Lyrics for For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fath... as interpreted by antennas

For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fath... Lyrics
I've have called you children
I have called you son
What is there to answer
If I'm the only one
Morning comes in Paradise
Morning comes in light
Still I must obey
Still I must invite

If there's anything to say
If there's anything to do
I there's any other way
I'd do anything for you

I was dressed in embarassment
I was dressed in white
If you had a part of me
Will you take your time
Even if I come back
Even if I die
Is there some idea
To replace my life

Like a father to impress
Like a mother's mourning dress
If we ever make a mess
I'll do anything for you

I have called you preacher
I have called you son
If you have a father
Or if you haven't one
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you

I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you

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  • 125 Comments
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sweetadeline
06-19-2004

Rated 0 
This is a really beautiful song

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coheedandcambria
09-30-2004

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every song he makes is beautiful

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a town like paris
11-19-2004

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This is one of the best songs I've ever heard.

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radiobreakdown
01-07-2005

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This is absolutely gorgeous.

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beulahrawk
01-12-2005

Rated 0 
Today I heard this song in full for the first time and I nearly wept at the lines "I did everything for you." Sufjan's Christian lyrics are painting a picture of the greatest sacrifice of Jesus for him and all of humankind. He is the father and we are his sons and children. Awesome song.

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Noodles15
02-27-2005

Rated 0 
I like to think that he singing about a girl, not jesus

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tiredgorilla
02-28-2005

Rated 0 
definitely, i think it might be "mourning comes in paradise though/mourning comes in light"

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Raving Lunatic
03-02-2005

Rated 0 
Beulahrawk is right; there are definitely religious undertones to this song.

It seems like Jesus in the narrator. I don't understand some of the lines, but then again, I don't know much about Christianity.

I'm mostly fascinated by the lines "If you have a father, or if you haven't one. I'll do anything for you." This is very similar to the lines in another song of his, Vito's Ordination. In that song he sings "If you haven't one (a father), rest in my arms, sleep in my bed."

I think both of these lines mean that even if you don't believe in God (father), God will still care and provide for you. A nice thought. Apparently Sufjan believes in a benevolent God, unlike certain proclaimed Christian government officials, who shall remain unnamed.........George W. Bush.

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Raving Lunatic
03-02-2005

Rated 0 
Also, I have a live version of this song that Sufjan performed in Belgium on March 10, 2004. In it he explains the origin of the name of the song. I'll just quote what he says here:

"Let me do a song really quick about a small town up here called Paradise. Michigan has Paradise as well as Hell Michigan. It's kind of interesting. And, Um Paradise is a place...I noticed when we went up there to play a football tournament in high school, I noticed that there was all these single mothers and women and grandmothers but there weren't any men, and so I had sort of devised a story in my mind that they had all died in the war and that they were all widows. But they were really a very happy and optimistic community and they all seemed to be working together, and it was, like, women of the world take over. This is for the widows in Paradise."

It's an amazing concert. I love that guy.

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mikec
03-03-2005

Rated 0 
This song is simply incredible. There is absolutely a religious undertone of the song that seems to be the source of the lyrics. Sufjan's incorporation of Christianity in his songs is so perfectly touching and unoffensive, even to those of us who aren't Christian. It is obvious that his faith in God drives many of his songs, but he sings in more of a manner of describing his own personal relationship with religion, rather than a way of preaching.

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wilcokid
03-16-2005

Rated 0 
wow
ive just started listening to sufjan, and this song immediately stood out, its absolutly amasing. and i like the origin lunatic came up with. (im not jesus's homeboy)

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beulahrawk
03-17-2005

Rated 0 
About the line, "If you have a father, Or if you haven't one," I think it's God calling out to people to respond to Him, that He'll be a father to the fatherless. I don't believe that Sufjan has such a naive view of God, that He is some sort of benevolent grandfather who showers us with what we want. God is good, and goodness encompasses much more than mere kindness. He is a Father to His children, aka His believers ("I have called you son").

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flybillisfly
07-08-2005

Rated 0 
this is my favorite by sufjan. until minnesota comes out, at least.

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1 Reply
flybillisfly
07-09-2005

Rated 0 
ugh, the melody of this song is beautiful.

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jady
07-25-2005

Rated +3 
This song is definitely about Jesus, but like Casimir Pulaski day it has some undertones that are distinctly different from "christian" music. It certainly is about the sacrifice of Jesus "I'll do anything for you". But there is also a definite hint of uncertainty in his thinking "even if I come back, even if I die" (this last line is amazing to me, because it implies that Jesus wasn't even sure that he would come back!) "is there some idea to replace my life?"--hoping that his death will mean something. Then at the end, he says "I did EVERYTHING for you!" (I think it should be punctuated like that)--speaking to Jesus' frustration with his people (or maybe God, but probably people) for continuing to do... something. I think it's a mistake to read any more into it that that, like what that thing(s) is. This sort of "christian" music actually does so much more to make me sympathize with Jesus that so much "God is perfect all the time and we should always thank him" jibberish that most christian music is. It points to a humanity that is lost in that stuff; Jesus' humanity, yes, but also his beliver's humanity, in admitting that there are periods of doubt even for the most devout. That sort of thought is anathema to most christian music. Stevens should be lauded for putting thought into christian music.

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Siah
08-30-2005

Rated 0 
"I think both of these lines mean that even if you don't believe in God (father), God will still care and provide for you." Jesus loves you whether your a Christian or not, he doesnt save you just because he loves you though, you have to accept his gift

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Aeimit
09-02-2005

Rated 0 
What an incredible song!!

Does anyone know what instrument is playing in the begining?

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1 Reply
michaelbondy
09-06-2005

Rated 0 
This song is way to beautiful for the city in its title.

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michaelbondy
09-06-2005

Rated 0 
This song is way too beautiful for the city in its title.

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benjabean
09-18-2005

Rated 0 
umm, a banjo

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Soundboy
09-18-2005

Rated 0 
I have called you preacher I have called you Son. I now see that Jesus Christ is beautiful and not a condemning preacher but grace, mercy and lifegiver. He turns my stomach for joy and makes me jump and call up old friends and do the thing that I dont want, but know I should.

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Way_AE
12-14-2005

Rated 0 
Love the banjo on this.

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the mock-shrine
01-18-2006

Rated 0 
I read the end of the last stanza and the second "chorus" like this:

"Even if I die, is there some idea to replace my life, like a father to impress, like a mother's mourning dress?"

The father could easily mean God; the people of the world feel that they need to impress God, or perform good deeds.

And "a mother's mourning dress" would simply describe the black clothing worn to a funeral by the mother of the deceased.

I absolutely adore this song.

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sadponygorillagirl
02-10-2006

Rated 0 
I love this song.I love all of his work. He's a genius and my hero.

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sadponygorillagirl
02-10-2006

Rated 0 
I love this song.I love all of his work. He's a genius and my hero.

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