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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Caaat
06-08-2006

Rated 0 
this is song is beautiful!

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sal_bal
06-26-2006

Rated 0 
you guys r all tools

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HeathroBonk
07-01-2006

Rated 0 
I believe there is a religious undertone as in much of his music.

There is an awesome video of just Sufjan sitting on a fence with his banjo playing this on youtube. It's is perfectly beautiful.

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souljuice
07-17-2006

Rated 0 
sufjan is the master of the banjo
"If you have a father
Or if you haven't one"

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lighttheshade
07-19-2006

Rated 0 
stunning. delicate and powerful in entire

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aerodrome
07-20-2006

Rated 0 
In recognition of those who are upset by the concept of religion present in the lyrics, and yet still fall guilty of the love for a beautiful song..

I believe the presence of a God and his people or creation are clearly evident in this song, but more or less not necessarily in a religious or Christian context. Perhaps replacing the term 'God' with a less religion-associated word, for example a 'supernatural being' could rationalize the lyrics between those belivers and non-believers.

Both the roles of a 'Supernatural being' vs. its Inferior can each symbolize as much as they are interpreted as by the listener.
For example ; Mother vs. Child, Universe vs. Humanity, God vs. Creation

There's no one way to define a song. And with such a beatiful melody and lyrics it would be a true pity to consider this one with a solid interpretation, directed towards a single specific belief or group.

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TheLuckiest08
07-22-2006

Rated 0 
this song is beautiful
and sad.
and i cry.
all the time, well when i listen to it.

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TheLuckiest08
07-22-2006

Rated 0 
this song is beautiful
and sad.
and i cry.
all the time, well when i listen to it.

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blame_monster
07-28-2006

Rated 0 
This song was on the OC in it's last season during a funeral scene.

It was easily the coolest thing ive ever seen on TV.

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casiopt1
07-29-2006

Rated 0 
this song makes me feel angry, because I think it is definitely about jesus, and that's what makes me so angry about it, because it's a gorgeous song that is so heartfelt, but the subject matter is just stomach-churning to me. it's so beautiful it makes you want to sing along. but I can't and probably shouldn't, because it's ridiculous. i think it's ridiculous that a man can have this kind of importance in a person's mind. how incredibly pompous of him, first of all, and how incredibly perverse and pitiful of the person. this only cements my love/hate relationship with the Sufjan. there is no need to personify universal love, which is what twists this song into something beautiful and sad in my mind.

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vantage
07-29-2006

Rated 0 
I'm sick and tired of reading that every damn song Sufjan writes is about Jesus, God, or him being a flaming homosexual. Sometimes all at once.

If you read the story that goes along with it on his site, you'll clearly see that it's not about Jesus.

GET OVER IT.

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cobra riot
08-15-2006

Rated 0 
sorry vantage,
but i too believe this song is about christ.

the "i was dressed embarassment, i was dressed in wine" line makes me think of jesus' crucifixion. the crown of thorns was a way to make jesus feel shamed and the blood pouring down his body is the wine.

i forget how many days after his death was jesus resurrected, but he comes back to life, reinforcing the line "even if i die, even if i come back"

his whole life was spent teaching others how to be good and even though he was christ, he becomes human with the question, "is there some idea to replace my life?" just like the rest of us, he wants to know if people will remember what he taught when he was alive, if those ideas will outlive him and be taught to others as well.

a beautiful song.
sufjan is genius.

i don't care for the relgious undertones,
and i still enjoy and love the song.

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vantage
08-24-2006

Rated 0 
You can believe what you want, but you're still wrong.

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duff_man_8
09-08-2006

Rated 0 
The song is interpreted how you want it to be interpreted. If it has an impact on your life then who cares what someone else thinks it means. Just be happy with the way it makes you feel. It is still a beautiful song.

