I am going to go ahead and +1 the Mormon idea

This is from an album about Illinois. A major part of Illinois history is the Mormon settlement of Nauvoo, which at one time boasted a higher population that Chicago and Quincy, the two largest cities at that time.

The mormons built a temple and it was burned to the ground and then destroyed by a tornado. They built a tower for Emmanuel.

i don't think it is from the viewpoint of Smith though. I think it is from a journal, Sufjan was said to have studied some journals for the album.

I do think he uses the Sears Tower as an image, but in the end it is a more spiritual sort of tower. A tall tower through which we attempt to get close to God, to set ourselves apart from the world and enter a spiritual dimension beyond the worldly. Theres the view of the apocalytic, of the separation between the sons of God and the rest of men, of fire, of the end of this world (though it is not yet). God is still there, seven miles above the earth (the Seers tower is not there). We can be in that tower to try to connect with God, yet we are still in the powers of the earth, which rail and rail, dont like our belonging to God. Then he comes to a personal contemplation, of how messed up the world is in the good and bad that happens to us, a sudden contemplation of his own life about his mother and father (he uses my suddenly), though it could at the same time work as a parallel withe broader things on how our mother Earth betrays us, is cold toward us, but the Father is still there to take care of us no matter what which fits the rest of the song and perhaps his contemplation on his own life just makes confirms the broader in some way. Regardless of all this, he still lives in this world, the deepest grave, where he sleeps alone, for now, as the “still“ lasts, though the future holds an end to that grave as seen from the tower.

hmmmmm i retract my statement on the babel tower, i've really been looking into the apostles and i was reading into st. john (st. james, son of zebedee's brother), anyway one link to another, and the writer of the book of revelations is called the john of patmos, but is also known as john the seer. it's clear now that the seer's tower is a reference to the book of revelations...

i think it's about both the tower of babel and the apocalypse, Emmanuel (Jesus) dividing us at the end of time, judging us. but also the dividing could be God dividing the men and women after they built the tower of babel. i think though it's more of a reference to the end, especially the last two lines, from what i've learnt when we die we stay in our graves and then we wait till the end when God resurrects us and Jesus judges us. i love sufjan's imagery, the first verse especially

When I was young man, my friends and I ascended the Sears Tower for the first time. It had been a typical rainy, midwestern spring day. We arrived at the top a few minutes before sundown. With Chicago below us, and the plains stretching out into infinity we felt we could see the entire earth if not universe. We turned West just as the sun dipped below the clouds and "set the whole world on fire." I found myself entrhralled, overwhelmed, and swept up into a mystical experience. I lost myself for awhile, and I'm guessing that Sufjan had a similar experience there.

"There is Emmanuel of Mothers"
God is with us, as father and mother, loving and caring for us no matter what. In this great universe, burning away, where we are just an insignificant speck, he knows and cares for us personally...WOW. However, the "sword" of love, the "robe" of sacrifice, divides us from our brothers, fellow humans, who pursue their security and happiness in the world of things and man (being of the world). They all think we are crazy, foolish and irrational.

The Sears Tower is a monument to the materialism...built to our god of human wealth, security and power.

The next line is obscure, and I have seen it rendered "rails and rails", "rips and rips", "resurrects" etc. Can someone give the definitive verse? I will skip it for now.

Up to this point, he expresses a visionary experience triggered by something in the Sears Tower – then he suddenly sees his own, small life, mirrored in the broader vision (as all mystics do) – a mother who abandoned him and his siblings to pursue her own selfish desires, a father who served him (loved and bathed him). DO we live a life of selfish indulgence or one of servitude (this is the basic division of brothers by the sword by the way).

As a side note, there is no evidence in the rest of Sufjan's music that he sees the Earth Mother as having betrayed us, so I do not believe he accepts that biblical misinterpretation.

Finally, he is brought back to the realization that in the world of man, we are all ultimately alone, lonely – a grave for those unwilling or unable to pierce the mystery. It is only through the experience and grace of our relationship with God through Christ's example that we come to true communion with each other and with ourselves and escape that lonely grave.

Just my experience of this mystical song.

