Sufjan Stevens - Abraham

[mansonfan128]

@macaibhistin With his guitar I think.

[macaibhistin]

Does anyone know how he is playing this song?

[kenmeyerjr]

Being an agnostic (sorry, I know many of you are tired of the religious thread directions), I think I can still appreciate his personal connection while having a connection of my own, if only for the beauty of the music/voice. In my opinion, it is people like Stevens (as well as Bruce Cockburn, Innocence Mission, and a few others) that make 'spiritual' music accessible to those of us that are not necessarily 'of the faith.' Regardless, it can't help but make you feel good.

[SingerTina]

This song has every meaning to expectations of life.

[tattoofthesun]

God bless this video, this song

this kid his whole life long

[hotchocolate5759]

i dont understand how anyone could dislike this song, no matter what ur religious views are sufjans music transcends them alll...

[mendicant1116]

I love the story of Abraham because it is relevant to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It's so historically important. And this song is amazing as well.

[mendicant1116]

Abraham is my favorite religious story for some reason. i think it's because it has so much historical meaning to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I guess because it links all of those people together. And this song is amazing.

[butchMB09]

he wears wings on stage to try and "get over" his fear of winged insects.

[bluemoon1442]

this song.

oh my oh my.

[ahasverocol]

Good way to know about Abraham, and easiest (though not that interesting, IMO) to read than Fear and Trembling. Well done, Sufjan!

[jarmstrong026]

I a big fan of Abraham. It isn't only about Christians, he is the "Father of the Faithful" (the Jews).

[bearcat579]

@jarmstrong026 check out Gal. 3 for more on this topic

[murrduckulous]

i owe a huge debt to sufjan for this song.. i never really "got" the story of abraham and isaac before.. the last line of this song hits me so profoundly, stirring something deep.. what an artist! what a soul...

[ladyday]

Irrelevant discussion is irrelevant

LOL @ this whole discussion

you ALL fail in my opinion

why delve in to something you know wont end well instead of listening to a beautiful song

ANYWAY I like this performance and the song

[HungGarEarthBender]

This is one of my favorite songs by Sufjan, Casimir Pulaski Day is the best though.

[15flask15]

sickkkk song.

[neve1073]

your name, gaelicbanshee, is a proper noun too and yet you failed to capitalize. this makes you appear foolish and is quite amusing

[d983394]

yeah people that attend those "government schools" are so bourgeoisie. come gaelicbanshee let's retire to the yacht club. mahaha.

[hellocaiti]

my god! i want those wings!

[NowShepherd]

God is good. Amen.

[jakeap89]

It's really brave to sing a song like this, for a young artist like Sufjan. People get uncomfortable with religions especially Christianity in America.

[Troggawa]

Freedom, eh. A free soul... hmm. I guess it`s my choice mostly, the fate of my soul and it`s present state. I would choose to be free, so long as I do not condemn myself for the past; then I would be free to discover life in truth as I learn it, and learn to love the life I know, which would bring those good things you said. There is a chance for heaven on earth. It lies inside us. The courage to run from evil, to a better place, finding a refuge and a love for things in life, then living it.

[k0sha]

indeed. You don't need religion to find these things inside yourself. It's a personal journey of self discovery that all living beings are on. Some choose the religious route for guidance, others find that the joys of life lead them to those things. Either way I guess we're all on the same quest without even knowing it, christians/muslims/jews/Buddhi­sts/atheists/agnostics whatever.

[d983394]

professor k0sha everybody! let's give him a big hand!

[k0sha]

You're like a trusty sidekick

You should follow me around bigging me up more often!

[d983394]

i was being sarcastic. i always forget it doesnt work on the internets

[k0sha]

Ditto.

[d983394]

oh well then it all worked out good on ya

[Troggawa]

No more nightmares about satan trying to get me or fear of losing my soul.

One point I want to make is that I studied the bible enough to teach it, just because I didn't trust what I was being told. I found therein, no flaws with christianity, as I was reading it in CONTEXT.. I emphasize that word because that is exactly how corrpted christians exploit people and their own rfeligion; by taking the verses in the bible out of context. The principals in the bible, like I said are wise and profound

[k0sha]

I'd say the good you'll encounter will be in the long term. But freeing yourself from what's false will, either now or later lead to truth, knowledge, love, happiness, freedom. The things christianity offers in heaven. Well I say you can aquire it right here right now as long as you believe that you're a free soul.