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inpraiseoffolly
09-08-2006

Rated 0 
This song would have a chance at being good if he didn't say the same thing over and over (an indication of lyrical immaturity), had otherwise good lyrics, and had good music, and of course, a good concept. Oh well. You can't have everything (or anything) in a song, I guess.

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Yalegirl03
12-04-2006

Rated 0 
Why can't a song be about many things? There are definitely Christian references here although his observation of the families and mothers in Paradise inspired his song and was the source. Just like most honest art by Christians, your faith influences and infuses things. I think it is a beautiful song and I love Sufjan's honest and open approach to his art. He rights from his heart about what he sees and observes from eyes that are influenced by the life he has lead, including his faith. I think that is why so many people like his music beyond having a nice hummable tune. That is why I think he is a true artist.

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fursoftasfur
12-09-2006

Rated 0 
"you can believe what you want, but you're still wrong"?!
a lot of sufjan's songs are vaguely religious. but it could be about anything, as yalegirl said. sufjan often has other meanings that he says 'inspired' the songs, but they're not necessarily what the song is *about*. for example, he said 'he woke me up again' was about how his parents would always wake him up in the night to share their ideas, but he seems to take this idea in a more religious direction. he talks about travelling to ypsilanti and noticing a lack of men, and maybe he branches out from that idea with the song. who could really know?

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Evie!!!
12-29-2006

Rated 0 
I don't belive in Jesus but stil this song means a lot to me. probably because this song has a message. what I also like a lot about this song is that it is used in The O.C. , my favorite tv serie.
why I don't believe in Jesus?
I belive that Jesus is in everyone of us. because we al live in this world and because we make things happen the way that there happening, good or bad, and not a man in heaven. so in some way I do belive in Jesus because I belive in everyone of us.
kisses eva ( from the Netherlands)

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missme
01-01-2007

Rated 0 
this song is so beautiful. i kind of floats along. it sounds quite mourning, but it's also positive in a way. lovely.

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missme
01-01-2007

Rated 0 
this song is so beautiful. i kind of floats along. it sounds quite mourning, but it's also positive in a way. lovely.

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blackmyeyes
01-05-2007

Rated 0 
This song is the closest you can get to magic. His voice makes you forget everything else and the lyrics kick ass. Damn this song is absolutely without a doubt the best song .

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RyGuy86
01-06-2007

Rated 0 
The beauty of good art is that you can put it into the context of your own life. The spiritual element of this song can refer to Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, or anything, because it's a common idea and a common theme throughout all of humanity. Expressing your love by suffering for something greater than yourself is what all artists do, in a sense. Sufjan happens to be Christian, but why does that have to ruin the song for you? Why bother with art at all if you're not willing to set aside your bias and ignorance?

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crimsonandclover
01-30-2007

Rated 0 
i usually don't like any sort of religious music because it mostly comes off as preachy, one dimensional and a slight bit offensive. what i love about sufjan's music is that he writes about his own relationship with his religion and the emotions that come along with it and less about an idea. also though, when sufjan discused this song, he never said anything about it being about god or the like. he said it was about an experience he had where he dreamed up a story about the families in a town he visited. this song could mean any number of things for different people. perhaps because my father died i choose to believe in what he said the meaning is.
whatever else you see in it is fine as well. this is such a peaceful song, lets not argue over it.

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Stranded
02-13-2007

Rated 0 
Can't you people even fucking read?

IT'S NOT ABOUT JESUS.

Yes, he has written songs earlier that had religious undertones. This isn't one of them. There's even an explanation provided by him at his own concert, and you just can't help but push Christianity in every vein. Let it go, for once -- this song is not. about. Jesus.

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Petary791
02-13-2007

Rated 0 
Beautiful song indeed.

Now something that's on my mind, why do you guys care if it's a Christian song? You're saying that it's a beautiful song about loving your neighbor and a father figure who's ALWAYS there for you-- so what's the problem with believing there's a God? After all, Christianity is not just fire and brimstone.

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