For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti

[MrDpm93]

The emotion on his face is incredible..



[bestfriendinamanger]

Sends shivers down any mans spine.

[benf392]

I am shocked that even one person disliked this.

[happy4prez]

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SUFJAN STEVENS:

1) He seems like a chill guy 2) His voice is flippin amazing 3) His eyes are sooo gorgeous 4) his music is phenomenal and doesn't need anything innapropriate like other artists do:/ 5) This man can wear t-shirts 6) He seems really sweet 7) there's just no way you can't love him(:

[schoulund]

great man .. just great... in the middle of the nothing playing a beautiful song.. congrats!

[nondovcsik]

does anyone know what his banjo is tuned to in this video?

[mascoutahforever]

@nondovcsik It's tuned in G.

[ethanwc]

@mascoutahforever Aren't all banjos open tuned to G?

[xample]

@nondovcsik Standard tuning with capo on second fret.



[corbetttt]

also, the location is excellent. the sky is just amazing in the background. cant work out if its evening approaching or dawn, or if its post storm or pre storm.

:o)

[corbetttt]

you know what I love most about this video is that Sufjan is at one with his music and feelings, and not playing for an audience or worried about whoever is filming moving around and zooming in etc. one of my favourite songs.

[xtullyx16]

just that beauty of unconditioned postive regard.. he sings of it with such love and beauty.

[kLaOyYlOeLeA]

seriously, can we leave religion out of it and just enjoy the beauty of sufjan's music? just listen and forget hatred.  listen and love.

[HammondBeast]

@kLaOyYlOeLeA Can we leave religion out? Yes. Can we leave God out? No

[kLaOyYlOeLeA]

@HammondBeast that's grand i never said to forget got. i just don't like how silly arguments arise out of religious issues when this is not a religious video. it is simply a man making beautiful music and i'm trying to remind everyone why we are all here: to watch sufjan play music:)

[bubblecarpet]

Does anyone know where in Austin this was filmed?

[TheCatTommy]

I miss the days when a youtube comment was a comment on the video that had just been watched. Not a desperate attempt to be the top comment.

[aiktai]

@TheCatTommy Yeah man everybody should like youre comment.....

[TheCatTommy]

@aiktai but i dont want that....

[jubjub2112]

Wait a minute . . . only 1,260,459 views?? SOMEbody besides me must have seen this clip!

[malthus101]

Banjo players, is this a closed back banjo then? Does an open back sound much different? What about the dif between 11" 12" and 13" banjos? I know nothing! Want to get one that sounds like Sufjan's sound, that's all I know...thanks.

[nathandeming]

@malthus101 Pretty sure it's a closed back banjo, I don't know what's the difference in sound

[Jonny0Colorado]

Badass...period.



[ThePoothyKnowsALL]

I love this song and Sufjan Stevens has inspired me to learn the banjo myself!!!

[JJerti]

O.C. Johnnys funeral. sadest moment after marissas death. only because of that unbelieveble great song! ALL THUMBS UP for that one!

[oncecursed1]

@JJerti favorite show!

[vindahg]

he kind of looks like adam sandler here haha

[izzyczzunow]

For some reason I always cry when I listen to this guy's music. I'm such a girl.

[chauntetherocker]

This is so cool. Gosh I love everything about it. The melody, the chords, and the lyrics. Bliss in simplicity. :-) some one said this guys name under an iron and wine video, so glad they did. :)

[richardsjoseph325]

nice sound,like a poem,very good

[netforce0]

i pooped in the fridge bitch now make me a car and drive me to the ocean and sail me to the moon and buy me shake and poke a dog in the face with a turkey leg that is covered in pokemon glitter

[ponceclovis]

R.I.P. Johnny Harper

[kinoko510]

Too much non- relevant talk here! Just appreciate his music please.

[SargeTheFourth]

Jeans and sneakers.

Sufjan might not exactly have been a fashion mistro in his early days, but he sure could play banjo like a god.

[Dinopirate]

IS THAT A FOUR OR FIVE STRING BANJO

[DaBomb3434]

@Dinopirate five

[jessmanyeah]

Sad Sufjan. It's amazing how his darker, slower music makes me the happiest.

[leesharon85]

i'm really diggin' that sxsw wrist band ^_^

[psychoflee]

is this place real??.. its soo beautiful.. o wait its because sufjan is there :)

[indetroit442]

jesus i love banjo

[JungOwwl]

dat banjo 

[kingtronk]

kinda lame that only half the comments on this page are actually about sufjan and his talent. that's called missing the point.

