Saul Bellow
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What's the worth of
All the work of my hands?
And the worst of
On Lake Michigan

Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Get in trouble with Saul Bellow
Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Get in trouble with Saul Bellow

And my good friends
With their eyes on what it takes
I could kiss them
But the reeling's make mistakes

Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Get in trouble with Saul Bellow
Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Get in trouble with Saul Bellow

Getting solid walls and with what it calls
Get in trouble with Saul Bellow




Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Get in trouble with Saul Bellow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sufjan Stevens's "Saul Bellow" appear to convey a sense of existential crisis, questioning the meaning of labor and effort in the face of mortality and artistic ambition. The opening lines of the song ponder the value of one's work and efforts, and contrast it with the seemingly arbitrary and indifferent expanse of Lake Michigan. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with a sense of frustration and doubt about the purpose of one's actions and decisions.


The chorus of the song then introduces the figure of Saul Bellow, a famed writer and novelist with a reputation for being demanding and critical of his peers. The repetition of "getting solid walls with the know-it-alls, get in trouble with Saul Bellow" implies a sense of struggle and competition in the artistic world, and a fear of falling short of one's own standards or the expectations of others. The alliteration of "solid walls" and "know-it-alls" also adds to the tension and pressure suggested by the lyrics.


The final verse expands on the theme of creative ambition and the sacrifices it can entail. The singer speaks of their good friends, who are also pursuing artistic success but perhaps with more clarity or determination. The line "I could kiss them, but the reeling's make mistakes" suggests a sense of envy or admiration for their friends' confidence and focus, but also a recognition of the risks and uncertainties inherent in pursuing creative fulfillment. The repetition of the chorus and its imagery of walls suggests that despite these doubts and fears, the singer is still determined to push forward and navigate the challenges of the artistic world.


Line by Line Meaning

What's the worth of
Questioning the value of my labor


All the work of my hands?
Wondering if my efforts are worthwhile


And the worst of
Acknowledging the negative aspect of a situation


On Lake Michigan
Being geographically located on Lake Michigan


Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Being influenced by knowledgeable people to construct strong psychological barriers


Get in trouble with Saul Bellow
Potential negative consequences of following certain intellectual or philosophical ideas, referencing the author Saul Bellow


And my good friends
Speaking about the people I am close with


With their eyes on what it takes
Those individuals being focused on what is required to achieve success


I could kiss them
Expressing fondness for my friends


But the reeling's make mistakes
Indicating that feeling unbalanced or dizzy can lead to errors in judgment


Getting solid walls and with what it calls
Choosing to build mental barriers based on certain ideologies


Get in trouble with Saul Bellow
Potential repercussions of adopting those ideologies, referencing the author Saul Bellow once again


Getting solid walls with the know-it-alls
Continuing to construct those psychological barriers based on the advice of highly knowledgeable people


Get in trouble with Saul Bellow
Persistent possibility of negative consequences when adopting certain intellectual ideas, referencing Saul Bellow once again




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

debbieniful

beautiful. all his songs make me cry or just incredibly happy to hear his voice.

Jfish901

Ten years ago...
Edit: I've been with you this whole time...

fizzgigify

I heard a rumor that one of his next projects is the Oregon album...I dearly hope so :D

Zad Rasera

Lol this didn't age well

Jack Hegarty

Carrie & Lowell + Greatest Gift

Tommy O.

This song was clearly supposed to mirror "Wasp" since it strongly resembles it musically and lyrically (and since almost every song on Illinois has a counter song) and most likely was meant to segue into "Man of Metropolis" considering the guitar at the end... which all leads me to suspect that this was cut out of the tracklist at the last minute for whatever reason (the most obvious being length lol)... anyway, probably my fav from The Avalanche

Zlatozar Yordanov

I came here for Saul Bellow, but found a classic pahuika

Milkweedy

@fizzgigify I WOULD SOB WITH JOY. OR SOMETHING. PLEASE GOD LET THIS HAPPEN.

BillyJoe009

Everything is illuminated brought me here !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sopary

@Milkweedy Unfortunately it's been said that he has abandoned the 50 states project.