Sufjan Stevens- Impossible Soul 

Can't wait to play this song being like "ok just one more song and then you can pick the music" during a car ride.

I like how his 40 second songs have entire sentences for titles, and his 25 minute song only has two words. Oh, sufjan.

Spotify: Now get ready for 30 minutes of ad-free music Me: 🙃

Yall ever say "alright, i'm gonna listen to this part of impossible soul" but end up listening to the whole thing because the start is so good?

Before: UGH, this is gonna take SO LONG After:No wait, don't end

This is the best discoteque-autotune-synthrock-dance-hippityhop-techno freakout jam I've ever heard.

I was going to commit suicide to this song in 2014. I believed it was the perfect song to go out to, and believed it represented my mental illness perfectly. Glad to say I'm still listening in 2020. To everyone out there going through depression - it gets better.

I almost died to this song. Driving the Duffy to Whistler BC, Canada. Its one of the most dangerous highways in BC. The sky was black, snow was falling, the fog was bellowing, rocks were unhinging, ice was questioning. I almost fainted I was so overwhelmed as a 80lb rock snuck into my beams and I swerved. Whats the lyrics "dont be distracted" as I was about to die. Thanks Sufjan

To all those who get anxious seeing the longer running time: Don't be. This song is so dynamic throughout it's entirety that it is basically like having 5 songs that just were pasted together. All of which compliment each other so well, and are lyrically and musically interesting (as usual with Sufjan). It's not impossible.

The genius of this song hits you like a train when, after listening to it all the way through for the first time, you listen to it again.

All of this song is amazing. However, "Not So Impossible" (the part at 13:48) was played at my wedding, right after the bride was kissed. All of the happy feels were had that day.

Never listened to Sufjan Stevens before, so you can imagine my surprise when i first listen to this song on full volume with earphones. One of the best experiences of my life.

I'm not going to say this song "cured" my depression, because we all know that isn't how depression works. But after dealing with it for a long and terrible year, I remember, in the early days when I was starting to feel more like myself again, I heard this song for the first time. And it was one of the first songs I'd heard in a while that actually held my attention, for how weird and entertaining it is. And I also remember it felt really good to feel like I could engage with a piece of music, or any kind of art, again. I played this song on repeat for a few days and to this day it still cheers me up.

I take the long way home just to finish this song when it plays

Man, this album grows on you. So many layers, once you know the melodies you can listen to all the subtleties and nuances. It's like a kaleidoscope's view of a meadow.

This is the perfect song to do homework to. Despite the beautiful sounds it's literally telling me not to be distracted. It's like it knows

Sufjan's second magnum opus, after Illinois. As if I needed anymore confirmation that he was an amazing musician, he goes from folk epics to electronics epics. Even better.

Wait this is one song? I clicked on this expecting the full album. Damn you Sufjan.

You need to be a really talented artist to make a 20 something minute long song that is able to keep listeners invested, and that is exactly what Sufjan Steven has accomplished. Masterpiece.

This is like, the best song of the decade.

In the wrong life, everything is chance Does it register? Do you wanna dance? In the right life, it's a miracle Possibility - do you wanna dance? Sufjan has the ability to put incomprehensible feelings into words and song, and I think that might be the mark of a true genius.

. I think I love this song more than I love a lot of other things . It is spooky I found this song while imprisoned. a state penitentiary. It directed the remainder of my life . The only song that matters as much to me is familiarity by punch brothers. But this one... It is primero uno. I don't think any song has ever moved me more. Thank you, sufjan There is something about your voice

I will come back to this song every few years until the light goes out. If I do things right, hopefully it will be playing when they come back on.

One of the best songs ever made. It´s like medicine. Keeps you warm through cold winter nights and lights up like the sun. I listen to this when I go running. Keeps me going. Makes me happy and cry and dance every time I listen to it. Kind of symbolizes life in all it´s shades.

just got some dope-ass sound cancelling headphones and I am ready to immerse myself in this song properly

I've been listening this for years now, and just discovered my second favorite artist after Sufjan (Shara Nova lead singer of My Brightest Diamond) is the one who does the solo section in 3:55 . I'm just blown away. And to be blown away at the 100th time you hear a 25min song is..... rare.... to say the least.

The last 3 minutes of this song is AHHMAZINGGGWGWGWG

This song is about exactly what it talks about. A boy in love with a girl. He feels like she loves him in a way that no other can. His impossible soul. The entire song is a journey of how is naive beliefs mature as his understanding of love and himself develops. Suffering, pain, struggle and growth. He learns how to live and as his mind and body grow through new focuses, he learns that its not as impossible as it first seemed. There could be no better name for this song. It really does capture the essence of the journey of the soul in love. Of all of Sufjans songs that iv heard, none i believe comes close to the sheer genius of this one song. It feels more like a diary.. this song feels so real.

I was interested on listening Sufjan Stevens's music right after I saw on an interview were he mentioned some albums that "changed his life", one of them was Ommadawn, by Mike Oldfield. Its also one of my favourite albums ever, so I decided to give it a try to his music. Ommadawn is considered a masterpiece by all the Oldfield fans, its a very special album. The kind of album that can really help you on a bad moment of your life. English is not my first language, but I'll try to explain. I feel that it's the kind of music that, instead of trying to cheer you up with silly and empty messages from the first time, like "hey, life is wonderful, be happy!" (but you can't absolutely feel that when you have a bad moment), its music which is like a friend that sits and talk with you, that really feels how are you feeling. Music that drawns with you into the deep... but just to give you a hand and rise stronger and better. I feel the same with Impossible Soul, I feel that kind of journey. I feel this is healing music. Thank you, Subaru.

I want to blast the 'don't be distracted' at full volume for the rest of my life

Sufjan's electronic work is his best work

sufjan was trying to go down In history with this masterpiece

I haven’t heard this song in years. I can’t believe I still know all the words. I listened to this song so much in high school, I just relived all those emotions and thoughts too. The age of adz is in my top 5 albums of all time. I still remember the first time I listened to the album on a 5 hour car ride and then a 10 hour flight. When this song came on I wondered if it was the same song for each part, it’s that cohesive and yet distinctive. I used this song as a measurement of time on the flight, and the last time I listened to it was the last flight I took before the pandemic. The first time I was just coming into my teenage years, the last time I was an adult. It still carries the same weight. Crazy.

I was trying to listen to an interview of Sufjan and hit this by accident. I had decided that I wouldn't like the album without ever listening to it. What could I have been thinking? Stevens is the best and most interesting contemporary musician.

I can play this on repeat for the rest of my life

I'm going to say, truthfully - this is the anthem of the new millennium. It speaks of so much love, cooperative love between us, that it deserves some award, a citizen's award for song of the century

0:00 - 3:56 Part 1 (The Impossible Soul) 3:56 - 9:55 Part 2 (Don't Be Distracted) 9:55 -13:48 Part 3 (Stupid Man) 13:48-22:20 Part 4 (Not So Impossible) 22:20 - End Part 5 (Pleasure Principle) I wonder if there are legit titles for each part of the song... As far as I know, only Pleasure Principle has a regular title... I also think this song is about an abusive relationship, mainly the absuive girlfriend. In "Drawn to the Blood," it was about an abusive relationship. I think this song is probably the same relationship. The Impossible Soul is about him being abused, the first stanza really enphesises that Oh, woman, tell me what you wantAnd I'll calm down without bleeding out With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour(mainline) Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul Don't Be Distracted is about his concious telling him to not be distracted by love and come to his senses. In Stupid Man, he breaks up and realizes how stupid he's been about the whole thing In Not So Impossible, he thinks he'll never find a girl, but finds out it's...well, the title. Pleasure Principle is pretty much the epilogue. They love eachother get married and have a happy life. Tell me what you think.

this is too short

Before we got seperated permanently my ex introduced me to this song, I was so blanked out at that moment cause I didn't knew how to feel or react about it. I was very interested as this song was 26 min long and now it's one of my favourite songs. The better feeling is that there's no more saudade while listening to this masterpiece

Wow, 25 minutes later and I am blown away by what I just experienced. So many sounds. So many notes and chords and lyrics and hooks. What an amazing piece. I think I'm going to buy this album...

the bohemian rhapsody of indie music

His songs are the kind of songs that I unhealthily enjoy but scared of to tune in too. It's so sad but comforting. Relevant to many yet unique. Then I just don't want to live anymore.

The first listen is the most important one. You don't expect anything, and assign importance to every new sound, allowing for a definitely moving experience. Man. This is wonderful art.

I have spent 4 years of my life creating two albums (36 songs) H2H. I feel they will go far, I'd prefer to be Galileo, live & enjoy my future in Solitude & Love. But your passion to be great Sufjan has inspired me to pursue helping others, & greatness. At all costs. You clicked different, these 26 minutes hit me deep. After hearing Get Real, Get Right as a youngster, I found this song & began listening to it everyday my freshman year of highschool; the worst times unfold when I lose my connection to this masterpiece. Thank you 1000x over for diving in when you did & presenty blazing your path. All your works are timeless. With love, till end of this song, - Jackson.

This song helped me through a messy break up, thanks sufjan. I'm doing a lot better now. :)

One of my favorite song of all time. This is the best song that most of the times manage to cheer me up from being moody... best song for me to recover when hearing this while having mental meltdown every times, lol. Thank you Sufjan ♥️. "In the right life! It's a miracle! Possibilities.... Do you wanna dance!?"

