Jupiter
Sufjan Stevens Nico Muhly Bryce Dessner Lyrics
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First shift, eternal light
The curse of Adam labor
Outside, in the parking lot
The current of wind and the light went hot
He held his head in terror
By Jove and by surprise
The current of lightning filled with light
White noise as Lucifer
The sacred fire, the sacred fern
Conceived with holy water
His radiance in the dark
Mysterious shape or beauty mark
As if it were Minerva
Breastplate of Jupiter
The hovering deep, as he spoke the word
The light, the virgin creature
All dreams of all disease are fantasy features, first conceived
Illusions worth remembering
Our father late at night, forbidding death, he kissed the light
As Jupiter transfigured
I need you to change me, prevent you, persuade me, by Jove
I need you, sensation, by virtue, persuasion, by Jove, by Jove
By Jove
By Jove
Father of light, father of death, give us your wisdom, give us your breath
Summoner says that Jupiter is the loneliest planet
Red right eye, put in its place, under your foot, carpenter's cape
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the loneliest planet
Floundering star, failed that you are, fevering pitch, figure of speech
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the loneliest planet
Say it with faith, say it with force
Say it to my face, put me in place
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the only conquest
Hurricane heart hurricane haste wandering star, put in its place
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the only contest
Father of light, father of death, give us your wisdom, give us your breath
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the loneliest planet
The song "Jupiter" by Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, and Bryce Dessner is a poetic exploration of the human experience of awe and reverence in the face of cosmic forces. The lyrics touch on themes of labor, mortality, and spirituality as the singer reflects on his father's night shifts and encounters with lightning. The chorus repeats the phrase "by Jove," invoking the Roman god of the sky and thunder, who was later co-opted by Christianity and became identified with the Christian God.
The first verse sets the scene with the singer's father working the night shift, under the "curse of Adam labor," a reference to the biblical account of Adam's punishment for eating from the tree of knowledge. The father's encounter with lightning is described in vivid detail, as the "current of wind and the light went hot" and "burned his hands with symbols." The reference to "white noise as Lucifer" suggests a connection between the transcendent experience of encountering the divine and the disruptive forces of chaos and evil.
The second verse continues the theme of spiritual transformation, with the singer invoking the mythological figures of Minerva and Jupiter, the Roman gods of wisdom and the sky. The phrase "breastplate of Jupiter" refers to the armor worn by the god, which was believed to protect him and give him his powers. The line "all dreams of all disease are fantasy features" suggests that illness and mortality are ultimately illusory and can be transcended through spiritual insight.
Line by Line Meaning
My father, working night
My father works the night shift
First shift, eternal light
It is his first shift, but it feels never-ending
The curse of Adam labor
Working is a curse passed down from Adam
Outside, in the parking lot
He is outside in the parking lot
The current of wind and the light went hot
A strong wind blows as the light gets brighter
He held his head in terror
He is frightened and holds his head
By Jove and by surprise
Suddenly and unexpectedly
The current of lightning filled with light
A lightning bolt brightens the area even more
It burned his hands with symbols
His hands are scorched, leaving symbols behind
White noise as Lucifer
Static like that of a TV off the air
The sacred fire, the sacred fern
A special fire and a fern are significant
Conceived with holy water
Created with holy water
His radiance in the dark
His glowing presence stands out in the darkness
Mysterious shape or beauty mark
There is a mysterious shape or beauty mark present
As if it were Minerva
As if it were the goddess Minerva
Breastplate of Jupiter
A piece of armor worn by Jupiter
The hovering deep, as he spoke the word
He spoke a word over the profound emptiness
The light, the virgin creature
The pure, untouched light
All dreams of all disease are fantasy features, first conceived
All dreams of sickness are imagined services
Illusions worth remembering
The illusions are valuable to remember
Our father late at night, forbidding death, he kissed the light
My father, at night, forbidden from dying, kissed the light
As Jupiter transfigured
As Jupiter changed form
I need you to change me, prevent you, persuade me, by Jove
I need you to transform me, stop you, convince me, by Jove
I need you, sensation, by virtue, persuasion, by Jove, by Jove
I need you, feeling, by advantage, persuasion, by Jove, by Jove
By Jove
By Jupiter
Father of light, father of death, give us your wisdom, give us your breath
Jupiter, lord of light and death, grant us your knowledge and lifeforce
Summoner says that Jupiter is the loneliest planet
The one who summons claims that Jupiter is the most solitary planet
Red right eye, put in its place, under your foot, carpenter's cape
Red, right eye corrected, beneath your foot, carpenter's cloak
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the loneliest planet
The message of death declares Jupiter as the solitariest planet
Floundering star, failed that you are, fevering pitch, figure of speech
Failing star, you are a poor imitation, feverish words, metaphor
Say it with faith, say it with force
Express it with belief, say it strongly
Say it to my face, put me in place
Say it directly to me, assert your authority
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the only conquest
The message of death says Jupiter is the sole victory
Hurricane heart hurricane haste wandering star, put in its place
Storm-filled heart and quick motion of a roaming star, controlled
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the only contest
The message of death says Jupiter is the only challenge
Father of light, father of death, give us your wisdom, give us your breath
Jupiter, lord of light and death, grant us your knowledge and lifeforce
Sermon of death says Jupiter is the loneliest planet
The message of death declares Jupiter as the solitariest planet
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nico Muhly, Sufjan Stevens, James Van McAlister, Bryce David Dessner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind