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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horsegirljen10
10-16-2009

Rated 0 
Can I be sure that he's saying "mourning dress" instead of "morning dress"? I've been thinking about this for a while, and just wanted to see if these were the official lyrics, as in off of the album itself. I would think that they would say "mourning," but the alternative changes the whole meaning of the song for me.

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greeney
08-22-2009

Rated 0 
You know, this song doesn't have to be religious at all. It doesn't have any overtly religious overtones, and even if it did I would argue that the soul of the song has nothing to do with religion. This song is about Sufjan himself as a guardian, a protector to those he loves. What we have to realize, though, is that Sufjan's lyrics are not always about god, or for that matter even significantly religious. He deals with very natural, very human emotions and feelings without invoking god.

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amanii
06-11-2009

Rated 0 
i very literally stumbled onto this song when i found it on an unlabeled mix cd in my car. i had no idea who the artist was, let alone their religious affiliations. my first interpretation of it was the most honest portrayal of devotion and unreturned commitment towards a lover.

now that i know the religious backing, it makes me even happier and in love with sufjan's writing.

it is heartbreaking.

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joeydangerr
05-29-2009

Rated 0 
In the booklet, the lyrics are:

morning comes in paradise/morning comes in light (not mourning, but you can interpret it that way)

and it's "I was dressed embarrassment, I was dressed in wine" which makes less sense, but it's how it's printed in the insert.

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jorer33
05-16-2009

Rated 0 
I realize the Christian themes, but I also think this song could be sung from the point of view of a WIDOW. The whole song is amazing, as his ALL of his stuff. Huge fan. :-)

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vivaemily
04-15-2009

Rated +2 
First of all, LOL at all of the tools that are trying to school everyone without using proper grammar, spelling, or any other intention of convincing the rest of us that you are at all educated.

Second, I'm sure that we all read the excerpt explaining that the song was named because of the single women in Paradise at the soccer game, etc. etc. But my dearest Stranded tried telling us that we are illiterate and that there is no possible way that it could be about religion; based on what? The excerpt? Because I can read just fine, it it clearly does NOT say that it is NOT about Jesus. While none of us will ever really know what the song is about unless we have a one on one with Suf himself, it's absurd that anyone would try ruling out the religious undertones for any of his songs.

While he does not say that it is NOT religious, he DOES say, COUNTLESS times in SEVERAL interviews that his relationship with Christ is like a marriage. He loves God as his lover and when someone is in that intimate of a relationship with anyone or anything, it can be enveloping. So it's almost crazy to think that God wouldn't be the undertone of everything that one writes when they are constantly living in the shadows of their beliefs.

And anyhow, who cares who is a christian and who isn't, all that matters is that despite the fact that Sufjan is, he isn't like all the other Contemporary Christian Music douche bags.




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1 Reply
flowerpatches
03-20-2009

Rated 0 
This song is wonderful. It is definitely one of my top songs for Sufjan.

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1 Of The Million
03-19-2009

Rated -1 
I don't care what Sufjan meant when he wrote this song. For me, its about a girl. It may have been about Jesus when Sufjan wrote it, but I think if he wanted us to know that he would make it more obvious. Songs mean whatever you want them to mean. Quit over analyzing this kind of stuff.

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XianSnake
01-19-2009

Rated 0 
It seems to be from Jesus' view, first its a human Jesus struggling with this task of having to live and die a horrible death but knowing its the only way and theres no other answer. also he's speaking as a God Jesus to those who've had to struggle in their own lives, widows and orphans, telling them he loves them and came to earth to be with them and be their husband or father etc...

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liquidhotmagma
01-11-2009

Rated 0 
I think Sufjan writes a lot of songs that (for him) come from a place of spirituality. I think he's a really religious guy (as in he thinks a great deal about and feels very strongly about spiritual matters) but I think (and maybe it's just 'cause I'm the same way) he isn't necessarily a traditional Christian. It's very clear to me that he sees one's relationship with/to God as a personal matter and not as something to be paraded around, saying, "Look at me! i'm 'saved'! don't you wish you were too?"
I also think that while most of his songs come from a spiritual place, they also just talk a lot about what it is to be a human being and to live in our world. That's why I think many listeners easily hear a religious meaning, and many others think they are just fine without any religious side.
I love the interpretation of this song coming from a very HUMAN Jesus. I mean, like asymptotes said, why do we always want to paint Jesus as super calm and cool going into his crucifixion? Remember when he cried that God had forsaken (in plainer English, COMPLETELEY ABANDONED) him? I think if someone told me I could save mankind by dying a slow and excrutiatingly painful death I would have mixed feelings about it, too! I find this portrait of Jesus much more relatable and much more moving than some ethereal guru who was clearly more of a deity than a fellow human being.
I see this whole song as a contemplation, during the time he prayed before being arrested. Asking God if this really was what had to happen, telling himself that there will be (a metaphorical) "morning" when he "wakes up" in heaven, then countering with the idea that morning would also come if he continued living and saw the sun rise each day. And I love the idea that maybe he wasn't sure he would come back. 'Cause how did he know? I mean everyone acts like Jesus could just call God on the phone. I think he understood God very well, a lot better than any other human has, but he was still human. There wasn't any more a dialogue between him and God in his brain than there is in mine. I don't think God actually SPOKE to him (concretely SPOKE) any more than God "speaks" to me.
I think it's the human fear and frailty in him duking it out with the human heart that loves his father and wants to serve him. And I think it culminates with the "father to impress, mother's mourning dress" bit. He's trying to marry himself to this idea of dying for his Father's cause. And he thinks of his mother who will mourn, and then (in my interpretation) he thinks of the way his mother loves him - "If you ever make a mess, I'll do anything for you" - and decides that's the kind of love his father has too, and the kind of love he should show for his fellow human beings.
I think that last "i have called you preacher" bit has to do with evangelism. Now I kinda hate evangelism. It just pisses people off (myself included). If they want to know, they'll ask you about it. I think evangelism, if it must be done, should be done by living as an example, not giving out pamphlets or telling people to get 'saved'.
Lastly I love the ambiguity of the phrase "i did everything for you" - it could be either "i did everything you could have possibly asked of me" as well as "everything i did, I did for you"

Okay. I think fate is punishing my excessive rambling by giving me carpal tunnel.




