The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
In the delta sun, down in Arkansas
It’s the great god bird with its altar call
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
On the great bayou where they saw it fall
It’s the great god bird down in Arkansas
And the hunters beware, or the fishers fall
And paradise might close from its safe flight flawed
It’s the great god bird through it all
And the watchers beware, lest they see it fall
And paradise might laugh when at last it falls
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
And it’s the great god bird with its altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird with its altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird through it all
It’s the great god bird with its altar call
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
On the great bayou where they saw it fall
It’s the great god bird down in Arkansas
And the hunters beware, or the fishers fall
And paradise might close from its safe flight flawed
It’s the great god bird through it all
And the watchers beware, lest they see it fall
And paradise might laugh when at last it falls
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
And it’s the great god bird with its altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird with its altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird through it all
Lyrics submitted by NotCoolZeus, edited by meaning600
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why are so many people so reluctant to admit that a lot of sufjan songs have religious material in them? are all you hipsters afraid that your boy sufjan is a devout christian (which he is), which would make him totally uncool and against the hipster code? get over it. this song obviously has a religious undertone to it. sufjan stevens isn't going to write a song about the ivory-billed woodpecker. he's going to use it to portray something else, something deeper. if you look at the song, it only makes sense that at least part of it is inspired by his faith. the other interpretations make sense too, but i think there is definitely a religious element to this song, just like a whole lot of other sufjan songs.
I love this song so much. I love how peacefull it is.
i wonder why sufjan never says "lord god bird," like the title. so beautiful.
I love this song as well. You can get it from the NPR website for free at:
npr.org/programs/asc/archives/asc88/index.html
Does anyone know what this song means?
i also love this song but was stuck for meaning.... this link shojuld explain it mostly..it speaks of an extinct bird known as the lord god bird... cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/13/60minutes/main940587.shtml
ivorybill.org has some more information on the Lord God bird. Perhaps an analogy... great god bird: God :: sewing machine : the industrial god (man). Is the lyric "alter call" right? Should it be "altar" call?
"Altar Calls" are usually testimonies given. The bird's still alive, testifiying that it's made it despite technological advancements. Arkansas is truly still the Natural state: a good thing!
From the Christian point of view, this song is quite easy to interpret.
The "Lord God Bird" is God. We, as humans, are the sewing machines "industrial gods" "And the hunters beware, or the fishers fall And paradise might close from its safe flight flawed" I take this to mean that for the people who hunt and fish for other beliefs other than that of God, "paradise" or heaven, is closed to them because of this flaw.
"Yes it's the great God bird through it all"
What's are you all's thoughts on this interpretation?
The Christian thing may be a bit of a stretch. Why would "sewing machines" be humans? I always took it to mostly be just a song inspired by the story of the bird; on a deeper level, it seems to be about the fall of nature in the rise of modernity.
The Christian thing may be a bit of a stretch. Why would "sewing machines" be humans? I always took it to mostly be just a song inspired by the story of the bird; on a deeper level, it seems to be about the fall of nature in the rise of modernity.