[MOPLVL3]

Is that a stuffed rooster on his right?

[dust540]

this is beautiful. I love this guy.

[katieisblue]

I'm an atheist I love Sufjan Stevens. The beauty in his music can surpass any religious view and can be appreciated on so many different levels.

And THAT is why I think he's a genius.

[Troggawa]

When I was a christian, he was refreshing. When I became an athiest, he was uplifting. And now when I'm lost, he still soothes. He doesn't let his evangelical intent guide his aesthetics. It's about music. Weather God made it or something else, music is music and is uncorruptable in it's true form. Sufjan obviously is a genuine and sincere musician who is not out to convert the world, but to play music for his own personal reasons, I think because he has real faith in a God he trusts and loves.

[k0sha]

may I ask, what caused you to become an athiest?

[Troggawa]

Good question. Deserves an answer I guess.

It's simple. I did everything right and got nothing but wrong.. I prayed. Not with pride, not with lies, not with a shallow heart. I prayed with all my heart, simply for peace of mind. I turned the other cheek every day. I tried to follow Jesus everyday, with a pure heart, but everyday things got worse. All I prayed for was peace. I never got it. It is written; if someone prays to God in desperation, he will save them. He never did. Lost my faith then.

[k0sha]

I'm glad you've rid yourself of rusty religious shackles Troggawa. I too am an athiest myself, as you've probably already guessed. It's the moment when one realises one has placed their trust, hopes and essentially their enitre life in the arms of a fictitious character solely designed to grasp the minds of individuals that they truely find liberation.

May I ask another question, what changes have you experienced since loosing your faith?

[Troggawa]

In all honesty, I would say nothing good at all. I did not become more aware of life after I chose to leave the faith/lost my faith. I simply lost false hope. Nothing substantial gained. The only thing I would say was a plus in anyway (not eomotionally though) is that I became free from the anger and confusion coming from the core of the church itself, but not until I let out a lot of anger towards the church for their own faults in distorting their own message to being about money and power.

[Troggawa]

My perspective never aligned with that of my teachers though. They were corrupt. I still hold true to christian principals taught by jesus. They were profoiund. The only problem lies in the truth of the exisitence of God and in the way so called chruistians fuck up their own religion. It's about love, in essence according to the bible, and they are the biggest bunhc of cold-hearted hipocrites I've ever met. they try to convert people by threatening hell. Speaking of hell, I lost my fear of devil

[k0sha]

I agree with what you're saying. All the major religions, not only Christianity use not only the Devil but also God to scare people from even thinking about freeing themselves from the church! Threats by God, threats by the church, threats by the book. Couldn't put it better myself "cold hearted hypocrites". I'd say loosing false hope is probably a rather substantial thing. Though I guess it depends on how rooted to your life this hope was.

[bilbobomber]

@Troggawa

Exactly. I am not necessarily one thing or the other but his music (Seven Swans in particular) has an OBVIOUS Christian tone to it. Clearly, lol...

However, while I hate "typical" Christian music for the uninspired drivel it is, Sufjan makes GENUINE music regardless of religious sentiment.

I've debated your exact sentiment a million times.

[RandomPunkChic07]

@Troggawa I am sorry that you were lost. Where are you now?

[NRJ1977]

@Troggawa Beautifully put. I hope you are a Christian again. :)

[Aniland]

@NRJ1977 I merely hope that he/she is happy with him/herself. That's all that's important.

[pigjubby]

@Troggawa Wow, that is the saddest testimony ever.

[binzing]

Great song (but what else do you expect of Sufjan?)

As far as the wings it (i would assume) have to do with the album these songs are from...

[thewho1572]

he said at one show that he wears the wings to get over his fear of flying objects, weather or not thats actually true i'm not sure haha

[Jada918]

wow, i wish i saw him live.

[modestbuddhist]

beautiful- wings or no wings the man got skills

go past your visual n let go of your assumptions

this does not a thing to your testosterone

music is for release, fun, enjoyment, so let it be

[Drummsing]

why wings?

why not something else?

[Jest]

Isn't that what you'd say if it WAS anything else? Why something else when it can be wings.

[Drummsing]

No.... If it was a parachute, I wouldn't have any problem with it.... If he was wearing a cloak or a cape, absolutely no problem.... Just... Why wings? And if it had to be wings, why those wings?

[emt2976]

He is wearing the wings because the song is abouth Abraham sacrificing his only son, Isaac. The lord stops the sacrifice, and sends an angel-Thus, the wings.

