Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day

[mayabelle1107]

I dig you a whole bunch... Obvious by dozens of posts. I have a hard time understanding why people that literally abhor God with every fiber of their being are so surprised that a human that believes that a 15 billion light year universe would adore every note you strum, sing, pluck and blow? The greatest thing I've ever learned is that I know absolutely nothing at all....

[BrettBelleau]

Ok, so I'm not the only one who cried from listening to this haha. Incredibly beautiful.

[Juffanator]

This girl I've been into since 7th grade showed me this last night. I'm 20 now and we're still best friends. It was my last night at home before I took back off to the other side of the country. It was some of the most precious time of my life spent. I miss her dearly, can't wait to see her again in this life. Love her and this song.

[123iluvoranges]

@Juffanator go out with her! what are you waiting for..... 7th grade????

[shegwin]

@Juffanator FRIEND ZONE....

[Ilovebluebellstulips]

@irrepressiblenobody hummhuhm...cough..screw.cough cough. you.haha

[tjfrisch]

I am from Pulaski, Wisconsin - Casimir's image is displayed all over town. He was a great man.

[TheTaterlegs]

This song makes me cry. My first love showed me this song :/

[AnnaBanan2012]

@spazztikpinkAK47 Remind me to check back here in a couple of weeks. I'm waiting on a friend to finish reading it so I can borrow it.

[Bobfransisco]

Most beautiful song I have ever heard.

[spazztikpinkAK47]

Listening to this while reading TFiOS was a terrible idea.

[ihearttheplanet]

@spazztikpinkAK47 dude i was reading till 3 am sobbing, listening to thins in my ipod till 3am next day i was still a wreck. I feel your pain ! dftba

[Bubzie96]

@spazztikpinkAK47 oh my god i did the same thing. my heart was aching </3

[MagicWitaPen37]

Cant get enough of this :) its a fucking drug.

[TheKittenButcher]

his music is simultaneously comforting and heartbreaking.

[mayabelle1107]

Thank you God for someone like Sufjan.

[nitrii]

god i love this song

[StaleMilk5]

;__;

[Lilly0Kins]

Cry like a bitch every time. EVERY TIME

[twivamprob]

This has to be my favorite song and I've spent some time trying to depict what Sufjan Stevens meant by this song. I've realized that it really doesn't matter what he thinks or feels when he sings this song, because everyone is going to interpret it differently and apply it to life in their own way. That's the beauty of real, meaningful music. Anyone can relate to "Casimir Pulaski Day" whether they knew/know someone with cancer or not. Thank God for real music like this.

[barbielovesjjbk]

this song is perfect.



[StudioScarecrow]

;_;

[purplepanic100]

<3 dis song shoo mchhh....

[nicole22rox]

so beautiful, makes me cry

[Wakaboo14]

Beautiful.

[herbo102]

Brilliant song, but what's with the 3 minutes of silence at the end?

[CottrillMusic]

life



[johnj1027]

This is a very sad song.

[JBrrou]

bromances...

[MRKRSHTN]

I'm confused how anyone could go out of there way to show they dislike a Sufjan Stevens' song. Especially this one, this is one of his best songs, it seems almost impossible not to love this song, at least people with souls could be indifferent to this song, but how can 28 people actually thumbs down this?

[SugarCitruss]

@MRKRSHTN Well, there is a fact... stupid people exists...  Sufjan is an awesome artist!

[Maarrii94]

Sufjan, you make such relaxing music.

[TheKianabanana]

Love this song<3

[aliekaleidoscope]

Man tear

[shimmerandsparkle13]

he is so amazing.

[immydadsson13]

(y) thumbs up

[MrPatoo123]

Thumbs if you live in Illinois

[JSLP5]

no comment...

[johnzachariaspeters]

this song is simply amazing.

[peanutvdo]

I listen to this song at least once a day.

[chriswilson333]

@wendywasher123 well, your a pussy. 

[2469097241]

I can't even begin to explain how much this song moves me.

Nostalgia, nostalgia.

[labonneruerouge]

if the meaning of this song isn't obvious to you you are hopeless

[rosydonut]

I have the feeling this song is something to do with Cancer, yet like most Sufjan Stevens songs it is ultimately confusingly beautiful.

[sadpanda256]

@rosydonut I think its about losing a lover and the struggle with religion that comes along with it.

[jimihendrixowns1]

@sadpanda256 and he takes, and he takes, and he takes ...

