"For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" - Sufjan Stevens

Hello All,

I swear, I’m not religious. I’m religious in the way most Californians are; we’re not religious, we’re spiritual. Ok, I’m not going to offend anyone but I’ll just go on record to say that I’m struggling between being agnostic and being atheist. It’s just, God, I hate a lot of the things religion does to people. I’m not quite sure if my use of God was a figure of speech or if it was me addressing him. But I do know one thing, I love a lot of the songs that are inspired by religion. Not P.O.D. bullshit but stuff like Sufjan, Iron and Wine, Cat Power, etc.

With this song I just feel it might have been a little too overt; it seems like he’s talking as if he was God. But I’m going to make this leap and apply the whole, 5% notion of Islamic thought that you are the ruler and controller of your own destiny and interpret it that way. So when I do hear this song, it kind of makes me feel like the soul is talking to the cavity because they are not in sync with each other. Maybe it’s an empty chair at your birthday party, maybe it’s being passed up on for a job. It can be one of those beach-magnetism moments I always talk about. The tumultuous instability that comes after the end of a relationship, perhaps? I don’t know.

I see this song scoring those moments in life. Moments where you’ve done what you were supposed to do — get the job, succeed, get the girl, multiply, get the house,mow the lawn, etc. but the feeling of defeat overshadows the accomplishments. Those times, where, where the last viable option to validate yourself is to leave behind a legacy.

You know what I’m saying, just when you’re just at odds with yourself, and you’ve followed the recipe to a fucking T and you’re left eating nothing but “what the fucks.”

-- Sonnyred

http://www.box.net/shared/8kq6u92p36

FOR THE WIDOWS IN PARADISE, FOR THE FATHERLESS IN YPSILANTI

I've have called you children
I have called you son
What is there to answer
If I'm the only one
Morning comes in Paradise
Morning comes in light
Still I must obey
Still I must invite

If there's anything say
If there's anything to do
If there's any other way
I'd do anything for you

I was dressed in embarrassment
I was dressed in white
If you had a part of me
Will you take your time
Even if I come back
Even if I die
Is there some idea
To replace my life

Like a father to impress
Like a mother's morning dress
If we ever make a mess
I'll do anything for you

I have called you preacher
I have called you son
If you have a father
Or if you haven't one
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you

I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you