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sw33tlov3
01-06-2009

Rated 0 
OMG i absolutely love this song! ...its jus so moving and loving and caring
Everytime i listen 2 it it just makes me wanna cry
most beautiful song ever!

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Vocalities
10-30-2008

Rated +1 
I've been listening to Sufjan for a few years now, and I've really grown to consider him one of the single best artists out there. That being said, I'm totally blown away when people actually come here and dispute or even play ignorant to the fact that his songs have a very deep, purposeful, intentional, and not-so-subtle religious connotation, undertone, or message. However you want to word it, claiming his message ruins it is such an ignorant and sad thing to say. I mean, really, especially when the lyrics are masked in metaphors to take your mind off one thing if you choose not to dive into that area of meaning. I'm not religious at all, and I actually don't really enjoy most music with blatant religious or even political messages, but Sufjan Stevens has an undeniable and high-acclaimed gift for crafting his lyrics and his songs to give multiple messages, even if he only has one intentionally. That is a gift not a lot have, and to see anybody say it ruins it for them...wow, it's just a complete shame.

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infinityontrial
10-19-2008

Rated 0 
Does the first part remind anyone of Milton's Paradise Lost? Basically it could be God talking (to Jesus) about Adam's and Eve's coming fall from grace which he is not going to stop. Morning light of course referring to Lucifer. So basically a metaphor for how suffering is our part in this world and everyone has to play their part.

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eclipseyourself
09-16-2008

Rated 0 
I will never forget the first time I heard this song

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dwellsinships
08-11-2008

Rated 0 
This is the song that got me listening to Sufjan. I agree with all that's been said, especially concerning the fatherless concept.

It makes me so happy to know that there are people who can write songs with religious tones that not only accept but embrace people who have no religion.

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Watermeloncutzie
05-02-2008

Rated 0 
i like it

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narcissus_t
05-02-2008

Rated +1 
I think the reality of multiple meanings and Christian undertones has already been firmly established, and I'm quite happy with both ideas.

The thing is, Christianity has become so repugnant to so many people, but artists like Sufjan have a way of transforming it into something that's so identifiable and human.

I'm not really a Christian, but I prefer to believe that the Christian interpretation is, in fact, one of several actual meanings. Given the story it tells, religious inclinations aside, that makes it all the more beautiful.

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dreck
02-16-2008

Rated 0 
This song might have religious undertones, but if so they are deliberately ambiguous. The song carries powerful memories for me of my time in social work. It's about giving, and the spiritual reward of giving. This may be according to the example of Christ, but I feel like Sufjan himself also identifies with the speaker. "Is there some idea to replace my life" reminds me of the legacy that all of us leave, and our conflicting emotions about legacy.
A stunningly beautiful song that has brought tears to my eyes more than once.

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DreamerbyDeception
01-30-2008

Rated 0 
i personally dont really believe in christianity, but i still find this song to have a beautiful meaning. i think about it this way: if a song is about greek myths i dont hate it because i dont believe in them, but i enjoy the poetic nature of the religion, and enjoy the fact that i can referance the song to things that i can easily learn about.

i asl think that this song is beautifully sounding, and i think that meanings are reletive, so if you do not apprciate a certain message, try and apply it to your life. songs are not meant to have a single meaning, if they were, this site would not be nearly as popular.

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wdbost
12-06-2007

Rated +1 
Too many comments to address, but! The title is referring to a verse in the Bible, common for Sufjan. The verse actually is about what pure religion is (loving one another), minus doctrine and other necessary but complicating factors.

James 1:27
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world"

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joyinfaith
11-02-2007

Rated 0 
this song is so pure in its portrayal of Jesus' love and sacrifice.

and to whoever said the repetition of the last two lines is a sign of lyrical immaturity, i must say i disagree. it's emphasizing the meaning of the words. you don't have to have every line of the song be different to be 'lyrically mature'. lyrically mature is knowing when it's right and when it's wrong to repeat things, when things sound over done. if he would have made it more wordy, or even shortened the amount of times he says each of the two lines, it would have complicated or taken away from the song entirely.

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Sweet_Amity
11-02-2007

Rated 0 
This is one of the songs that you can sing along to during the first time you listen to it. Its amazing.

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bestwombat11
10-14-2007

Rated 0 
sometimes I can't believe how beautiful this song is.. everytime I hear it I get absolutely blown away. sufjan may quite literally be a musical genius.

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FoRevEr_SPooNer
10-13-2007

Rated 0 
I DO LOVE THIS SONG. Music and lyrics absolutely wonderful... "I'd Do Anything For You" ... Isn't this the sweetest thing you've ever heard? My God, so sweet and full of love... I do adore it...

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_meandthemajor
10-11-2007

Rated 0 
This is probably my favorite song by Sufjan.
The line, "Like a father to impress, like a mother's mourning dress" really stands out for me.

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