We have been known from… Read Full Bio ↴Sufjan Stevens on 'Vito's Ordination Song' :
We have been known from the very start. Our eye color, our hairline, our jawline, the shape of our big toe, the tone of our voice. These things have been designed from the very beginning.
What kind of music we listen to. The sort of skirt that looks good. The sort of cap that fits right. We have been made to find these things for ourselves and take them in as ours, like adopted children: habits, hobbies, idiosyncrasies, gestures, moods, tastes, tendencies, worries. We are all these things. They have been put in us for good measure.
Perhaps we don’t like what we see: our shapeless hair, our loss of hair, our shoe size, our dimples, our knuckles too big, our eating habits, our disposition. We have disclosed these things in secret, likes and dislikes, behind doors with locks, our lonely rooms, our messy desks, our empty hearts, our sudden bursts of energy, our sudden bouts of depression.
Don’t worry. Put away your mirrors and your beauty magazines and your books on tape. There is someone right here who knows you more than you do, who is making room on the couch, who is fixing a meal, who is putting on your favorite record, who is listening intently to what you have to say, who is standing there with you, face to face, hand to hand, eye to eye, mouth to mouth. There is no space left uncovered.
Vito's Ordination Song
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your mother's arms
I have called her name
I've an idea
Placed in your mind
To be a better man,
I've made a crown for you
And when the bride groom comes
There will be noise.
And there will be glad
And the perfect bed
And when you write a poem
I know the words,
I know the sounds
Before you write it down
When you wear your clothes
I wear them too
I wear your shoes.
And the jacket too
I always knew you
In your mother's arms
I have called you son.
I've made amends
Between father and son.
Or if you haven't one
Rest in my arms,
Sleep in my bed,
There's a design
To what I did and said
Rest in my arms,
Sleep in my bed,
There's a design
Vito's Ordination Song by Sufjan Stevens is a deeply personal and emotional song that speaks to the themes of love, responsibility, and loss. The song seems to be written from the perspective of a father figure or a mentor who sees the potential for greatness in the person he is addressing. This is evident in the line "I've made a crown for you and put it in your room", which suggests that the singer believes that the person they are addressing has the potential to be a leader or a king despite their current circumstances.
The tone of the song is both nostalgic and hopeful, as the singer reminisces on the past but also looks towards the future. This is apparent in the lines "I always knew you / In your mother's arms / I have called her name / I've an idea", as it suggests that the singer has known the person they are addressing since their infancy and has been guiding them towards a certain path. Additionally, the line "And when you write a poem / I know the words, / I know the sounds / Before you write it down" suggests a deep emotional connection between the two parties, as the singer seems to intimately understand the thoughts and feelings of the person they are addressing.
Overall, Vito's Ordination Song is a beautiful and touching song that speaks to the universal human experiences of love and loss, while also suggesting that we all have the potential to be great.
Line by Line Meaning
I always knew you
I have known you since before you were born
In your mother's arms
While you were a baby, I saw you in your mother's care
I have called her name
I have spoken to your mother and been present in your life
I've an idea
I have a plan for you and your future
Placed in your mind
I have put a vision in your head
To be a better man,
My plan for you is to become a good person
I've made a crown for you
I have created a symbol of your success and achievement
And put it in your room
I have placed this symbol in a significant location to remind you of your goals
And when the bride groom comes
At your wedding, there will be celebration
There will be noise.
There will be excitement and energy
And there will be glad
Overall, it will be a happy occasion
And the perfect bed
Your marriage will be consummated and begin on a positive note
And when you write a poem
When you create something artistic and expressive
I know the words,
I understand your inspiration and intention
I know the sounds
I appreciate your style and aesthetic
Before you write it down
I can anticipate your work and appreciate it in advance
When you wear your clothes
I feel connected to you and your identity
I wear them too
I identify with and support your choices
I wear your shoes.
I walk in your footsteps and experience the world as you do
And the jacket too
I empathize with your experiences and emotions
I always knew you
I have always been there for you and have your best interests at heart
In your mother's arms
I have been present in your life since its beginning
I have called you son.
You are like a son to me, and I care for you like family
I've made amends
I have reconciled any past conflicts and established a positive relationship with you
Between father and son.
Our connection is like that of a father and son
Or if you haven't one
Even if you do not have a father figure in your life
Rest in my arms,
You can find comfort and support in my presence
Sleep in my bed,
You can feel safe and at home in my space
There's a design
There is a purpose and intention behind everything I do for you
To what I did and said
All my actions and words were part of my plan to help you succeed and be happy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SUFJAN STEVENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind