Most people interpret the song as metaphorical, alluding to God. Also, he's never said he's gay, so your interpretation is probably incorrect. It is an interesting take, nevertheless :)
@@Straumnes this song has two (obvious) levels of meaning, and by rejecting one of them - like you're doing - it becomes harder to understand the other and the work in it's entirety. don't do this to yourself :(
@@bpinheiro4748 They're not obvious at all, and it's weird to ascribe a sexuality to someone who's publicly never talked about it before. Especially when it's gay men doing it to a man who's likely straight. It's just a little predatory and fetishistic :(
the only explanation on why sufjan never hit his wings to anything on stage eventhough there is like 265938 instruments there is because he is an angel and he is already used to having wings
I first heard this song almost a decade ago. It broke through me in a way almost nothing else ever has. Revisiting with the news of Sufjan’s partner’s death. I don’t even know how to talk or think about any of it-grief and love are too close. But this song still gives me hope, in a strange way. It gave me hope as a scared-to-death closeted teenager and it gives me hope as an adult who now has a hard time summoning hope. I don’t know.
i can’t get over the duality between religion and his yearning for his friend as the two choruses clash and fight to be heard over the other, a head and the heart almost in a battle on what they want.
At 2:00 it’s if he’s recalling a memory and starts to smile then he quickly catches himself and assumes his former serious expression. This is simultaneously so sweet and so sad especially because the lyrics at the end of that phrase :(
I’m so spoiled. I was a U.C.L.A. student, and my roommate and I would drive to Malibu on Sundays listening to this entire album. This song is ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Stevens' ability to rip right through me emotionally is unparalleled. He is a fucking genius for everything that he makes. When the orchestra kicks into full gear, it's such an intense rush of feeling.
Same. This song has been part of my life since 2005 and I still don’t know how to handle the emotion it evokes in me. So I just cry and sing along in the most dramatic embodiment of life I can imagine. I would give anything to see him live
Probably my favourite live version of a song. The endings so beautiful :( such a bittersweet song; it's mostly a beautiful and positive thing, but something about the switch to past tense at the end (he was my best friend) feels...sad...
Seeing Sufjan performing is such a strange and mystical experience. Such a humble and genuine human and yet filled with such extreme talent and creativity. He’s definitely not of this earth. An angel of music come to save the voice of humanity.
To be with someone as beautiful and deep as Sufjan and then be the inspiration for one of the most beautiful songs of his...... It wouldn't make my day, it would make my LIFE, personally.
oh my god how is this possible … how can something this beautiful and painful and heartfelt be created … this entire experience felt like having someone rip my heart out with their bare hands
Jeez what a feat to make something like this sound so good live. A lot of nuance and instruments hitting perfectly to make this work. Great performance.
When I had a head injury and had to lay in the literal dark, this is all I listened to. The way the players follow his commands at the end, putting method his madness, was so beautiful to me.
Okay, so fun music nerd thing: while the album version of this song is clearly in 3/4, I firmly believe that this version is in a lilting 4/4. For one thing, it makes the drawing-out of some phrases, like “meant-to-tease-him” work better, and second, it’s cool that Stevens is a gifted enough composer to write such a beautiful song in multiple time signatures! If you need some help feeling it, try hearing the opening guitar part as 1-2-3-4, or the “we were in love” as “(1)we were (2)in (3)lo-o-(4)ove”.
@@Taerus I mean, I wouldn’t really argue that. If anything, the lulling back-and-forth pulse could be an indication that it’s in 6/8. For 6/4, you have to feel six distinct beat divisions, and I don’t really hear that.
It's Austin city limits. You can find the full thing on RU-vid but this song was too good to be buried in a full concert and needed It's own video. I hope you enjoybitand love exploring his music
the look on his face when he sings "we were in love".... he meant so much for him, he means so much for us, and we never knew it. God in Heaven, please heal this man who is suffering from a horrible disease. He is a Christian man,he is one of your flock, please God heal him so that he may bless us with his presence for all of his days and ours.
Do we know what show this was from? My first sufjan show was from this tour and to date it is easily one of my favorite concerts. I don’t know what I will do if I ever lose that recording. 😢
I always feel a little bit bad for Sufjan in that he’s a Christian who mainly appeals to atheist hipsters in much the same way that Ta-Nehisi Coates is mainly read by upper-middle class white people.