[StallionBarley]

This is bullshit, he has wings on for the whole gig.

Don't be a know it all twat.

[snifflesrox6]

hah

[rapta1oo1]

It's also worth noting that for several centuries, artists tended to depict angels with colorful, parrot-like wings. I guess the thinking was, if the Lord is capable of all things, why wouldn't he make the wings all purdy.

[mikeydoo01]

I really enjoy Sufjans Music

but those wings are kinda of butchering my testosterone. If his Music doesnt do that enough

[SovietVV]

No way, the wings are EPIC. Don't let it affect your testosterone LOL, Sufjan & co. always wears costumes on stage and it adds to their well, epicness. It's part of the act. I remember hearing an interview where he said he does all the costume and get ups cause he doesn't want to take himself too seriously and be kind of theatrical which suits his music really.

[pigjubby]

@SovietVV "Not to be taken too seriously?" Too late for that.

[crieswhicharewings]

Why the hell would Sufjan care about your testosterone.

Actually, why are you so worried about looking manly? Just listen to the music.

[LizardMusic]

God, that's unbelievably beautiful.

[rockincurlz]

I don't think many other people can wear wings and get away with it, and Sufjan Stevens doesn't just wear them, he basically completes them.

[chordination]

He grew up in the same town as like my 3rd cousin. Does that mean we are related?

[Maharba1147]

Who taught you genetics? >.>

My name's Abraham, I feel special. :]

[olivercarle]

oh so you must be related to the guy in the song right?

that is, if i know my genetics...

[yoamomusic]

this song gives me the shivers, i love it!

[crowpoet]

he sings like an angel

[whiteyford88]

have you actually ever heard an angel singin'???

[markbaluk]

well.. he does have wings !

[Jandruff]

haha, I used to think he was singing "Legoland".

And in another response to the wings comment, he is kind of playing as the angel in his song, which he wrote after a Bible story. It really adds the impact to the performance. Gives me chills.

[dedalus02]

I used to think he was singing "leg o' lamb" instead of "lake or land" and that would make me laugh - I love this song

[6stringheart]

man if i were sufjan stevens i would

1. love myself for being so damn talented and

2. wear wings like everyday

so yea...

[notcoolmy]

when i saw him, he forgot the words after the first word (Abraham........ i forgot the words.... does anyone know the words?)

and he waited for some one to shout them out to him

[khwaari]

sufjan why must thou be so talented.

:(

[Excrements]

in reply to the wings sufjan can do whatever the fuck he wants

[diget]

beautiful music.

[JungleJesus]

There is some Abraham following me the whole time and I found someone who knows him, too! This song is so nice! Why do you love him?

[plutodrvv]

Reply to wings...Given that he is a creative person the wings may actually aid his music/performance. I think we should let the creative talented people do there thing and the rest of you file a document in alphabetical order in some office somewhere in snoozeville america...

[AndrewLeeFinnigan]

Sufjan is a great artist,I totally agree with you, people are always putting creative talented people down beacause they are living out there dreams.

[MissMarxist]

d00d, I was there!!!!

sufjan's brother, marzuki used to watch me when i was little and my parents went out

[olivercarle]

really?

[Anotherartist]

I hated the song on Seven Swans, until I just relaxed to listen to it and now i think it's one of the beautiful parts of this album

[jelliman88]

wings? i dont see why he does all of his werid stuff. gets in the way of the music which is amazing

[Dorda44]

its good. not the best though. he is always very entertaining though.

[jpegmasterjesse]

One of his most haunting, compelling songs.

[purplexcow]

Why wouldn't you wear wings? O: The wings are beautiful.

[Andyfmk]

I like this song for the words...

[murielglass]

yo quiero tener alas !

este hombre tiene un aura color violeta palido. casi blanco.

[teaandcakeordeath]

i didnt like this song when i first heard it...compared to the freakin incredible songs on 7 swans. and even though its still not his best, the ooh's are really eerie/lovely/mysterious.

[cesareo12]

Sounds like my soul when i was a child, some sort of pure inocence. Not his best song though

[supradude7891]

no one seems to understand that the music is pure beauty. not many artists have this kind of talent.

[zekerella]

!!! wings! its not tacky...i kinda like it

[snarby21]

why would u wear wings? tacky. he's good tho

[agajpc]

Mmmmm. Delicate. But he should have called it "Lick My Love Pump".