Though Stevens had announced plans to make an album for each of the 50 U.S. states, beginning the series with the albums 'Michigan' (2003) and 'Illinois' (2005), he has since then somewhat retracted the statement. "Sufjan Stevens is not going to write a record for each of the 50 states after all" was the original text included on the online liner notes for 'Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation' , a disc released on February 7, 2006. This statement was possibly included as a joke, as the text has since been removed and the current liner notes related to Sufjan Stevens reads: "Sufjan Stevens can fold a fitted-sheet (he once worked as a professional folder in a commercial Laundromat)."
Background
Stevens was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in the city of Petoskey in that same state. He attended Hope College on the west coast of Michigan.
The name Sufjan is an Arabic/Persian name that predates Islam and most famously belonged to Abu Sufyan, a figure from early Islamic history. It has been mentioned in the press that the name was given to Stevens by the leader of Subud, a spiritual sect to which his parents belonged when he was born. Stevens has stated that the name is of Armenian origin and means "comes with a sword," and that it is "a charming militaristic Muslim name." In fact the name is not Armenian, and Armenia is a predominantly Christian country.
Sufjan is also the plural form of Sufi in Persian . Sufi is a practitioner of Sufism .This word is frequently used in the old Persian literature ,specially Sufi poetry .
His brother, marathonist Marzuki Stevens, has trained to compete in the 2008 Olympic trials, and has played on two of Sufjan's albums.
A multi-instrumentalist, Stevens plays the banjo, guitar, drums, and several other instruments, often playing all of these on his albums through the use of multi-tracking. While in school, he studied the oboe and English horn, which he also plays on his albums; he is one of the few musicians in popular music to use these instruments.
Career
Sufjan Stevens began his musical career as a member of Marzuki, a folk-rock band from Holland, Michigan. He also played (and continues to play) various instruments for Danielson Famile. While in school at Hope College, Stevens wrote and recorded his debut solo album, A Sun Came, which he released on Asthmatic Kitty Records, a record label he founded with his step-father in 1999. He later moved to New York City, where he was enrolled in a writing program at the New School for Social Research.
While in New York, Stevens composed and recorded the music for his second album, Enjoy Your Rabbit, a song cycle based around the animals of the Chinese Zodiac that ventured into electronica.
Stevens followed this with the first of his 50 states albums, a collection of folk songs and instrumentals inspired by his home state of Michigan. The result, the expansive Michigan, included odes to cities including Detroit and Flint, the Upper Peninsula, and vacation areas such as Tahquamenon Falls. Melded into the scenic descriptions and characters are his own declarations of faith in God, sorrow, love and the regeneration of Michigan.
Following the release of Michigan, Stevens compiled a collection of songs recorded previously into a side project, the Christian folk album Seven Swans, which was released in March 2004.
Next he released the second in the 50 states projects, entitled Come On Feel The Illinoise!. Among the subjects explored on Come On Feel The Illinoise! are the cities of Chicago, Decatur and Jacksonville, the serial killer John Wayne Gacy, the poet Carl Sandburg, and Mississippi Palisades State Park.
He has contributed to the music of Denison Witmer, Soul Junk, Half-handed Cloud, Brother Danielson, Danielson Famile, Serena Maneesh, Castanets, and Liz Janes. He played piano on for fellow Brooklyn musician's The National's album 2007 Boxer. A cover of "She Is" is included on the album Dream Brother, released in the United States on January 31, 2006.
Sufjan contributed a lot to the sound of the 2001 Liz Janes album Done Gone Fire as he engineered, recorded, produced and arranged it as well as playing many addition instruments.
Sufjan recently recorded with Rosie Thomas and Denison Witmer playing banjo and providing vocals. It is unknown how this record will be released. In April 2006, Pitchfork erroneously announced that Stevens and Thomas were having a baby together, but were forced to print a retraction. Witmer and Thomas later admitted it was an April Fools' prank.
The Fifty States Project
Beginning with Michigan, Stevens announced an intent to write an album for each of the 50 U.S. states, although in interviews he wavers between utter sincerity and self-deprecating irony when describing the idea.
