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From: hverseld
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  • <3

  • Another pointless YouTube religion argument again, I see.

  • He makes me want to play banjo and go to Ypsilanti.

  • pshh yeah its religious but its about ypsilanti too. go there, and you'll see why.

  • Awesome!!!

  • Beautiful song. Just came across this singer and song today. Magical. Another song from the voice of God speaking thru humanity.

  • Who gives a crap about what you believe. Enjoy the beautiful music and stop polluting this video with your differences.

  • Praise God! I'm so thankful for talented musicians that worship the true Lord :)

  • Spread your wings and fly sufjan!!!!!

  • Why is religion or lack of even being mentioned? respect and love the song because it's a good song, jheez.

  • I love God......AND I LOVE SUFJAN!!!!!......

  • Sufjan wearing the wings is in my mind the most iconic image of him. To use a kite in a stage costume like that is so brilliant.

  • too fast.. but still beautiful.

  • I love the idea with wings <3

  • I love seeing fellow Christians that are so beautifully talented

  • Are those...butterfly wings...?

  • @shippudenfanatic i thought that too, theres another guy behind him which makes it look like hes got butterfly wings but hes only wearing the upper ones.

  • *atheist...

  • So glad I was there :).

  • Now if I could just find a beautiful, creative, talented God-fearing man like this.

  • @ivyhageman I'm right there with you on that one! :) From your mouth to God's ears.

  • @tbsmiles God cares only to smell dead animals burnt to a crisp. Thank goodness that bloody bearded psychopath in the sky isn't real.

  • @Turtleproof lol..i feel bad for you. But im not going to start an argument or anything, I'll say one thing, God sent Jesus to die for your sin. if i went off and just sinned would you die for it? NO! and also God LOVES YOU!

  • @bloodsniper10 You believe in God based on the Bible, right? The one that plagiarizes itself, (2 Kings 19:35, Isaiah 37:36) condones genocide and torture, and claims to be inerrant yet repeatedly contradicts itself?

    Why believe in the claims of a caveman's book?

  • @Turtleproof ugh, believe just based on the bible...where to start lol. i have seen miracles myself ( not like water into wine, but at camp there was a curl with scoliosis or however you spell it. anyways you have curved spine. a girl got completely healed by God and had a perfectly straight spine. nurse even came and checked.. i have a life transformation by the grace of God) i don't need JUST the bible to believe. i have seen it, and felt God in my life. i CHOOSE to believe and always will.

  • @Turtleproof i also believe to choose in a "cavemans book" because its all truth. historically true too. never been proved wrong, and never will be. and if you try, well good luck to you. you will die before you prove it wrong. im done with this conversation. please dont reply back. not in the mood to get into another foolish argument.

  • @bloodsniper10 If I wrote a book referencing contemporary landmarks and buried it in the ground, you would say it was historically accurate and therefore truth? There is an actual Mount Olympus, does that mean Zeus is real?

    This conversation shouldn't be upsetting to you, friend, it should be liberating. You can be free of the superstition of a bloodthirsty, hateful, misogynistic cloud ghost any time you want. <3

  • @Turtleproof lol. i could write a book too and it be historically true ha! difference is the bible is when Jesus walked the earth. not something to just bury in ground. and i don't think ill ever choose to be free of a cloud ghost. MY God is real. and will always choose to believe it <3. One day when i die, ill go to heaven and live eternity of greatness words cannot describe. You Take Care :)

  • @bloodsniper10 The first passages about Jesus were written about 200 years after his death. Other books about his life were omitted from the Bible by a committee. You didn't know that the Bible has been revised, edited, and rewritten by humans? Some texts were less infallible than others, I guess. Jesus's biography was based on the earlier existing myth of Horus.

    Which paradise will you go to? Valhalla?

  • @Turtleproof your facts are off, you just lost your argument

  • @Turtleproof lol... ok, well the bible was written over a period of thousands of years. the new testament of the bible was written as Jesus was going back to heaven. it was written both as he was alive, and after he was dead. and yes it was in a diff language, so we did translate it so we can understand it and read it. But we made up nothing. so good day to you sir.

