans.
The importance of public transportation in a struggling city like Detroit.
Pontiac. Pontiac.
A reference to the automotive industry in Michigan and its decline.
Feed the poor. Feed the poor.
The importance of providing aid to the less fortunate in Detroit's struggling economy.
City Hall. City Hall.
A reference to the local government's role in the city's issues.
Windsor Park. Windsor Park.
A park in Detroit that has been neglected due to the city's financial struggles.
Saginaw. Saginaw.
A city in Michigan that has been similarly affected by economic issues.
After dark. After dark.
The dangers that come with crime and violence in Detroit, especially during nighttime hours.
Tigers game. Tigers game.
A reference to the Detroit Tigers baseball team.
Eighty-four. Eighty-four.
A reference to the year 1984, likely comparing Detroit's issues to those depicted in George Orwell's novel of the same name.
Industry. Industry.
A reminder of Detroit's history as an industrial powerhouse and the decline of its manufacturing sector.
Unemployed. Unemployed.
The high rate of unemployment in Detroit that has contributed to its economic struggles.
Gun control. Gun control.
The need for stricter gun laws in the city to address issues of violence and crime.
Wolverine. Wolverine.
A nod to the University of Michigan's mascot, perhaps indicating the importance of education in Detroit's future.
Iroquois. Iroquois.
A reference to the Iroquois Avenue Street named after the Iroquois Confederacy, which could allude to the importance of honoring the city's diverse history and culture.
Auto Cars. Auto Cars.
A reminder of the city's automotive industry and its impact on Detroit's economy.
Jefferson. Jefferson.
A street in Detroit which could symbolize the city's history as a center of trade and transportation.
Michigan. Michigan.
A reference to the state in which Detroit is located, as well as the importance of recognizing the city's struggles as a statewide issue.
Throw them all away. It's a great idea!
The singer may be suggesting that the only way to move forward and create a better Detroit is to abandon the old ways of thinking and start fresh.
From the Renaissance. It's a great idea!
A reference to the Renaissance Center, a group of skyscrapers located in downtown Detroit, which could indicate the potential for the city's revitalization and rebirth.
Everything you want.
Despite the challenges and issues facing Detroit, there is still potential for growth and prosperity.
(Hesitate to burn the buildings)
This parenthetical may imply a reluctance to resort to destructive methods of change in Detroit, instead advocating for more positive and constructive approaches to rebuilding the city.
Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.