Anyone want to know why this song doesn't have any full remixes? It's not because it's too long, it's just perfect the way it is. What I mean is this batch of flowing related tracks have one purpose and can never have another when together. These five(ish) separate and diverse songs work so well together each exploring their own mood, such as our own lives. What makes it so good and unprecedented is that it captures all of the best aspects and attitudes of Stevens' music and in turn life itself that will never be accomplished again. The last one, the original that inspired the rest isn't my favorite, but it acts so well as a conclusion to the first twenty minutes and just isn't as good on its own. The same with my personal favorite; the one that goes "Boy, we can do much more together" because it lifts you out of the depression that the last song left behind. While the rest of "The Age of Adz" has become simple nostalgia to me, this song will live on for some time, even as "Carrie and Lowell" grows old. Oh, I'm ranting on RU-vid again. Oh well, I guess it's time to continue trudging through my boring life and eventually forget about my favorite song of all time. I still cry every time I hear the first word of each part.

Impossible Soul, AKA Depression: The Musical

wow....my atoms were dancing and my molecules were bobin thier heads

This song is beautiful. I wish I had someone special to share it with.

The contradictions in this song is what really makes me love it. The harshness of it contrasted with the gentle strumming of strings. The seriousness of it contrasted with the dancing track in between. I didn't get it the first time I listened to it. I was even turned off by it. But slowly, it started making sense. When you listen to it in its entirety, you see the beautiful picture Sufjan has painted. A masterpiece.

Wow, I'm falling in love with Sufjan's music all over again with this album. Thanks for posting!

As someone recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder, i can totally relate to parts of this album.

Congratulations, if you found this song your music tastes are excellent.

People complaining about the song length are clearly not fans of Post Rock.

(1) Oh, woman, tell me what you want And I'll calm down without bleeding out With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes I was wigging out, too much worry I could not get you at all And you said what you want, you would laugh it off But I know you won't go, not for it at last Must you write it off for the impossible soul? And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow Lest I put it off, for I put it right for the impossible soul And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you If I could get you at all Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all

I saw this live a few years ago... I cannot explain how incredible it was... It simply was...

He is so brilliant, it's crazy.

God. My GOD. So many years later and this song STILL blows my mind.

Ooh... Woman, tell me what you want And I'll calm down without bleeding out With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes I was wigging out, too much worry, I could not get you at all If you said what you want, you would laugh it off But I know you won't go, not for either class Must you write it off for the impossible soul? And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow Lest I put it off, 'fore I put it right for the impossible soul And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all my life to you, if I could get you at all Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone To the black of night, now I know it's not what I wanted at all You said something like, "All you want is all the world for yourself" But all I want is the perfect love, though I know it's small, I want love for us all And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all my life to you, if I could get you at all Oh, oh oh oh, trying to be something that I wasn't at all Do you want to be afraid? Do you want to be afraid? For life in the cage where courage's mate runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be alone? Do you want to be alone? For life is instead on righteousness led The seat and the head, of impossible flocks for an interest in books?? Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to love me more? Do you want to love me more? For love is the grain If watered and ?wind? is cursed by the same thing that nurtured its shame Is it worth all the work? Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Have you failed to feel delight? (No, I don't want to feel pain) And have you failed to feel delight? (No, I don't want to feel pain) Instead of the love, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts? Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be afraid? (No, I don't want to feel pain) Do you want to be afraid? (No, I don't want to feel pain) For life in the cage where where courage's mate runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Don't be distracted now [PART II:] Stupid man in the window I couldn't be addressed All my delight, all that mattered I couldn't be addressed From what I liked, from what I gathered I couldn't be addressed Stupid man in the window I couldn't be addressed (judgement, judgement) And don't be shy in the window Come down and give your best Oh, delight in the window I couldn't be addressed Stupid man in the window I couldn't be addressed From what I like, from what I gathered I couldn't give my best Now I know it wasn't safe It wasn't safe to breathe at all Now I know it wasn't safe It wasn't safe to breathe at all (It wasn't safe, it wasn't safe) Now I know it wasn't safe It wasn't safe to breathe at all (It wasn't safe, it wasn't safe) Now I know it wasn't safe It wasn't safe to speak at all [PART III:] (Hold on to, hold on to) One two three four! It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your faith together Better get it right It's a long life Better hit yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight It's a long life Only one last chance Could it get much better Do you wanna dance It's a long life Better pinch yourself Get your face together Better stand up straight Boy we can do much more together Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together It's not so impossible It's not so impossible It's a long life Better pinch yourself Get your face together Better roll along It's a long life Better pinch yourself Put your face together Better stand up straight It's a long life Only one last chance Couldn't get much better Do you wanna dance It's a good life Better pinch yourself Is it possible? Is it possible? Boy we can do much more together Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together Better get a life get a life get a life get a life Boy we can do much more together Better get it right get it right get it right get it right Boy we can do much more together It's not so impossible It's not so impossible [more of that, plus this variation:] In the wrong life Everything is chance at the register Do you wanna dance In the right life It's a miracle Possibilities. Do you wanna dance [PART IV:] I never meant to cause you pain My burden is the weight of a feather I never meant to lead you on I only meant to please me, however And then you tell me "Boy, we can do much more together." I'm nothing but a selfish man I'm nothing but a privileged peddler And did you think I'd stay the night? And did you think I'd love you forever? And then you tell me "Boy, we can do much more together." I gotta tell you "Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure" I gotta tell you boy, we made such a mess together Boy, we made such a mess together.