If you don't like what somebody else said, please don't perpetuate it by arguing.

[IIIHALTIAMREPTARIII]

@kingtronk your comment isn't about sufjan, it is about the lameness of the comments.

[shippudenfanatic]

Just a guy and his banjo...this is the way that music was supposed to be.

[fillXinXblankXstares]

I love his sexy deep voice at the beginning

[debbiepelbry]

@Muse13NJ @madmonkeymadness

I just don't think that dissing Gaga or Bieber in a YouTube comment makes you any smarter, wiser, nicer, or more of a hipster. It's ok to have certain artists you don't like, but at some point the comparisons you make make you look pretentious. Not liking something popular doesn't make you cooler than anyone else. If you really want to go countercultural, go be a Mennonite. Mennonites are cool

[IIIHALTIAMREPTARIII]

@debbiepelbry Why would hating on Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga make you more of a hipster? Large numbers in the population dislike these artists and publicly display their dislike. These artists need people to dis them for their own good. If everybody in the world liked Gaga, I strongly believe she would try to form her own religion and sacrifice the entire planet.

[jeromedewart]

@IIIHALTIAMREPTARIII Hahahaha freakin' awesome comment :D :D

[uglyguitarman]

@debbiepelbry Mennonites are freaking cool.

[redscopian4]

@debbiepelbry Mennonites are not cool. Anyone that isn't an atheist can't be cool as they have mental illness. Mental illness isn't cool.

[misslozbmx]

@debbiepelbry HEAR HEAR!

[eintourist]

@debbiepelbry bullshit, go be yourself!

[debbiepelbry]

Hey, on virtually every YouTube vid's comments, someone makes some childish remark about Justin Bieber. I am so sick of this; it stopped being funny a long, long time ago. Be it that Justin Bieber is a bit effeminate, and that people agree thar his voice is pretty high, you have to give the kid some credit for putting up with all the haters alone! When you add in the fact that his voice, despite some's taste in singing styles, is clear and on-key, concert or not; his ability to proficiently pla

[Muse13NJ]

@debbiepelbry so your sick of people making remarks about justin bieber.....and then you make a remark about justin bieber?

[madmonkeyness]

@debbiepelbry You're not making it any better by posting comments like yours.

[joshmore64]

i like how mello sufjan is . he doesnt have to shout or yell. new condensor mics are awesome.!

[MichaelLoveU]

Beautiful song!

[powellok1]

Thumbs up if you went back to find out what awakingdream89 had to say

[IndieAddiction]

Has anyone else heard the Good Natured's cover of this?

[fillXinXblankXstares]

Hell yes his SXSW bracelet makes me proud to live in Austin :)

[lightlyone]

Agnosticism is just sooo trendy these days, but this song shows what transcendence does for the soul and what clean energy it gives the spirit.

[ABC856]

3>!!!

[bitterxmeadowx]

suuuufffjjaaaan you make my heart melt. youre beautiful

[ash0515solomon]

and if you can find that one band/singer that captures your undieing attention throughout any instant during your life whole heartedly then you known you've found true musical bliss...listen to these type songs from sufjan going to hocking hills ohio from my original hometown from the month(s) of november-december...you will definitely understand the true importance of an outer body experience/bliss orgasim...

[ash0515solomon]

Not to add to the whole "religious hype" but his roots stem from just that, and that's obvious through these such songs...but, with that said...I'm a believer in the G.O.D. as well, but I'm not one to shove my beliefs down your throat...what I like the most about Sufjan is that he shows the absolute innocent beauty of God and the belief in him..without underminding the importance of self and one's own beliefs...this song surpasses all bounds...religiously and non...

[jackcnichols]

@CorrelateFlower well done; hypocrisy, ignorance, racism and prejudice, and all in just one comment? Your mother must be proud.

Why anyone's geographical location has any-bearing on their ability to listen to music simply baffles me.

[menano182]

Seriously? This video has dislikes?

[LedZeppelin005]

check out my version of this beautiful song on soundcloud/igetlost/for-the-wi­dows-in-paradise-for :)

[xzeuqx]

<3 

[MuseTalia]

So... I'm brazilian an catholic and this means I can't hear Sufjan Stevens? =/

Guys, I'm here just for his amazing song and nothing more.

[dedaelus]

Felt like a privilege to see that! Thanks! Bored with ridiculous debate, why bother?