[libbyrosevaughan]

@rosydonut Maybe it's because he says "cancer of the bone". She has osteosarcoma, unless it's a metaphor :/ The thing is, I hardly think she'd be able to run if she had that since osteosarcoma is primarily found in the leg...but...you never know.

[holyghostsss]

I could listen to this forever.

[aerok91]

reminds me of iron and wine

[8Bosco]

Reddit



[IIoWoII]

@8Bosco Harp

[viveronn]

this made me cry.

[MiaowMeoww]

I cried myself to sleep once because of this song.

Damn good song.

[pinktractorbeam]

@MiaowMeoww did the exact same thing last night

[hippotoast]

@viveronn you people are worse than hitler

[rgbananaful]

i love how there's totally 4 minutes of silence after this song. It's like it ends and then you have time to just sit and think about the amazingness you just witnessed.

[babikaish]

@rgbananaful

i agree, it gave me opportunity to think about recent events close to me. thank you for the respite. there is not enough of it in today's various media.

[xrockxmusicx]

His music takes me to another world...

[revolver0916]

oh my gosh... this is the first song that actually made me cry

[russisgay123]

i have to take a shit

[jugjugsthekoolaidman]

@ds4433 best book ever! Best song ever! But they are both very sad yet very beautiful :(

[libertyhopeful18]

i love this song. when i listen to this album all the way through this is the like the peak of everything. the climax. so much emotion. i can't believe an album this good was made by a human being. man oh man.

[senrivlin]

Remind me why this song is called "Casimir Pulaski Day"?

[thetennispro5]

@senrivlin well the albums name is illinoise and all the schools in the Chicago area get off for a day called Casimir Pulaski Day in honor of a polish general.

[Theblakelton]

@senrivlin The song interweaves a fictional account of star-crossed lovers with the locally recognized holiday Casimir Pulaski Day as indicated by the lyric, "... in the morning, in the winter shade, on the first of March, on the holiday..."

[senrivlin]

@Theblakelton Oh. That makes more sense.

[johnseemore25]

@senrivlin because when the girl died she died on 'Casimir Pulaski Day' its an actual holiday.

[iheartgreatmusic]

@senrivlin Casimir Pulaski day is an Illinois holiday that happens on the first Monday of every March, so when this person died "On the first of March, on the holiday".

[shoespeak]

this has always been one of my favorites. it is so sad

[SlavBP]

11.10 is today Casimi Pulaski Day

[ryanl1984]

This song made me cry. Beauty is everywhere.

[BenkaiDebussy]

People who think this/Sufjan Stevens is great because he uses so many instruments and has long instrumental segments need to listen to some classical music. There's stuff a hell of a lot better and emotionally moving that also uses a lot of instruments (and uses them in far more interesting/better ways).

I don't think Sufjan Stevens is bad. I just think his music is extremely simple and boring.

[skikkja]

@BenkaiDebussy

Since when did technical prowess have anything to do with being a good musician and songwriter? Music is art,not a competition.

[lefunk6]

@BenkaiDebussy Sometimes simplicity is appropriate... Sufjan's music has heart.

[VivaLaMente]

Today in history my teacher asked if anyone knew the name of the Polish aristocrat that fought in the battle for Savannah during the American revolution. He said 'I'll give you a hint. His last name is Pulaski'. I said Casimir. I was right.

Can't say Sufjan never taught me anything =3

[vidviewer23]

@VivaLaMente Once, a long while back when I was in junior high, I was able to answer a similar type question (about a law passed in '64) due to a Bruce Hornsby song. Let us all send a big THANK YOU to all singers/songwriters who educate kids of important things, all the while passing it off as merely entertainment.

[HunterJumpGirl]

@VivaLaMente aparnlty Sufjan Stevens helps alot of people remember things. =D

[jimihendrixowns1]

@VivaLaMente But if that's the only thing he taught you...you aren't listening hard enough.

[amberh556]

@VivaLaMente

Did he really, or did you just want a cool comment?

I saw you posted on another video with the same general idea.

[VivaLaMente]

@amberh556 No,no, he seriously did. It happened.Probably the most awesome moment of my life x3 I must have gotten a bit too excited about it and posted it twice on two different videos. I apologize for that, I was just really excited... These things make me happy. Waaaay too happy xD

[StudioScarecrow]

I have not heard music this moving since I listened to Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees."

Wow.