Stevens spent the second half of 2004 researching and writing material for the second of these projects, this time focusing his efforts on Illinois. As with Michigan, Stevens used the state of Illinois as a leaping-off point for his more personal explorations of faith, family, love, and location.
The widely acclaimed Illinois was the highest rated album of 2005 on the Metacritic review aggregator site, based on glowing reviews from Pitchfork, The Onion A/V Club, Spin, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and The Guardian. The 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards awarded Stevens with the Album Of The Year, Best Album Art/Packaging, and Male Artist Of The Year. Pitchfork Media and Paste Magazine named Come On Feel The Illinoise! as the editors' choice for best album of 2005 and Stevens received the 2005 Pantheon prize, awarded to albums selling 500,000 copies or fewer, for Come On Feel The Illinoise!. In April of 2006, Stevens announced that 21 pieces of music he had culled from the Come On Feel The Illinoise! recording sessions would be incorporated into a new album, called The Avalanche. The album was released on July 11, 2006.
While there were other projects rumored to be released following 2005's Illinois, by 2009 and his live album The BQE, he was seemingly finished with the project, calling it "Such a joke", and accepting that the project was too massive and too cliché to ever reach an end.
Religious themes
Many of Stevens' songs have religious and spiritual allusions, but his album Seven Swans has the most direct religious references. Stevens has expressed that he is Christian, but does not overtly advertise this aspect of himself in his music. Stevens has also stated that he does not try to make music "with a message", or music for the sake of preaching. "I don't think music media is the real forum for theological discussions," says Stevens. "I think I've said things and sung about things that probably weren't appropriate for this kind of forum. And I just feel like it's not my work or my place to be making claims and statements, because I often think it's misunderstood."
The songs 'Abraham', 'Seven Swans', 'To Be Alone With You', 'We Won't Need Legs To Stand' and 'The Transfiguration' directly address Christianity on the album Seven Swans. In 'Abraham', Sufjan recounts the Old Testament story in the Book of Genesis when Abraham, ordered by God as a test of faith, leads his son, Isaac, up a mountain and prepares to kill him, as commanded (but before God sends an angel to intervene). The lyrics of 'The Transfiguration' follow the Biblical accounts of Jesus' Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9: 1-8, and Luke 9:28-36.
Michigan and Come On Feel The Illinoise! are packed with Christian references and metaphors. Michigan contains "Sleeping Bear, Sault Saint Marie", which implores "Oh Lamb of God! Tell us Your perfect design and give us the rod" ("Lamb of God" being a Biblical name for Jesus Christ). The song "Oh God, Where Are You Now?" asks God to "hold me now", to "save somehow", searching for God in the midst of personal turmoil. "There's no other man who could save the dead," the song states. The album closer, 'Vito's Ordination Song', was apparently originally written for Sufjan's friend Vito Aiuto, and its lyrics allude directly to Psalm 139 ("I always knew you. In your mother's arms, I have called your name", "I've made a crown for you"). The song speaks of "When the bridegroom comes" - the New Testament speaks of Jesus Christ as being the Bridegroom and the Church His Bride, finally being united together at the End of Time.
Come On Feel The Illinoise! features the song 'Chicago' with its refrain of "You came to take us, to recreate us", and 'Decatur' has the chorus of "It's the great I Am" ("I Am" being the name the Lord reveals Himself by to Moses in Exodus 3:14). "Casimir Pulaski Day" speaks of "All the glory that the Lord has made" in the midst of personal pain and loss. "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!" has the lyrics: "Lamb of God, we sound the horn. Hallelujah!" One instrumental passage has the title of "In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth". "The Seer's Tower" speaks of Emanuel, "With His sword, with His robe He comes dividing man from brothers" (an interesting side note is that "Sufjan" actually means "comes with a sword"). Indeed, the vast majority of songs of Come On Feel The Illinoise! contain lyric lines which can be readily identified as having a basis in Stevens' faith in Christ.
