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In the delta sun, down in Arkansas
It’s the great god bird with its altar call
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
On the great bayou were they saw it fall
It’s the great god bird down in Arkansas
And the hunters beware, or the fishers fall
And paradise might close from its safe flight flawed
It’s the great god bird through it all
And the watchers beware, lest they see it fall
And paradise might laugh when at last it falls
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
It’s the great god bird with it’s altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird with its altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird through it all
It’s the great god bird with its altar call
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
On the great bayou were they saw it fall
It’s the great god bird down in Arkansas
And the hunters beware, or the fishers fall
And paradise might close from its safe flight flawed
It’s the great god bird through it all
And the watchers beware, lest they see it fall
And paradise might laugh when at last it falls
And the sewing machine, the industrial god
It’s the great god bird with it’s altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird with its altar call
Yes, it’s the great god bird through it all
Lyrics submitted by NotCoolZeus
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Yes, this is a clear, unambiguous analogy to Jesus, in the sense of resurrection, yes, but more importantly in the offer (not gift) of redemption. In both cases the exercise of free will is at work.
So how will we react? We should repent, as during an altar call, for it's only through sincere repentance that we can grow into a better people, towards this bird, toward the environment, towards all of God's creation.
All of his music is like this so if you don't think what he writes is religious undertones you need to head back to 3rd grade and study context clues.
I think its amazing how Sufjan poetically expresses his faith without making it blatant. That's the beauty in his lyrics--reading into a bit from his perspective.
Anywho. My interpretation of this song is that is has to go with Jesus and also the woodpecker that everyone is referencing. I believe He is juxtaposing the same idea between the two.
Just like this woodpecker, everyone for a while thought it was dead or extinct. Then suddenly it was rediscovered and everyone made a hub-bub (lol).
"On the great bayou were they saw it fall" (swampy or the antithesis of something looked upon favorably)
When Jesus died, everyone watched Him. People, even His own disciples, thought Him dead. Then suddenly 3 days later, He rose again.
This song is about resurrection.
That's just my two cents.
For my small contribution, I'd like to tie together two things from other people's postings. A number of people have commented on the confusing juxtaposition of:
"Paradise might close when they see its safe flight flawed"
vs.
"Paradise might laugh when they see it fall"
I read the second line as ironic and connect it to "And the watchers beware" and the observation that impinging too close or too intrusively upon an animal's habitat can be harmful. Paradise would laugh bitterly, ironically at the not-so-good results of the well-intentioned birdwatcher's intrusions.
PS I don't think the song is intrinsically Christian, but it is intrinsically spiritual and therefore can be loosely interpreted in the framework of any religion. Sometimes you'll get a better fit than at others --- but that's the way these things work! :^)
"Legend has it when people would see one, they would exclaim in shock, `Lord God, what a bird!'"
"Mr. SUFJAN STEVENS: (Singing) In the delta sun, down in Arkansas, it's the great god bird in its altar call.
Ms. KEMMER: It's a place where you can find spiritual solace. We have so many churches."
""We've got to protect him for our kids. If he leaves, then all of this revenue and possibilities that we had will be gone. And that's what I've been telling people, `Love the bird, because I think we're going to love what he's going to do for our town.'"
The bird is saving them, but they have to be careful, or else the bird will go away and they will lose all the revenue."