[fuckyourcouchish]

@SolanCrawford right there with ya, buddy. god damn, haters of wonderful music

[Dubbidubdub]

And he takes and he takes and he takes

Remember my friends, take in all the beauty and happiness and love you can in this world before God, in his un-understandable mightiness, takes you out.

[2K9SHPN]

@Dubbidubdub God doesn't take you out, he takes you Home where His beauty, love and happiness are unimaginable.

[awayonsoapyheels]

Favorite Sufjan song. ;___;

[SolanCrawford]

26 people have no souls

[EforVendettaa]

I cried.

[JavaLavaIce]

"and He take and He takes and He takes" omg gives me chills everytime.

[DannyWilliamH]

Terribly sad and yet beautiful song. The line that always chokes me up is:

"Tuesday night at the bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body but nothing ever happens."

Man, that feeling of being absolutely powerless. Such a strong line.

[ds4433]

This reminds me of the end of The Things They Carried.

[awayonsoapyheels]

@ds4433 Oh my god, don't even remind me. ;_;

[michaelfingard]

@XTheCrazyChicyX who else does?

[natethepurplepirate]

<3 4:20

[paleguyalden]

Yes this song is pressed full of emotion, not to mention the melody is in a major scale yet its harmony comes out in minor notes. Very well done in my opinion.

[TheSpartanK11]

To any and all who say that he wrote true art because he's lost, well, anyone know the old saying, "Only in suffering can we truly see beauty"?

[vieuhi9]

thanx+++ sufjan for your songs !

[justcheckingoklol]

praise God!

[MeLlamoAllison]

A friend suggested I listen to this song, and I am now eternally indebted to her.

[sean0395]

This is like the saddest song in the universe.

[mabianco39]

This song is pure poetry.

[fiascorhymes]

this should have been in the film The Family Stone

[McSqueaky]

There's true hurt in this song, and true art comes naturally to those who have lost.

[teejay89656]

@McSqueaky Art doesn't need pain to be great. But that kind of art is usually more appreciated by people who have experienced pain. Which might be why you think stands out.

[teejay89656]

@teejay89656 this*

[kisakizulu]

This is probably the only Sufjan Stevens song I will ever like (not trying to hate, just pointing out this song is good. :D)

[EricaJCoburn]

@kisakizulu haha same here, this was the first son I listened to of his and it's amazing, but not many of his songs have such an effect on me

[emmalinia]

a camp counselor showed me this song 3 years ago and i forgot the name of the song and artist and now i finally found it :)

[MrSlimflux]

A very soothing voice and sound that despite its heartbreaking themes, just keeps you coming back year after year .!!

[1348andy]

high on life! :D

[turtlewings]

These days I don't often think of my friend who died at the age of 12 (same age as me), but this song brings back all those memories with excruciating clarity.

[Splinterrrr]

I can't personally relate to this song at all, but somehow it always saddens me and gives me tears, such beauty. You can just picture the images in your head, like it's a very sad movie.

[castillopazos]

a friend of mine has a cover for this song. every time i hear her play i fall in love with her

[BluePumpkin7]

if you put on headphones while listening to this song you will hear someone saying "1,2,3" in the begining of this song

[MyMusicalProject]

I don't know what it is about this song, or the feeling I get... It's strange, it's like I'm in love, but just with life or something. I feel... Good. :)

[MrZoWii]

@MyMusicalProject Have you ever actually listened to the lyrics?

[MyMusicalProject]

@MrZoWii I don't think you understand what I am saying. I'm not saying what the lyrics are portraying, I'm saying what it makes me feel. Yes, I have looked at the lyrics and in fact read many arguements about what it is about. Regardless, that is not at all relevant to what my comment was about.

[maplobats]

I love the sound of the horns in this song...they sound so sad and mournful, and yet they seem to convey a sense of hope at the same time...

[gossamer999]

True story. Whenever I hear it I get all calm and thoughtful, thinking about all the pain this world has in store for all of us. Just remember that when you're hurting that there is someone who has it worse around, whether it be physical or emotional. And to never forget who your friends really are because they always seem to have a knack for pulling you out of the dark.

[MrTahsein]

whenever i listen to this song i get a lump in my throat...Such heartfelt, honest music.

[cpopester]

Whenever I listen to this song I think of "A walk to remember"

[Aeroqoi]

i love this song. it inspired me to write a poem

[laughitoff23]

i really love this song. o.o

[Yazackie]

Who the hell cares who its specifically about? Its fucking amazing, and thats all that matters.