I have an interesting interpretation of this song. I feel that it is connected with the three songs before it (“They are Night Zombies!!...”, “Let’s hear that string part again…”, “and In This Temple, As in the Hearts of Man, for Whom He Saved the Earth”) If you listen to the whole CD, the music is connected from Zombies, all the way to The Seer’s Tower. Therefore, if the music is connected, can’t the lyrics/meaning be connected?


The first connection I see is between “They are Night Zombies…” and “The Seer’s Tower”.

“In the powers of the earth, we wait until it rails and rails” – Seer’s
“Waking the earth, it lifts and lags” –Zombies
“Oh, my mother, she betrayed us, but my father loved and bathed us” – Seer’s

Definition of rails: “To express objections or criticisms in bitter, harsh, or abusive language.”
Definition of lags: “To arrest.” Or “To send to prison.”

The first line is making the earth (world) out to be mean by saying she is bitter, harsh, and abusive. The second line, I feel, is saying that the earth (world) has judged us and found us guilty. It’s as if he is saying she (the world/judge) is lifting her gavel, and slamming it down to send us to prison. The Bible talks about following the sins of the world (we all do, we were born into it), and how, because of these sins, we are condemned to hell. But the next line gives us hope. It starts off repeating the fact that our mother (the world) has betrayed us by sending us to prison (hell), but ends with the statement that our father (Jesus) loves us. So it’s almost as if Sufjan is telling the whole Story of Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins, in these three lines.


The second connection I see deals with the very next lines in both of these songs.

“We see a thousand rooms to rest
Helping us taste the bite of death
I know, I know my time has passed
I'm not so young, I'm not so fast
I tremble with the nervous thought
Of having been, at last, forgot”- Zombies

“Still I go to the deepest grave
Where I go to sleep alone”- Seer’s

Although I’m not a hundred percent sure as to the exact connection between these lines, the only thing I could find was that they both deal with death.



The Third connection I see is between “They are Night Zombies…” and “Let’s Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don’t Think They Hear It All The Way Out in Bushnell”. We see the connection, because the string part he is talking about is taken directly from Zombies. This string part is only played once in Zombies, and the exact lyrics that are being sung, while the strings are being played are these:

“I know, I know my time has passed
I'm not so young, I'm not so fast
I tremble with the nervous thought
Of having been, at last, forgot”

I take, that it is not the strings he actually want us to hear again, but rather what he is saying. It is as if he is saying to us, “I don’t think I said that loud enough, so let me repeat myself, so you can hear me.” As to why he wants us to hear this again, I’m not so clear on. Maybe he is talking about a fear of being forgotten by God once he dies, therefore ending up in Hell.


The fourth connection I see deals again with “The Seer’s Tower”, and “They Are Night Zombies…” This one deals with the word “divide”.

“Hold your tongue and don't divide us
Land of God, you hold and guide us”- Zombies
“He comes dividing man from brothers”- Seer’s

The meaning of the first divide is: “To cause to separate into opposing factions; disunite”
The meaning of the second divide is: “to separate or part from something else; sunder; cut off.”

It’s as if Sufjan wants us to know the difference between the two divides. Also, the Bible talks about the tongue a lot, and how it is very powerful, and can be very evil. James 3:5-9 is one of the most notable examples of this, in the Bible. In “The Seer’s Tower” he talks about God dividing man from brother. Sufjan is essentially talking about how God separates those who love and believe in him, from those who don’t.

If you look close enough, you can also see a connection between the line, “Land of God, you hold and guide us”, and the first connection I talked about. He is asking God to guide us, as opposed to us following the world.


The fifth and final connection that I can see so far, deals with “They Are Night Zombies…”, “In This Temple, As in the Hearts of Man…”, and “The Seer’s Tower. This one you have to use your imagination on, but I think if you look hard enough, you can see the connection. At the end of “The Seer’s Tower”, starting at 3:38, you hear two sets of sounds. The first is a low pitched sort of moan, and the second is a high pitched angelic like singing. I feel that the low moaning sound connects to “They Are Night Zombies…”. It almost sounds as if it is the zombies (dead) moaning. On the other hand, the angelic like singing, is the same type of sound heard in the background throughout “In this Temple As in the Hearts of Man, For Whom He Saved the Earth”.

To me, this is kind of like him saying that in the end you will either end up in one of two places. Heaven (angelic), or Hell (moaning), and that the only way to Heaven is to follow Christ.

