"All good thoughts" in spite of righteousness
is the kind of thoughts in spite of greatness.
Often now the State is advocation.
If we form a power of recognition.

Forget loss and perfect advocation.
If it drops or stays in convocation.
All we praise is all we want in commerce
All we praise is parties, foreign commerce.
Entertain ideas of great communion,
Shelter not materials in union
(All we praise is not the kind of commerce.
That's the right solution!)

"All good thoughts" is not the act of doing
What we want but what we should be proving
(Properties?), ideas, a woman's pleasure
is empowered by love, a perfect measure!


Lyrics submitted by drinkmilk

All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace! Lyrics as written by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace! song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    QUOTE: Raving Lunatic: "I think this song, as the title suggests, is about working together to change a community or government. "Entertain ideas of great communion, shelter not materials in union. All we praise is not the kind of commerce. That's the right solution!" These lines say we must work together (communion) not for capitalist purposes (not materials) but for something other than "commerce," something greater and more important. That's the right solution!"


    It was this response that made me want to reply. I didn't like that anti-capitalist vibe Raving Lunatic sent. I want to point out Sufjan's EXACT words

    -All we praise is not the kind of commerce That's the right solution!-

    To me this is sarcastic, saying we never praise a type of commerce that has proven to work in past societies, we seem to only praise what is NOT THE KIND OF COMMERCE we should use. Example is raving lunatics picking and choosing the kind of commerce that is the problem. And "Entertain ideas of great communion" mean to do simply that, entertain them, do not implement them, it is only an idea to work from. And "Shelter not materials in union" means to me, not to horde riches, but to have an entrepreneur type of spirit, of investment.

    --"All Good Thoughts" In Spite Of Righteousness is not the Kind Of Thoughts In Spite Of Greatness.--

    How can a "Good Thought" be in spite of righteousness? To me this seems like the "Good Thought" could be like a Robin Hood. On that it seems at first "Good" but isn't morally righteous, because he is stealing. Then Sufjan goes on to say these "Good Thoughts" are not in spite of greatness, meaning they are for becoming "Great". This means "Good Thoughts" without righteousness could lead to self exaltation.

    --Often Now The State Is Advocation if We Form A Power Of Recognition.--

    This is a statement for the naysayers to pay attention too, for it recognizes the State(Government) as a source of Advocation, an advocater is one that argues for a cause; a supporter or defender aka All Good Naysayers. Sufjan states often the state is of advocation if there is a power of recognition, like a historic figure of civil, and individual rights, (Righteousness) such as Gandhi, MLK, JFK, Ron Paul.

    Yes i believe the lyrics state: "Often Now The State Is Advocation if We Form A Power Of Recognition."

    -Properties, ideas, a woman's pleasure Is empowered by love, a perfect measure!-

    Simply genius! The answer is love! lol

    xtrabiotoxinon June 13, 2009   Link

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