Sufjan's second, electronic album, Enjoy Your Rabbit, contains a song cycle based on of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, culminating with the song "Year of our Lord". Stevens released the original, Christian-themed song "God'll Ne'er Let You Down" on the "To Spirit Back the Mews" compilation on Asthmatic Kitty. The officially unreleased Christmas albums Sufjan Stevens made and then compiled into Songs for Christmas feature suitably Christmas and Christian themed music, both originals and covers of hymns and traditional songs.
Trivia
On Snow Patrol's 2006 album Eyes Open there is a reference to Sufjan and the song "Chicago" in the song "Hands Open" - "Put Sufjan Stevens on and we'll play your favorite song/"Chicago" bursts to life and your sweet smile remembers you."
The film "Little Miss Sunshine" featured pieces of two songs from Come on Feel the Illinoise in its soundtrack.
Sufjan has twice been featured on the FOX television show "The OC". "To Be Alone With You" and "For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti" can be heard on episodes 202 and 315, respectively.
Sufjan Stevens' music has appeared twice on the Showtime dark comedy "Weeds". "All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands" appears on S1E02 over the end credits, and "Holland" appears near the end of S2E10.
Two of Sufjan's songs appear on the soundtrack to "Little Miss Sunshine": "Chicago" and "No Man's Land"
The song "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." appears on the 3rd season of the tv show "Nip/Tuck".
Several song can be heard on the movie "Driving Lessons"
You can also hear snippets in between CSI shows on 5US
In the TV show "Austin City Limits", he mentioned that when he was a kid, he and his best friend saw something in the sky which they couldn't figure out. They thought it was a spaceship or UFO first, then an eagle or a dragon. Finally they realized it was a giant wasp. He wrote the song "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!" about the incident and mentioned that the reason they (the band) all have wings on stage is to overcome his fear of flying things.
The song "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)" is heard in the 2012 "World of Red Bull" television commercial. he is quoted as saying "selling out never looked so good." and "somebody had to pay for all of that Christmas confetti." referring to his recent Christmas album and supporting tour.
In 2017 Stevens wrote two Original Songs to be featured in the gay drama film “Call me by your Name”, entitled “Mystery of Love” and “Visions of Gideon”. He also made a reworked version of his Song “Futile Devices” which is also featured on the soundtrack.
Website:http://sufjan.com
The Ascension
sufjan stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing to be told, nothing to confess
Let the record show what I couldn't quite confess
For by living for myself, I was living for unrest
Then the evidence came back in a chariot of vindication
Something to behold, glorious in its path
But the prophecy fell back
As it gave to me an invitation
But now it strikes me far too late again
That I was asking far too much of everyone around me
And now it strikes me far too late again
That I should answer for myself
As the ascension falls upon me
So what should be said, of a life that leaves its mess?
For once your life was sold, it could never be possessed
You were selfishly as a continent
You were finally at your best
For you favored for yourself when selfishness was blessed
Then Cordelia came back in a chariot hallucination
Something to rejoice, glorious in its wrath
But the prophecy was a pantomime
As it came to me in accusation
Show them what is right, show them what is best
But now it strikes me far too late again
That I was asking far too much of everyone around me
And now it strikes me far too late again
That I should answer for myself
As the ascension falls upon me
And now it frightens me, the thought against my chest
To think I was asking for a reason
Explaining why everything's a total mess
And now it frightens me, the dreams that I possess
To think I was acting like a believer
When I was just angry and depressed
And to everything there is no meaning
A season of pain and hopelessness
I shouldn't have looked for revelation
I should have resigned myself to this
I thought I could change the world around me
I thought I could change the world for best
I thought I was called in convocation
I thought I was sanctified and blessed
But now it strengthens me to know the truth at last
That everything comes from consummation
And everything comes with consequence
And I did it all with exultation
While you did it all with hopelessness
Yes, I did it all with adoration
While you killed it off with all of your holy mess
What now?
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?
What now?