This is just what I got out of it; obviously I’m not stating that this is the only meaning in the songs.

I think you all are missing something important about the last two lines.

The "still." I think he's saying, even though all this chaos is happening, even though Jesus is coming back, even though my Father cleansed me... I still feel so alone in all this. I think it's a perfect ending to a beautiful song.

And, I do think the "mother betrayed us" line is talking about his mother. He's been pretty clear about that in interviews. Sufjan also spoke about writing stuff in first-person experiences (though, gathered in historical, non-first-person situations... if that makes sense).

Anyway, back to my point. Think about the "still" and it will come together. I don't think the song is about the rapture and all that (it is, but it isn't). The point is, to me, he's saying that there is a never-ending loneliness one feels, no matter how much is going on and how much hope one has.

That's just me, anyway.

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no offense but I think your all wrong. I really do hate to sound sci-fi, but I think it's talking about aleins. Toe taking each word to litteral. It's more symbolic. Some of it I can't understand, means it might foretell future events. The beggining might state that inthe future were going to build a tower to see into the the cosmos ( maybe with a telescope on top)
While looking through it somebody will see and record UFO evidence clear the government can't deny it.

The next part explains the beings that really put life on earth secretly live in the upper atmosphere. "With his sword with his rope" means that government agencies like MJ 12 use force and violence to stop us from finding out. Wich divides us men from our true relatives.

The next part talks about our original reason for building the tower was for Christ. In the powers of the earth, we wait for them to ressurect means that there will be so much chaos on the ground that most of the worlds governments will shut down and the people will wait for them to ressurect. Oh my mother she betrayed us but my father loved and bathed us means that these ET's will take care of us and the worlds governments (or government, who knows in the future) betrayed us. The last part means that a very large percentage of the world population still died and remained there alone without funerals or even being buried.

I could be wrong I'm only 13 and going against all of you but it's what makes most sense to me...

Also, now that I think about it, the narrator is probably mentioning his mother as one who will be separated as unrighteous because of her betrayal during the 2nd coming of Jesus.

I do believe the lyrics should be
"We wait until He resurrects" instead of "rails and rails"
He resurrects would make much more sense in the context of the song, awaiting Jesus's return at the end.

I'm guessing toinfinitude is probably right.

sufjan often alludes to biblical aspects in his songs. this one in particular provides a unique perspective and interpretation of the book of Revelation, the last book of the bible.

if one has no idea what Revelation is about, it is a glimpse given to John the apostle of the End Times. the End Times is referred to as God's ultimate judgment upon the earth, Christ's Second Coming, when He will no longer put up with sin.

parallel to sufjan's song, the "sword" and "robe" can be allusions to Christ's ascension from heaven during the final battle after the Millenial Reign with His sword and army (i will be there).

"my mother" could possibly (out of my own speculation) refer to the term "mother earth." it could be that the earth and its pleasures, deceiving and destructive in its temporary satisfaction, ultimately kills us. the "father" however, may well refer to God, and how only He offers eternal rest and satisfaction.

take it or leave it.

Here is what I think:
The Seer's Tower is the Sear's Tower and it is from the viewpoint of someone at the very top looking down upon the Chicago Fire and they believe it to be the end of the world.

This song is most likely not about the Tower of Babel. I thought that when I first listened as well, but its not. The Tower of Babel was not built for God. It was built out of pride and self gain. Hence, this song doesn't apply.

"In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel"

Honestly, i always just thought The Seer's Tower was a play on words. The Sears Tower. Just going for the most obvious thing here, and to me it makes sense. Then you just go from there.

This is not the tower of Babel, as some have pointed out. It has nothing to do with working together to replace God and replacing God to be found impossible. This tower is "above the earth." Great writers weigh every word, they master the language they use. He doesn't say the tower that "reaches above the earth." Perhaps he feels himself as the seer, reading the apocalyptic passage from the bible. As he reads it, he imagines it. Also, there's something about the Earth being loaned to us by God. We CEDE the universe, to give up the universe.