  • @bloodsniper10 That a God that doesn't make mistakes would change his mind (Noah convinced God not to kill all humans) is indeed making up something. God is a superstition, no different than Zeus, Horus, Vishnu, or Hermes.

  • @Turtleproof tell me where it says in the bible about Noah convincing God to not kill all humans. Is it in the story Noah's Ark? and God makes no mistakes. he just simply does what he does and all for a reason. if Noah convinced God to not kill all humans, well thank God then otherwise you wouldnt be here right now typing on your computer nor would I. So i thank God that im alive. God is real, so i beg the differ of him being a superstition.

  • @bloodsniper10 Correct, it is in the story of Genesis. God tells Noah that he is going to destroy all living things on Earth, but Noah convinces him to change his plan. God's plan is perfect and he makes no mistakes, how could a human that he created make a superior argument?

    Have you even read the Bible? It's full of crazy errors and lunacy like this.

  • @Turtleproof yes i read the bible. i read the bible every single day :) the story is Genesis chapter 6,7, and 8. Its the flood. Noah did NOT make an ARGUMENT to God to save the world. Instead, God told Noah to build an ark to save him and the others with him and the animals of 2 of each kind there. and after the flood of 150 days, God said he would never do it again. So your little statement of Noah making an argument is wrong. reread the story mate.

  • @Turtleproof I think your efforts to liberate are in vane. When someone believes that there is no evidence that disproves a world wide flood, they have lost their critical thinking skills and are unable to understand the bible is allegorical at best. You can't use arguments of Geology, Biology, Paleontology, Archaeology or any proven science to convince them the Earth is more than 5,000 - 7,000 years old or to disprove other biblical fairy-tails. It is best to ignore them until they die.

  • @dhubbard55 I went from agnostic to Christian at a young age, then aged out of belief in that caveman magic book. For all my cold rationalizing of religion, people are beautiful and it is well worth the effort to liberate someone even if it seems like a lost cause. The rate of atheism and agnosticism is on the rise, we are all part of that spread of educated thought.

    Those that try to use pseudo-science to prove the bible are the hopless demagogues, not the people we talk to.

  • @bloodsniper10 It's never fully been proven wrong and it will never fully be proven true. Believe whatever you want to believe that's why it's "faith" and not law. Debating about the bible is like masturbating with a razor: Nobody wins. Why does every video on youtube turn into a debate over something barely related just enjoy the song.

  • @ivyhageman Find a man who would make God afraid of him; otherwise, you may as well have a man who is afraid of closet monsters or Thor or Baal or Krishna.

  • @Turtleproof Duly noted.

  • He's the reason I'm now the proud owner/player of a banjo.

  • @itsawayolife ditto!

  • ahh i want to see him live so bad! this is my favorite song of his <3

  • @darkblueex3 I saw him live in Richmond, VA this year. Wow, may be the best show I've ever seen. Mad, crazy, brilliant, folksy techno dance party of a good time.

  • @TheGuitarSuite omg that sounds amazing... i wish I could have seen him on the last tour it seems like an awesome concert. :(

  • love his voice :D

  • I live in Gent! I can't believe I missed them! ♥

  • I think 3 people missed the like button

  • You can argue about these lyrics all night, but in the end its jyst an amazing song.

    The lyrics itself has an beautiful mix of sadness and hope. Love it!

  • any way to get the lyrics to this?

  • @lahuerasantera Bloddy google it! ;))

  • @ChristoferBerg gee whiz, sorry!

  • @lahuerasantera Dude, I was beeing ironic, hense the smiley ;))

  • Sufjan, your voice is angelic..

  • so...what's up with the wings?

  • he is perfect

  • Just beautiful!!!....The song & Sufjan :)

  • simply beautiful

  • I love how he strums his banjo so...lethargically? its like his arms are separate entities that don't know what to do and so he gives off this stiff and wooden movement thing. All a part of Sufjan's charm.

  • First time I saw Sufjan was on Austin City Limits. The whole group was wearing the wings and the boy scout looking suits- it was a pretty ethereal dreamy show. Been digging his unique music ever since.