serious music. don't be distracted.

If I had a choice, I this would be the song I would choose for my eternity. Yes, my afterlife. This is my forever song One must wonder what inspired sufjan to create such an epic genre crossing masterpiece. It's no surprise he is musically genius, but this is such an escape from his style, that works so well.... How?

First time I listened to this album I loved it whole way thru, got sad that I was at the last song and then saw it was 25 mins long and was like "oh I'm in for a wild ride" and it didn't disappoint, one of the best closers of all time

This is truly a masterpiece. Absolutely phenomenal.

Dear Sufjan, Thank you so fucking much. That is all, A Friend

thanks for this. helped me so much. i’m crying on a bus. or i’m trying not to cry. there’s girls from my old school. i’m trying to stay sane. we’re not alone. you’ll find a friend and then life won’t be that long and that hard. just be patient and love your neighbors.

what i listen to when i need to get into the zone for assignments. the "don't be distracted" part fits perfectly.

i love sufjan so much i want to cry

This caught me off-guard. Coming from the man who pushes boundaries of concept albums, who mounts shows about his considerations of our solar system, who continues to pioneer and go beyond his own limits… well, I should have known this would be amazing. This is SO… damn… good.

Thank you for existing, Sufjan Stevens.

I just noticed that the end of this song weaves in almost perfectly with the start of Carrie & Lowell.

Great song. Kudos for the Joanna Newsom recommendation. She is a treasure, as is Sufjan.

a freaking masterpiece!! how the hell hadn't I listened to this sooner?? addicted

The climax of this song is like that parade scene from Paprika. Pure delirium and delight and chaos

Magical experience. Second time listening to it now, and I'm only just beginning to take in and hear all of the wonderful nooks and crannies of this song.

dear god I'm in love with this man's music

you know a song is perfect when 25 minutes are not enough.

I wonder if this was inspired in any way by Einstein on the Beach. Sufjan’s definitely a big fan of minimalism, and comparing the structure of each, you can really see the how it lines up. It’s got the big sections which reference each other from different perspectives, but only vaguely, mainly thematically. And it’s got the “knee play” idea: a repeating short chord progression that comes back inbetween the sections, imbued with a different flavor depending on what’s come before. Obviously Sufjan’s take is more folky and literal, but the parallels are pretty cool.

"Stupid man in the window..."

Enjoying my new discovery so much! Love to find hidden pearls like Sufjan Stevens

this will be remembered, just as vivaldi's four seasons stands the test of time

Every heart break. I find my way back to this tune. It's a goddamn masterpiece.

This is one of my favourite songs of all time.

1st and last sections are the best IMO

12:54 is such an underrated moment in this masterpiece of a song

Listening to this song and I've been going all night day and morning. So good.

few days ago, i was training and by random this song started to play......ufffffffffff best training that week.

The experience of listening to this art brings one in the realm of the sacred. I give thanks for sufjan and his ability to be a conduit to the DIVINE🕉♾

i love how the age of adz gets me everytime in a different way.

Has been my favorite song for the past three years and I'm still amazed by it ever I listen to it

This is such a superb song that the music washes over your soul... Sufjan Stephens is a master.

"Don't be distracted". Oh yeah? Well, I put on this racket to have something to listen to while working, and I was terribly distracted! (Btw, I love it)

This song is worth it for it's 25 minutes

this song is sooooooooooooo massive!!!! i listen to it on repeat since days!!! every line is true beauty, the flow, the different parts... god!

A travel. A good one. Thanks for your imaginatino, Sufjan.

This song is his honest take on why he is single

I really wanna recommend this song to someone.... An impossible soul... But I can't and I won't.. "Boy, we made such a mess together.."

thanks aloat, it's great! from your commentary in 2011. For me, this composer will be my favorite. Un régal pour mon esprit ! merci encore. Gadd

This song really grew on me, at first I didn't enjoy it that much but now it is one of my favorite sufjan songs

When he said "don't be distracted" I felt that