[cooksey13]

@Yazackie the history of what inspired a song occasionally interests people yanno?

[Yazackie]

@cooksey13 I guess I can try to relate to that, but not by much.

[loserbiotch2]

Oh the glory when he took our place

But he took my shoulders and he shook my face

And he takes and he takes and he takes

[21abbey]

claytonsstory . com

Clayton Mcdonald, this one's for you.

[shhmellshlikeasshhhh]

<3

[fillXinXblankXstares]

Most beautiful song ever written.

[13Bee1]

there's something about this song that soothes my mind and heart

[sh4dowk1ller66]

lol comment removed that was for me :P

[KingOfCarrotFIowers]

@sh4dowk1ller66 yeah i replaced it for you, sans typo :p

[sh4dowk1ller66]

@KingOfCarrotFIowers Lol

[gordonumus]

ya I can play this song on the guitar...if only i could stop crying long enough to actually finish it

[JustValeriefy]

@MrMiguel18 I cried when I read that book, and this song is also really sad so I totally agree with you

[sh4dowk1ller66]

Ummm why is rebecca black related to this!?!?!??

[SH3D3V1L941]

@sh4dowk1ller66 lmao i was just thinking the same thing until i realized it's just in the Featured Video box.

[Salu1999]

I am saddened by the folks posting hate (even wishes of harm) to others who simply have different tastes in music, and it happens to not include this song.

[tehsplendiferousone]

one of the best songs ever, in my opinion.

[mrkababman]

Its amasing what a song an tell in only 4 minutes

[MrMiguel18]

Probably one of the saddest songs i've heard. Reminds me of a book called "Before I Die" by Jenny Downham. Very sad.

[rosehannahme]

@MrMiguel18 exactly what i thought, such a sad book.

[ToErikaWithLove]

This song is so comforting, to know I'm not alone in my grief.

[Cheezyfries1223]

My best friend's mom died from cancer almost a year and this song makes me mourn for her. My heart hurts for her and all those who have lost someone special. Lovely song <3

[thepweencess]

can this be the soudntrack to my life.

[broadwaymelody33]

This song reminds me of my junior year of high school. I had 2 deaths in the family, and the death of a friend, and I felt like this song had a bittersweet empathy for me.

[broadwaymelody33]

This song reminds me of my junior year of high school. We had lots of deaths in the family, and I felt like this song had a bittersweet empathy for me.

[modashiangel]

every time i start listening to this song i think my guitar has started playing itself lol

[iwazused]

@modashiangel HAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAH­AhahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH­AHAHAHHAHAhahahahaHAHAHAHAHAha­hahaAHAHHAAH LOLOLOLOLOLOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHA SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!!!

[mtenkate]

Thank you for posting this. I feel a bit better after a good cry....

[nightmareassassin64]

maybe the 19 people who disliked this thought it said "dis- i- like !"

[kels327]

@nightmareassassin64

... no.

[BlackJewGirl]

this song...*words*

[Mrs2011317]

I feel like crying everytime I hear this song.....:(

I love it though, it gives me goosebumps.

[riseup20twelve]

for anyone who's lost someone dear to them to cancer

[lovepink255]

i press the like button on this song everyday

[Anonymouscommentor99]

This song broke my heart.  NOW I get to rebuild it. sorry I misspelt it

[watchNHK]

@Anonymouscommentor99 It's okay, i'll mispell something to help repair your hart.

Loves me some Sufjan.

[Anonymouscommentor99]

This song broke my heart. No I get to rebuild it.

[LiamCrowley1990]

I've been listening to The Age of Adz a lot lately, very stark contrast between that and this. Love both albums though, very clever guy. This is my favourite song by him though.

[collykeogh]

i just do not realise how anyone could dislike this song do the have no humanity

[HunterJumpGirl]

love the trumpet solos but at the end does it sound like there only buzzin g with there mouth peices to anyone else?

[TwinkleTarts]

The silence at the end is much needed after the pure and beautiful emotion of this song.. <3

[MrJas1991]

The top rated comments are hilarious lmao

[Fanchus]

Why is Justin Bieber on the related videos? WHY?

[stephenthetech]

@Fanchus Cuz you've been watching them.

[Fanchus]

@stephenthetech FFFFUUUU-- You caught me...