  • why is he wearing wings?

  • i agree. wtf.

  • why the fuck not?

  • he's so awesome. I keep getting goosebumps when I'm listening to his songs.

  • my friend let me borrow his banjo for a year, my goal is to learn this song!

    i've played guitar forever but its nothing like the banjo. banjo's much more difficult to pick up quickly :/

  • What CD is this song on?

  • Illinois :)

  • It's actually from Seven Swans

  • no it's actually on Michigan :-)

  • Haha yeah that's what I meant, i just knew it wasn't on Illionois lol. Many apologies! :)

  • everyone's right, everyone sucks :)

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  • i love this song. sufjan steven is awesome! <3333

  • another thing

    "Even if I come back

    Even if I die

    Is there some idea

    To replace my life"

    this also make think the divinity of jesus isn't that important to him, more his teaching in life(love), not the hocus pocus surrounding his death.

  • i agree with your interpretation

  • @benegeseritwhore Amen. "The Life And Moral Teachings of Jesus Of Nazareth," compiled by Thomas Jefferson, is a far more moral book than the Bible. Jesus, whether the name refers to one person or many teachers over the course of centuries, was an impressive person. It takes immense courage to publicly declare that the Bible is violent nonsense and preach for people to turn to love instead of conquest and genocide.

  • this song makes me forget how to breathe

  • little dramatic don't ya think

  • the other replyer may think so, but i do not think your comment is too dramatic by any means.

  • i love his wings :)

  • can i just say i LOVE videos where everyone posting gets along, what a wonderful aura this song creates lol

  • Actually, a decent amount of his songs are just repeated four chord progressions, Casimir Pulaski Day is just D, C, Am, G, Romulus is just four chords repeated too. It's just his amazing compositions that give them variety.

  • Apropos of nothing, check out "John Doe # 24" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Same few chords repeated over and over. Beautiful, heartbreaking song.

  • Thanks for the tip, it's beautiful.

  • the wings are CLASS. i can't believe such a beautiful song was written from 4 chords repeated over an over..

  • oh i know, when i looked up the chords i kept looking at all the sites and asking, "Why does nobody have the full thing?" haha, then i realized it only had 4 chords

  • this has to be the best song on earth...

  • This doesn't change my being an athiest, but my God, what a gorgeous song.

  • Don't worry I've nothing against athiests haha, but i love how you wrote God with a capital "g"

  • lol. :P

  • Mhm!

    It doesn't matter what your religion, you can't deny a beautiful song ;]

  • @torisse. I'm an atheist and the reason I capitalize God is because it's a name, when you're referring to the christian god. In the Bible there is no specific name for God. Just like we capitalize Zues and Athena not because we believe in god, but because it's just proper English. lol

  • @torisse Spelling God with a capital G is to write a proper noun. That old ghost is less holy than my dog Gordon (capital G there).

  • @torisse God is still a name for something whether you believe in it or not, it's not like he wrote "He".

    Not that I'm even that fussed, just thought I'd interject :)

  • @cowbags64 I totally agree and shoulda made it clearer that I know that. But yeah I know some people who don't like using the capital 'G' lol

  • @torisse 'S cool man :). Peace and love.

  • this song means so much to me.

    my whole family use to love this song so we used it as the into to my brothers funeral.

    this song really lets me sit down and reflect my own ife and where im at.

    i hope others find resons for likeing the song other than its amazing.

    but true the wings r a bit sad lol...

  • There needs to be more live vids for him... TOO MANY COVERS! I swears

    xP

  • I don't get the wings...but It would be a good halloween costume! =D

    Lol but he is a very fantastic artist, and I think his music, and voice are absolutely amazing!

  • i am told it is because he is the majesty snowbird for this tour-

    also he is descended from heaven(which almost makes me believe in such a place)

  • Whats with the wings?

  • well it was a part of the theme for his tour

    i fogot what it was but yeah

    or it might ahve to do with one of his gons

    the great god bird

    i think thats the anme of the gons

    don't quote me on it though

  • Dyslexia is a bitch, isn't it?

