Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
If I am alive this time next year
Will I have arrived in time to share?
And mine is about as good this far
And I'm still applied to what you are
And I am joining all my thoughts to you
And I'm preparing every part for you
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
And I heard from the trees a great parade
And I heard from the hills a band was made
And will I be invited to the sound?
And will I be a part of what you've made?
And I am throwing all my thoughts away
And I'm destroying every bet I've made
And I am joining all my thoughts to you
And I'm preparing every part for you
For you
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
Will I have arrived in time to share?
And mine is about as good this far
And I'm still applied to what you are
And I am joining all my thoughts to you
And I'm preparing every part for you
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
And I heard from the trees a great parade
And I heard from the hills a band was made
And will I be invited to the sound?
And will I be a part of what you've made?
And I am throwing all my thoughts away
And I'm destroying every bet I've made
And I am joining all my thoughts to you
And I'm preparing every part for you
For you
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
(Ta la, ta la la la ta, ta la la)
Lyrics submitted by vwkeychain
All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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actually the title comes from Isaiah 55:12.
"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
I'm a christian, but could never bring myself to like Christian music. Sufjan's the only Christian artist I throughly enjoy.
So true, I'm a devoted christian. Very active in my youth group and church but yet I hate most christian music! Not the words or anything but it just all sounds the same sometimes and lacks good quality. Sufjan was the first christian artist I fell in love with. More than just the christian part he's now one of my core artists. Yes, his songs can mean whatever you like but ridiculously many of his songs line up with bible verses and common christian beliefs. This one is a great example.
There are lots of other great Christian artists too, but you have to search hard. Try Page France? Of course, nothing you try will compare to Sufjan.
@byebyebirdie58 I'm the same, if by Christian music you mean the attempts to create a Christian popular, contemporary or rock music. I love Bach though, the Faure requiem, Haydn's masses and countless hymns and folk songs with religious themes. I love Sufjan too. There is no one else like him. People compare him to Elliot Smith, who I also liked, and I understand the comparison but whisperery vocals are not total correspondence on the most important levels. <br /> <br /> I can understand people who don't like or have faith liking Bach or Sufjan, but there is necessarily a barrier there I would imagine. Sufjan is often ecstatically praising or honoring his creator and if you think that is bunk maybe you can credit him with sincerity but I'm not even sure of that.
Well the song IS about God. Sufjan is a very very religious man. I don't usually enjoy music that incorporates religion or faith, but his music is just so beautiful I can let it slide.
while i too am skeptical when it comes to music and religion (mostly due to bad personal experiences with what is considered 'christian' music), sufjan really has a way of conveying his beliefs without sounding pushy or abrasive, he's simply writing about what's important to him. and i'm fine with that, seeing how he does it so well.
also, the humming chorus thing in the background of the second verse is, well, simply marvellous. da-dadada-da-dadada.
The title comes from Psalm 96: 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
(Oh, and yes, heaven forbid a song should incorporate religion or faith. How tasteless. I'd much prefer to hear about failed relationships.)
actually it's from Isaiah 55: 12<br /> <br /> You will go out in joy<br /> and be led forth in peace;<br /> the mountains and hills<br /> will burst into song before you,<br /> and all the trees of the field<br /> will clap their hands. <br /> <br /> -I LOVE this song. It's a welcome change from so much of the garbage on the radios these days.
I think I speak for most people who dislike Christian music when I say this, but I may not.<br /> <br /> I used to be a catholic, but due to some serious disagreements with the philosophy of the catholic church, I am not anymore. Because of this, I've had a fair bit of experience with Christianity, and a small bit of experience with Christian music.<br /> <br /> My problem with Christian music is not that its Christian, there are plenty of very positive messages in the bible, but that most of it is just not good music. The goal of the artists is not to make good music, but to preach, and because of this the quality of the music is lowered substantially.
i respect the fact that songmeanings.net is open to personal interpretations of songs, but it seems to me that if you are on this website you are obviously interested in the artists in which you are commenting on. that being said. sufjan is a christian, you can choose to be ignorant of that fact and not believe the countless interviews in which sufjan confesses his faith. not to mention a majority of his songs have some kind of reference to christianity. to completely ignore the fact that sufjan is christian just seems downright ridiculous. especially if your goal is to figure out the meaning of this song considering a number of the verses refer to biblical accounts. just a thought.
o and this song is fun to sing/play on banjo.
Isaiah 55:12
Isaiah 55:12
this song is rad...it reminds me of being in church though
I'm clueless as to what the first three lines of both stanzas refer to. "Mine is about as good this far"? "I heard from the trees a great parade"? "Will I be incited to the sound?"? Does anyone know what any of this means?