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
In "The Ascension" by Sufjan Stevens, the lyrics depict a reflection on life, mortality, and the consequences of one's actions. The singer contemplates what will be said about their life after death, realizing that there are things left unsaid and unconfessed. They acknowledge that their pursuit of personal fulfillment and unrest prevented them from truly connecting with others. The arrival of evidence, represented as a chariot of vindication, offers an opportunity to reveal what is right and blessed. However, the singer realizes too late that they had asked too much of those around them and should have taken responsibility for their own actions. The ascension, symbolic of a transformative spiritual experience, now falls upon them.
The second verse introduces Cordelia, who appears in a chariot hallucination. This vision brings both joy and wrath, but it also accuses the singer. They are urged to show what is right and best, highlighting their previous struggle with selfishness. The lyrics address the messiness and complexity of life and the inability to possess and control it. The singer acknowledges their own selfishness and how it had been favored during a time when selfishness was encouraged. They reflect on the fear of realizing that they had been seeking reasons for the messiness of life, acting as if they were a believer when they were really just angry and depressed. The song concludes with the realization that everything comes with consequences and consummation, emphasizing that the singer approached life with adoration while others experienced hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
When I am dead and the light leaves my breast
When I have passed away and my life force diminishes
Nothing to be told, nothing to confess
No secrets or confessions left to share
Let the record show what I couldn't quite confess
May the evidence speak for what I couldn't fully admit
For by living for myself, I was living for unrest
Because my selfish existence caused turmoil and dissatisfaction
Then the evidence came back in a chariot of vindication
Proof returned triumphantly, bringing justification
Something to behold, glorious in its path
A sight to marvel at, magnificent in its presence
But the prophecy fell back
Yet the foresight faltered
As it gave to me an invitation
Presenting an opportunity to me
Show them what is right, show them what is blessed
Demonstrate righteousness, reveal true blessings
But now it strikes me far too late again
Now I realize, though belatedly
That I was asking far too much of everyone around me
I demanded excessive from those near me
And now it strikes me far too late again
And now I comprehend, though tardily
That I should answer for myself
That I should take responsibility for my actions
As the ascension falls upon me
As elevation and enlightenment encompass me
So what should be said, of a life that leaves its mess?
What can be spoken about a life that leaves chaos behind?
For once your life was sold, it could never be possessed
Once your life was exchanged, it could never be fully owned
You were selfishly as a continent
You acted selfishly like a landmass
You were finally at your best
You reached your peak in self-centeredness
For you favored for yourself when selfishness was blessed
Because you prioritized yourself when selfishness was praised
Then Cordelia came back in a chariot hallucination
Then Cordelia returned symbolically, but as an illusion
Something to rejoice, glorious in its wrath
Something to celebrate, magnificent in its anger
But the prophecy was a pantomime
But the prediction was a pretense
As it came to me in accusation
It approached me with blame
Show them what is right, show them what is best
Guide them towards righteousness, reveal what is superior
And now it frightens me, the thought against my chest
And now I am scared of the thought pressing against my heart
To think I was asking for a reason
To realize I was seeking a justification
Explaining why everything's a total mess
Elucidating why everything is in complete disarray
And now it frightens me, the dreams that I possess
And now the dreams I have cause me fear
To think I was acting like a believer
To consider that I was pretending to be faithful
When I was just angry and depressed
When in reality, I was only filled with anger and sadness
And to everything there is no meaning
And there is no significance in anything
A season of pain and hopelessness
A period characterized by suffering and despair
I shouldn't have looked for revelation
I shouldn't have searched for enlightenment
I should have resigned myself to this
I should have accepted my circumstances
I thought I could change the world around me
I believed I could alter the world surrounding me
I thought I could change the world for best
I thought I could improve the world
I thought I was called in convocation
I believed I was summoned for an assembly
I thought I was sanctified and blessed
I thought I was purified and favored
But now it strengthens me to know the truth at last
But now it empowers me to finally understand the truth
That everything comes from consummation
That everything arises from completion
And everything comes with consequence
And everything carries repercussions
And I did it all with exultation
And I did everything with jubilation
While you did it all with hopelessness
While you did everything filled with despair
Yes, I did it all with adoration
Indeed, I did everything with adoration
While you killed it off with all of your holy mess
While you destroyed it all with your chaotic sanctity
What now?
