We Are What You Say
Sufjan Stevens Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We are a servant,
We have a song,
The side of a beehive,
A tabernacle choir.

We are the sound
Working in wars,
The bishop is gone
To the acolyte shores.

We save our bibles,
We pull our sleeves.
The word is a guard
And the guard is a cleave.

We are the right,
We are the stay,
The accolade's gone,
We are what you say.

We have no language,
We have no chore,
The side of a beehive,
The bride is a whore.

We are a spite,
We are at bay,
The spirit is life,
We are what you say.

We have a sermon,
We have a song,
The bishop is easy,
The bishop is wrong.

The spirit is right,
The spirit will say:




We are a light,
We are what you say.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sufjan Stevens's song We Are What You Say paint a picture of a group of people who describe themselves as servants and choir members. The imagery of a beehive and a tabernacle suggests a community that is interconnected and works together towards a common goal. The group describes themselves as being present in wars, suggesting that they are fighters or protectors. The bishop is missing, indicating that the group may be independent or autonomous from traditional religious hierarchies.


The lyrics' tone is reverent and spiritual, discussing the word and guard as if it is something revered and respected. It speaks of the group as being righteous and deserving of accolades. There is also a sense of being misunderstood or maligned, with the group referring to themselves as "what you say". The lyrics then take on a darker tone, using a harsher language- "whore", "spite", and "wrong". However, the spirit is also described as being right and a light.


Overall, the lyrics suggest a community of people who are striving for something bigger than themselves, working together to defend and protect their beliefs. The words also speak to the power of language and perception, highlighting how important it is for people to be understood and recognized for who they are.


Line by Line Meaning

We are a servant,
We are humble and willing to serve.


We have a song,
We have a message to share with the world.


The side of a beehive,
We are part of a community with a common goal.


A tabernacle choir.
Our voices are united in harmony.


We are the sound
We make our voices heard.


Working in wars,
We are striving to bring peace amidst conflict.


The bishop is gone
Leadership has faltered.


To the acolyte shores.
Those who follow are uncertain.


We save our bibles,
We hold true to our beliefs.


We pull our sleeves.
We are ready to work hard.


The word is a guard
Our beliefs protect us.


And the guard is a cleave.
Our beliefs divide us from those who think differently.


We are the right,
We believe we are correct in our beliefs.


We are the stay,
We are immovable in our beliefs.


The accolade's gone,
We are no longer praised for our beliefs.


We are what you say.
Our identity is based on how others perceive us.


We have no language,
We struggle to communicate our beliefs.


We have no chore,
We lack direction and purpose.


The side of a beehive,
We are still part of a community, even if we feel lost.


The bride is a whore.
We see beauty where others see flaws.


We are a spite,
We are angry and resentful.


We are at bay,
We feel threatened and cornered.


The spirit is life,
Our beliefs give us purpose and meaning.


We are what you say.
Our identity is still based on how others perceive us.


We have a sermon,
We have a message to share with the world.


We have a song,
We have a message to share with the world.


The bishop is easy,
Leadership may be easy, but that doesn't make it right.


The bishop is wrong.
Leadership may be wrong, and we must stand up for what is right.


The spirit is right,
Our beliefs are in alignment with our true selves.


The spirit will say:
Our beliefs will guide our actions.


We are a light,
We hope to inspire others with our beliefs.


We are what you say.
Our identity is still based on how others perceive us.




Lyrics ยฉ 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

More Versions