[codered1473]

What happened in Ypsilanti? Can someone please fill me in

[surfermoffy]

I think this is the most moving video I've ever seen. I havent cried in years but I have tears welling up.

[mmichaelis6]

I don't understand why people argue on music video coments. Its sufjan why is there anger here? Enjoy the music guys =)

[xxforyou23]

This song is simply amazing.

[Or123LA]

i love this song.

[shaun2435]

This is the LAMEST music I've ever heard. I find it hard to believe that this guy is serious. "folding john waynes t-shirt while the swing set him in the head" you've got to be kidding me. you wanker hipsters need to listen to some real music: bach, chopin, ravel, schoenberg. get an education, get a life.

[MrWright108]

@shaun2435 Some education you must have capitalizing all the first letters of sentences. You're an idiot, obviously. So take your "nobody knows good music but me" dumb ass rant somewhere else.

[earlyoctober]

@shaun2435 Why are you here then? Let those who like this enjoy it without listening to the pointless banter of someone who doesn't.

[aaaiiieee]

@shaun2435 Sufjan's music struck me like a bolt of lightning six years ago. His lyrics are second to none in my opinion and his song writing is prolific to say the least. Call us hipsters if you want to, if you feel a need to label people. Bach, Chopin, Ravel and Schoenberg were the hipsters of their day, friend. It is Classical now but contemporary in its day, just like Sufjan's music. Listen to "To Be Alone With You" and "Romulus" and experience a master at work.

[shaun2435]

This is the LAMEST music I've ever heard. It's hard to believe that this guy is a parody. "folding john waynes t-shirt while the swing set him in the head" you've got to be kidding me. you wanker hipsters need to listen to some real music: bach, chopin, ravel, schoenberg. get an education, get a life.

[CorrelateFlower]

@shaun2435 Brits do not deserve to listen to Sufjan... and if you are American and used Wanker... you probably have no life other than to tear down musical artists. Get a life and enjoy all music as its own cultural metaphor.

[MPLVxx]

@CorrelateFlower You shouldn't genralise a race based on one person. It's how racism starts.

[CorrelateFlower]

@MPLVxx OK let me change it up then. Musically inept are not allowed to listen to Sufjan :).

[jarabaa]

@CorrelateFlower Let me get this right: "Brits do not deserve to listen to Sufjan".

OK, got it. Thanks for spelling it out. Any other nationalities who are similarly undeserving? Well, I am not British. I just live here, i.e. among the Brits who "do not deserve" etc etc.

Fortunately I am able to appreciate and enjoy Sufjan without asking for permission from anyone else.

[IIIHALTIAMREPTARIII]

@jarabaa Ragin...lol but on truthfully British people make some of the best music as well.

[tahwaggin]

@shaun2435, i'm pretty sure you wanker trolls need to worry more about getting a life

[powellok1]

@shaun2435 LIke that is about actual events.. its not just dumb jibberish.. I listen to this and yeah ihave just as much bach as i have sufjan doesnt mean that im uneducated or educated. your complete basis is that for someone to be an intellectual they have to speak as one. im the brightest light thats ever shone but i know that for someone to base someones entire life off of what they listen to then damn i know ur a dumb piece of shit.. i dont know why i wasted all this time even writing this

[georgiabrookeh]

from one artists to another my dear friend, i loved it, and shared it, and passed it around. thank you for the wonderful share, it touched me. music being my total life really, it is always wonderful to come across someone new, and wonderful, and not at all main stream thank the lord.. hugs and peace

[2008Sameoldfitup]

roy west

[awakingdream89]

am I the only one who's annoyed by his hat?!

[EsmeeSeptembervL]

@awakingdream89 love the hat!

[EsmeeSeptembervL]

@awakingdream89

[maggam10]

I don´t have the time to read trough all the comments, but I´m wondering why there always is religious debates on the Sufjan Stevens videos here on youtube?

[maikeru01]

sounds nice but the lyrics are awfully repetitive and the song is like 3 chords. that said sounding nice is what counts. sometimes simple is better.

[Spaceboy123]

@maikeru01 Simple is never a bad thing if it sounds good.

Making something simple that also sounds good takes an incredible amount of talent

[Spaceboy123]

I think I can speak for many who are passionate about science(and explaining things) when I say we are probably the most curious people out there who find wonder in just about *anything*. The world is not supposed to be anything, it is what we make of it.

This comic sums up my sentiments wonderfully; xkcd.com/877/

We may not be able to understand everything, but there's no point in not trying; try hard we shall until we no longer exist.

I love the strong emotion conveyed through this music.