  • haha

    i just type really fast and don't care to go back and make sure its all right

    but i guess u could say i type dyslexic

  • lmao...zing!

  • BUT THE WING THING IS TOO MUCH.

  • Don't believe in God, honestly couldn't give a fuck but this is his best song.

  • I do not care for religion, "religious" music, and I really hate ALL of the shouty, sort of "Oh Gooood, you'rrre sooo miiiiggghhhtty", twaddle that they call praise music nowadays. Its all kitschy crap.

    This man, though, is something quite different, and its obvious at first encounter. This is an artist who can convey his faith, doubts & feelings in TRULY original and aesthetically beautiful and engaging ways. Its so good I don't care that its about god. A true artist. Really brilliant work.

  • I have to completely agree. I'm not a religiousy guy and really hate songs that are completely about worshiping god (Even though their intentions are good, i just dont like the music) But sufjan is the man, and his music is just really good.

  • hah! I agree too, I hate "christian" music so much. But I like the spirituality and originality that sufjan can put into his songs without sounding like a holy roller. Iron and Wine is kinda the same, little bit of southern gospel feeling i think but not in a bad way.

  • There are times that i forget about this...the sacrifice. He seems all mighty, all great, all light and sometimes i am just way to human to feel him. Then again He came to earth and walked in the same earth, the same dirt. and with all the bad and the horrible, He did "everything for" me!

    there is nothing wrong with a song with a christ related theme. there are songs about candy and ducks and sex and violence, why shouldnt this be about God?

    lets just enjoy the song!

  • Ahh, this is so good! Why doesn't he perform this live more often?

  • I love sufjan, he seems a pretty cool kid.

  • I don't mean to be rude, but prob'ly am: I listen to this and I feel LOVE...but the way my little mind works, 'god is love' comes up sooner or later. Sorry if the 'religion' thing gets in the way ... 'Jesus'--the name or the man--always made problems, kind of a troublemaker, you know--they say some priests killed him in the name of their 'religion' ... just pretend the christian aspect in Sufi's music is not there, enjoy the tunes, SovietVV and others... LIMH (laughin' in my head)

  • I agree that religion has made a lot of bad shit go down in the world, but religion in itself is absolutely beautiful: the extent of human imagination. His music, in my mind, really reflects that aspect of religion and not that of killing and murder, which many people seem to associate it with these days.

  • Good Point, Well Put.

  • He looks like a boy scout with wings in this video. Awesome. Lol

  • seconding a couple of opinions:

    although he was inspired by his religion to create, that doesn't mean that my enjoyment of his music has to be christ-related. my soul is touched by his music - isn't that enough?

  • Wasn't that the song played on the o.c. at that kid, johnny's funneral? Really nice song.

  • yes, it was

  • haha okay, thanks

  • UGH, I hate it when people constantly bring up his Christian undertones, it doesn't constantly have to be mentioned.

    I'm an atheist and I LOVE Sufjans music, I absolutely adore the man. People make it sound as if you have to be religious to listen and appreciate his music which is bullshit.

  • Whats so wrong with bringing it up if its there and he put it there? Why do you have so much anger against it?

  • I'm not saying it with anger, but it does annoy me when some of his more religious fans CONSTANTLY have to bring up some of his religious lyrics meaning as if that's the only thing soof writes. I know I'm not the only one. I don't have a problem w/ religion but SS's beliefs shouldn't be the only thing talked about. It's mentioned in like 90% of his vid...

  • I dunno, you sound pretty angry to me....what's wrong with mentioning spirituality when discussing a song that's obviously spiritual. I respect the fact that you don't have spiritual beliefs, but you should respect the fact that some people, most people,do,and not throw a hissy fit when someone mentions it. And that's where the 90% comes from, it's statistics, really.

  • he wasn't being angry at all mate.

    he has a good point. religious backgrounds of artists shouldn't make any difference at all to the listeners. totally irrelevant. take what YOU want from the lyrics.

  • Not to mention that this song is much more directly about the poor conditions of the city of Ypsilanti, MI (where I'm currently living) than it is about any religion.