What comes next?
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?
(What now?
What now?
What comes next?
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
(What now?)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L. G.
When I am dead and the light leaves my breast
Nothing to be told, nothing to confess
Let the record show what I couldn't quite confess
For by living for myself, I was living for unrest
Then the evidence came back in a chariot of vindication
Something to behold, glorious in its path
But the prophecy fell back as it gave to me an invitation
Show them what is right, show them what is blessed
But now it strikes me far too late again
That I was asking far too much of everyone around me
And now it strikes me far too late again
That I should answer for myself as the ascension falls upon me
So what should be said of a life that leaves its mess?
For once your life was sold, it could never be possessed
You were selfishly as a continent, you were finally at your best
For you favored for yourself when selfishness was blessed
Then Cordelia came back in a chariot hallucination
Something to rejoice, glorious in its wrath
But the prophecy was a pantomime as it came to me in accusation
Show them what is right, show them what is best
But now it strikes me far too late again
That I was asking far too much of everyone around me
And now it strikes me far too late again
That I should answer for myself as the ascension falls upon me
And now it frightens me, the thought against my chest
To think I was asking for a reason explaining why everything's a total mess
And now it frightens me, the dreams that I possess
To think I was acting like a believer when I was just angry and depressed
And to everything there is no meaning, a season of pain and hopelessness
I shouldn't have looked for revelation, I should have resigned myself to this
I thought I could change the world around me
I thought I could change the world for best
I thought I was called in convocation
I thought I was sanctified and blessed
But now it strengthens me to know the truth at last
That everything comes from consummation, and everything comes with consequence
And I did it all with exultation while you did it all with hopelessness
Yes, I did it all with adoration while you killed it off with all of your holy mess
What now?
What now?
Alex Meechan
One of the best songs Sufjan has ever written imo
Johnny Hinton
yes
WhoDa WhatNow
Agreed. And as I read this comment and listen to this song. It has 111 thousand views and was uploaded 11 months again. A magical song really.
Zed Boringer
Def. His most self important... Imo
Carlos Garrido
Of course.
MD-80
My older brother was a huge admirer for Sufjans work since the day I have recommended him. He passed away this year. How much I wish that he could listen to this beautiness. "I thought I could change the world around me." Well, Sufjan's music did change mines since his release of 'Carrie and Lowell'. The desperation in his softly voice surrounds me like I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every moment I am listening to him.
HOPELESS Ent.
Sorry for your loss and may the Trees in The Field Clap Their Hands when he ascended.
dorfal8855
May god bless your brother's soul
Tionne · ティオンヌ
So sorry for your loss, may he RIP and God bless🙏💕
Ronney Rendon
He may not be here "in the flesh," but he is very much still alive. The fact that you just wrote about him in. such a detailed. manner, don't be fooled. His spirit is very much still alive. He is alive as long as you keep him alive. Things aren't always. black and white. Things aren't always the. way we're told. HE is alive and by your side always. Never forget that. Speak to him. Share your stories with him. And look for signs. Leaves falling from trees. Birds flying between trees. The snail crossing the road. The cry of a child. People get stuck saying: why this. Why that. Why why why. Don't ask why. Give thanks. Your brother gave you gifts and you're a gift, and although we don't often know what it. is or why we are here etc, give the world your love and give to those struggling and help those who fall: give. Give to others is my only advise to you. Much love and adoration. xoxo ps: dia de los muertos is coming up (Nov 1st and 2nd) maybe make a small (or large) alter with photo's of your brother and things he loved (any foods and or gifts that he gave you) maybe play his favorite sujyan music too. On Nov 1st and 2nd light candles around your alter and sit with his photos and partake in food and desserts that he enjoyed and i promise you he will be right there, sitting with you, crying with you, laughing with you, etc. I do this every year and it helps a lot to keep in touch with all my loved ones.