[FellaM07]

71 people must be deaf.

[goldlakemoonshine]

He just makes me so happy

I'm gonna go all out and say this, coz I think its true:

I feel proud that humanity has had him

[LifeGivesMeLemons]

How could anyone possibly dislike this?

[Benjoboy]

This song is like no other... so good

[megadeedee]

@mierendinger The you should go listen to Back to Ypsilanti by Lee Osler. It's actually about Ypsi and makes a note of Depot Town, the Water tower, cross st and of course EMU.

[Paolom86]

Sufjan is a warrior musician, and in an age full of mediocrity, opportunism. He is the angel of music who will redeem us from biebers, gagas, and a bunch of others. Without artist like Sufjan the music would be a doomed dimension

[JimmJacob]

@Paolom86 little dramatic pal...

[knitterhead]

@Paolom86 Profound and truthful.

[RnRism]

@Paolom86  words of wisdom are spoken clearly here

[DuppyBruh]

@Paolom86 funny thing is, sufjan was making good music way before their careers took off, your just bringing up those stars to trash 'em so you get all kinds of comment attention.

nobodys here cares about those artists,if they did they would be on those pages contributing to the 33 million hits the videos have. if you dont have anything good to say without bashing on other people, your just feeding into the popularity of the people you hate.

and why people thumbs up these things is beyond me

[waka867]

@Paolom86 I disagreee. I think that the biebers and gagas must be allowed to exist. Keep in mind that they tap into a simplified, more accessible musical structure which can bring in non-musically inclined folk. After that, they might be more "lubed" and ready for the deeper stuff like sufjan....

[CTYFOLK]

Ypsilanta.



[alexsingstoo]

Ordered a banjo yesterday, this is going to be the first song i learn. i'm pumped.

[cssfusion09]

So I guess he was in Austin TX for SXSW in 2004... Cool...

And no that is not all I've taken from this video.

[blokk77]

I BOUGHT A BANJO!

[nathandeming]

Somebody get this man on SNL

[youknowyoudoyoukmw]

That's a bad ass guitar.

[tomdan15]

Wish he'd play Scotland in his upcoming UK tour. This song is gorgeous.

[OmgItsThatKid8]

his voice is so fucking beautiful.

[rubymaydennis]

Let's just put it this way, his songs are very much so based on his faith, but he writes them in such a way that they can be listened to by anyone, regardless of your faith/religion or lack of. No body is saying anyone has to appreciate that and he wouldn't care if you did or didn't all his songs seem so personal

[WeMissTheStars]

I was born in Ypsilanti:3

[chestariam1]

Let's hunt down the 69 people that didn't like this video!

[AdamNoAnts]

Yes, I agree ghetto, way too many powerless songs filling up our airwaves... And what a great shirt he is wearing

[SystemDSound]

I first heard this when I saw Ondi Timoner's film "Join Us" and thought it interesting that the two were put together. It seems that Mr. Stephens is very religious and Ms. Timoner's film exposes religion through its zealots and cults. Being agnostic, I am biased, but the compassion that Mr. Stephens embodies in his lyrics and music makes me question my cynicism, athough it hasn't changed my opinion of cults and the people who start them. I highly recommend the film and this beautiful song.

[java246810]

YAAAAAY, johnny's funeral song in the OC (L)

[neonfashionism]

I WANT TO GO TO THERE

and hold him in my arrmmmmmzzz

[Ghettobnzie1]

I rarely say this, but what a powerful song. He is one talented man

[magdam92]

I wish I could have hat like this one:) this song has really got a soul

[2ceBorn]

Wow, blow-your-mind amazing. I can't get over this song and Sufjan's banjo playing.

[BrothersPage]

Stupid religious arguments. We are all from the same single force of living energy. Stop acting like humans are smart enough to understand what this world is. It is supposed to be a mystery, that's never a part of our brain we should turn off. The wonderment.

[Turtleproof]

@BrothersPage The world becomes more wondrous the more we understand it. The old myths are gauze over our eyes, the more we discard the more we see. I will not be content at the foot of the tree of knowledge, wondering whats in the branches; the farther I climb things become more amazing, not less amazing because I understand the mechanisms behind them.

[inparadise]

@BrothersPage What mystery? I don't feel like there's anything mysterious about this world.

[aciddmc]

@BrothersPage eff yeah haha

[OC5]

@BrothersPage to say that is to echo the same arrogance that those who claim to know have. both perspectives demand a god's eye view.