In the tower above the earth
There is a view that reaches far
Where we CEDE the universe
I see the fire, I see the end

Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. The believers well go to paradise, together. The non-believers will die alone, no paradise for them. Seven miles above the earth must be where God is, seven being the perfect number. Could Emmanuel of mothers "God of earth?"
Seven miles above the earth
There is Emmanuel of mothers
With his sword, with his robe
He comes dividing man from brothers

In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel
In the powers of the earth, we wait until it rails and rails
In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel
Oh, my mother, she betrayed us, but my father loved and bathed us

Still I go to the deepest grave
Where I go to sleep alone
Seven miles above the earth
There is Emmanuel of mothers
With his sword, with his robe
He comes dividing man from brothers

Third paragraph was covered by other people... I'm not too sure on it myself... Any takers?

The last two lines could be him believing that he might have doubted God too much to go to paradise amongst brothers and, rather, be forced to die, like the "men", alone.
Still I go to the deepest grave
Where I go to sleep alone

One note: the 3rd line should be "Where we cede the universe" not "see the universe" ...also "he" should be capitalized in both places according to the CD lyrics.

As for "In the powers of the earth, we wait until it rails and rails" could refer to the end times and the persecution of those who have faith in Christ. According to Biblical prophecy, the "end times" will be near when the powers of the earth will gather against followers of Christ.

I think the fourth stanza of this song is similar to antithetical parallelism found in many of the Psalms and Proverbs. Many contrasts. The lines "In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel" could be the church (i.e. those who put their faith in Christ) and sandwiched between them is "In the powers of the earth..." which could be everyone else (i.e. those who are antagonistic toward the followers of Christ).

The last line may be about the fact that our bodies die (alone) and become part of the earth (Mother)...which would make the ending ironic considering the previous contrasts.

What I find interesting about Sufjan, is that all of our conjecture about the meaning of this song (as well as his others) could be completely wrong. Or completely right. Or somewhere in between. Which, I think, is his genious.

for some reason this song just gives me the feeling of chicago in the fall.

i really like this song.

has someone commented on this or no?

In the powers of the earth, we wait until it rails and rails
is this line correct? when i listen i always heard "we wait until it resurrects" but...i do like the rails and rails. only...what does it mean? i have no religious knowledge whatsoever.

Just as a side note, possible double meaning in the lines:
"oh my mother, she betrayed us, but my father loved and bathed us"

When he was 5 years old, Steven's mom abandoned his family, and his father was left to raise the kids alone. I'm not saying that the Mother Earth/Heavenly Father analogy is wrong, just that he might be hitting two subjects with the lines.

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Sufjan has packed this song full of Biblical imagery. The phrase "dividing man from brother" that seems to be a focus of conversation is a direct allusion to Jesus' quote in Luke 12:49-53.

49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

Here Jesus is saying that there is a cost to following Him- some people will not understand. This may include family members, and this misunderstanding may end up damaging the relationship. Its sad, but its true and it happens.

Sufjan's work is so full of Biblical/religious imagery- I even see the song Chicago as the story of his accepting Christ. Let me know if you have any other Biblical imagery or questions I can help out with.

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I agree with all the ideas of Mother Earth vs. Father Time/God whatever. The idea seems to be that the earth and all natural things fade away, but the soul remains with the Father. This also makes sense when paired with the last two lines. We still have to die to be born again, or resurrected. We still go to the deepest grave, as it were.

Since the song is from the album "Come on Feel the Illinoise!", on which all of the songs are about places in Illinois, it almost has to be a play on the Sears tower. When you go to the top of the Sears tower you really do feel like a seer. There is "a view that reaches far". You do seem to see the universe and it is a place where one can get lost in thoughts about man and civilization and progress and religion. It is also a place where you can see division: you see glossy, affluent downtown/lakefront Chicago, but you can also see much more, including some less shiny happy places.

I think the song is a reflection from the top of the actual Sears tower.

I'm not sure about Episcopalian rapture beliefs- most traditional protestant churches don't embrace the rapture theory. There are certainly references that are explicitly Christian however. I just don't think one can say that it is about the apocalypse or the rapture.

Maybe mother is earthly birth, original sin. The father could be God, loving and "bathing" through Baptism and the forgiveness of sins. That doesn't explain all of the lyrics, but maybe not all of the lyrics can be explained.

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The title could also mean a tower where one see's from or a see-ers tower

Seer's could stand for The tower in CHicago but that's spelt Sears Tower. I think the Seer's is a refernce to fire plus the tallest tower in Chicago