    Basically.. SUFJAN = GOD. that's my opinion on the matter. =)

  • Yeah, I agree. Take his lyrics for what they are. While they may be religious, that's not all the song is about. Even though I am religious, I try to find other things being expressed in his lyrics as well.

  • yeah, I agree with what all of you are saying. But instead of maybe ignoring the spiritual or religious references in his music, we can embrace them. I mean, I relate to a lot of Sufjan's songs because he is a man who believes in Jesus... almost like a spiritual connection. But anywho, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. Basically what I'm saying is, we shouldn't rule religion out.. just add to the other things Sufjan sings about.

  • This song always makes me want to cry!!

    **sigh**

    So lovely.

  • Sufjan Stevens is one of the most talented guys I´ve ever seen. very amazing. and i love this song.

  • One of the most beautiful things i've ever heard

  • i love him <3 to bits

  • Love.

  • hered this on the oc

  • I love sufjan. I just don't get the wings. I'm really trying to. But oh well, I stilll can't wait to see this awesomely crazy kid live someday.

  • Angels are messengers of God. He's a messenger of God.

  • I think he just saw them in a store and thought they would be cool for costumes. They were originally kites.

  • ahhh! don't make this religious, don't ruin the fascination that I have with this man's music.

  • The wings are part of the tour concept, I think. It's the Majesty Snowbird Tour, or something like that. And besides, it's an utterly beautiful idea. :-)

  • this song has the highest play count on my itunes.

    one of the most amazing songs ever written,

    hands down.

  • you are trollin for a krollin.

  • unbelievably amazing.

    thank you Sufjan.

    info: he is of Greek-Lithuanian Ancestry, Greek Orthodox.

    his name Sufjan is after the great Armenian Sufi warrior who slew ten thousand dragons to save the Fairy Princess.

  • dear sufjan,

    marry me?

    k thanks.

  • He won't do it.

    So don't keep your hopes up.

  • you my friend, are a downer.

    although i'll be happy as long as he keeps making music. ♥

  • Haha, I will be too.

  • in gent ?? Really ,, can't believe i missed that .. Well i do believe it but .. The song is Soooo good !!

  • ... just amazing!! I love it:D

  • this song makes me sad that i cant believe in god i wish i could but i just cant i envy anyone who has faith

  • Aww...why can't you believe in God? I think it's amazing that you go as far as saying you envy those who do faith. Wanting faith is all it takes.

  • You don't need to believe in 'god' when i listen to this song its about love, any form of it from family or a lover. Can't you imagine someone just saying 'i'll do anything for you.' The beauty is all his songs suggest the 'god'(or sometimes monster) in all of us.

  • ps I'm an atheist and I listen to Sufjan Stevens completely differently than all the Jesus thumpers.

  • nicely put, i do the same.

  • Same.

  • damn...he's good!!I bet there are some broken-hearted among u that really hate him for this song!!:))...good music!!

  • Sufjan is a genius. I love him.

  • I was there. Damn, it was such a great concert. Great memories. :) Normally I'm not an overly emotional person, but I actually shed a tear when he began playing this song.

    Incredible.

  • Very true. I'm atheist, and I am normally turned off by overtly religious material, but his songs are so sincere and his faith only makes them more powerful.

  • this song is really sad. but FREAKING AMAZING! so beautiful. as a songwriter myself it half crushes my love of writing because it's impossible to write something as good as this and half inspires me to become better. Sufjan is sweet.

  • if you watch his Majesty Snowbird video you'll understand the wing thing

  • The OC isn't good enough for this song.

  • seconded

  • thirded

  • Fourthe

    (And I like the OC...)

  • it may not be, the the OC is one of the best showcases of primarily undiscovered talent out there.

    Death Cab, Modest Mouse, The Decemerists all got big breaks playing thier songs on the OC.

    I must say that it's probably House that has taken over this territory, now that the OC is gone, but I don't watch enough TV to know..

  • yes, that is exactly what I think :)

  • Yep, I may hate the OC, but they can find good music.