[radioheadfan993]

@BrothersPage This is probably the most amazing comment I´ve ever read.... :)))

[MHNmusique]

stop ARGUING you losers. doesn't jesus want you to love each other as your neighbors?

[dancexbcls]

does anyone know where this was filmed

[SystemDSound]

@dancexbcls He's wearing a 2004 South x Southwest wristband so I'm thinking somewhere near Austin.

[iloveDbeat]

god damn! total hottie!

[dancexbcls]

i enjoy how its a music video, yet hes actually playing, its not the recorded version

[deltaforceoperator]

Sufjan Stevens=genius

[sveiniii]

Why do people always discuss religion in the comment section under Sufjan films? Is there a religious message in this song (or in many of his other songs)?

[xzeuqx]

<3

[mrstaherski]

extraordinary on so many levels

[Shell654]

What a beautiful song..

[MannerForever]

if you have a part of me will you take ur time

[farkasfruit]

What an artist...



[healingv1sion]

*siiiiiigh*

[ShareYourUnderwear]

He has a real deep voice... but then he opens his mouth to sing and it's ... beyond words.

[Claudestclaire]

"hurry up cause this farmers gonna be asking questions"

[ExSane364]

This comment is in reference to the number of views/likes/dislikes.

[misslozano21]

how can the 68 people dislike this? this man is amazing.

[misslozano21]

how can the 68 people dislike this? this man is amazing.

[hinneybeast]

Love the song, hate the camerawork.

[DDaviddd]

@hinneybeast you're fucked

[tankerfa1]

I WAS BORN 200 MILES SOUTH OF HERE ,IN MASSACHUSETTS. THESE "HILL BILLIES' THINK THEY CAN,AND HAVE,JUST REMOVE ALL ASSETS FROM WIDOWERS AT WILL.

[whatuuuuup]

i loveeee this.

i did a cover of this song, check it out! its sung by "the sniffers"

btw, this man is awesome.

[keesurt]

like the music a lot, but I really HATE the christian aspect...

[PullingTeeth1]

@keesurt

How so? 

[AtomicLOL]

@keesurt If you had Jesus in your life you wouldn't feel Hate..... :P

[keesurt]

@AtomicLOL no I would feel father bob trying to rob my innocence...

[AtomicLOL]

@keesurt Haha thats a good catholic joke :D to bad im non denominational.

Not all christians are catholic, i think they corrupt just as much as you do hombre

[netforce0]

@AtomicLOL why do "christians" commit terrorist acts against abortionists? Why do they support our troops? Why do christians hate homosexuals?????????? i'll try my luck not hating people by being an athiest

[PullingTeeth1]

@netforce0

Way to generalize, also its pretty evident that you´re hating Christians you hypocrite.

[netforce0]

@PullingTeeth1 lol if i have to be hypocrite in order to claim they are super hypocrite please LABEL me :D :D :D :D

[deltaforceoperator]

@netforce0 I have a lot of athiest friends and I don't want to convert you but I do want you to know that Christ is the focus in christianity if you look at man you will always be dissapointed, man is not perfect christianity is about striving to be christ like many of us fail. I dont hate homosexuals in the least bit, I dont like the action but I love the person. As for the terrorist acts, Youre an athiest and so was Nero but Im pretty sure he doesnt speak for you in every matter. Much love

[netforce0]

@deltaforceoperator the focus of christianity is the concept of SIN.... it assumes that morality is based off of sinning. The only reason killing someone is bad according to christianity is because it is a sin. Not becaus that person is valuable in themselves....or they have the right to life...the only reason anything is wrong according to christianity is if it is a sin. I feel this demeans actions and ethicial dilemas by ignoring the person, object, or entity involved.

[netforce0]

@deltaforceoperator that's not a fair comparison because Jesus never mentioned homosexuality and Nero isn't equal to Christ compared to athiesm...nobody is unless you count nature for some or science... but thats a whole different discussion lolz

[deltaforceoperator]

@netforce0 let me rephrase.....My focus in christianity is Christ all Im asking you to do is not to throw all christians in the same boat..much how I wouldn't put you and another atheist in the same boat much love

[netforce0]

@deltaforceoperator i was generalizing a little bit, but i fail to see these "christ-like" christians on a daily basis. As well as all the other peaceful religions... Athiests aren't stealing planes and crashing into buildings, shooting abortion doctors at church, or claiming that women are inferior and therefore must care for their husbands(infact most athiests support homosexual marriage which takes this burden off both genders by ridding society of these norms)