Sufjan Stevens – Get Real Get Right

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  Lyric Correction:It's "Prophet Royal, priest and king" instead of "Prophet, brother, priest and king".

  Flag koolzieson May 08, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:It's been a little over a year and a half since this song was released, and I think I've finally decided what I think it's about. I think it's simply about the struggle of loving someone, and telling yourself that you can't because you need to focus on "the lord" (whatever that may be for you) and on themselves. It's saying, "I'm going to do myself a favor and focus on the things I think are more important and better, for me. I'm sorry if I have caused you pain. I've always loved you but I can't let that distract me from the bigger picture."

  Flag perpetualwolfeon March 29, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:That was funny novolover. :) oolooloo, I agree that he seems to be speaking for himself. TemproaryLife, I've also heard Sufjan say "this song is for Royal". I've also heard him say he started bringing dance into the tour more and more as he continued to wrestle with "what do all these songs mean". Well, at least we are here to entertain that idea! Personally, I like the visuals of the end times involving space craft landing in the back yard and locking yourself in the bathroom trying to stay focused on the lord.

  Flag stevenj777on December 11, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:Did anyone else think of Sarah Palin?

  Flag novoloveron June 19, 2011   Link

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    LOL

    Flag managoaton July 26, 2011  
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  My Interpretation:I feel like this song almost contradicts other aspects of the album. It's a known fact that Sufjan is quite a devout Christian, however in The Age of Adz he says, "When I die, when I die, I'll rot. But when I live, when I live, I'll give it all I've got."
  Not exactly Christian doctrine. However, it's contrasted by this song and its almost evangelical lyrics. I'm not sure if it's him saying it to Royal, or if it's him saying it to himself, or him saying it to anyone who has not yet, or is not willing to, "get real, get right with the Lord". As an Atheist, I'd like to think that he's speaking to himself, or willing Royal not to be distracted. When I saw him he did say this was his song for Royal... I'm not debating that. I just can't decide what kind of message he's trying to convey through those lines, and it's interesting how different it is to the sentiment displayed in Age of Adz, and also in Casimir Pulaski Day on Illinoise, where he says, "Tuesday night at the Bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body but nothing ever happens" and then "and He takes, and He takes, and He takes". It's almost as if he knows what he believes and what he wants to believe, but he accepts the shortcomings of the Christian faith and also accepts the possibility that none of it is true.
  ... Just an interesting aspect I notice in his music...

  Flag ooloolooon January 30, 2011   Link

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    +1

    I'm not sure if it's a main theme/thrust of the song, but he seems to be discussing not being dead at the end, but the Kingdom of Heaven/the Kingdom of God. This facet of biblical doctrine concerns Christ's many "kingdom parables" and the fact that there is only a limited time of the Kingdom during this fallen world (before Christ's physical return.) This limited time is the time for evangelical work and for the work of the Holy Spirit for salvation. When Sufjan says that when he dies he'll rot, it seems not to be a contrast with Christian doctrine, but a reference to his inability to do "Kingdom work;" but while he lives, he'll give all he's got to the Kingdom.
    
    Further, when he recognizes, as you noted, that God takes and that prayer doesn't do anything, he's again not contradicting biblical doctrine, but upholding it. He recognized that God, in his (loving) justice, cannot merely give freely to those who have transgressed his law, but he takes from us what is not ours, but his. And the prayers of men are powerless in all aspects; it is the loving God ho hears and "works all things together for the good of those who love him."
    
    You don't have to believe these things, and in the postmodern spirit, I'm sure you assumed that. But a postmodern shortcoming is separating the artist from his art, as though they have no connection bu at the instant of creation. You haven't necessarily done this, but I don't think that Sufjan is at all saying the Christian faith might not be all true. He recognizes the perfection of Christ and the horrible, twisted nature of man and of Christians.

    Flag NorwayDudeon June 05, 2011  
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  General Comment:When I saw him live, he prefaced the song with a very long, rambly monologue about Royal Robertson. Basically, this is his song to and for Royal.

  Flag TemporaryLifeon November 11, 2010   Link

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  My Opinion:This is interesting because distraction is a number one killer of any kind of work or good thing. A good life is characterized by focusing and channeling one's energy and attention, not by compulsively indulging every single shiny idea no matter how compelling and revealing. The former brings peace, the latter anxiety and confusion. The former is an expression of humility or the awareness and acceptance of one's mental limits.

  Flag Jonny505on November 07, 2010   Link

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• +5
  General Comment:Sufjan sees his own affliction/gift whatever in Royal. They both see prophetic images of the future, which include UFOs. Royal doesn’t get the imagery, so he might have a picture in his mind of the world splitting in four, but thinks its revenge against unfaithful women, when it’s really….well, just end times, perhaps, according to Sufjan. Me, I don’t doubt they’re seeing something…and I wouldn’t be shocked if Sufjan’s genius was a slightly mad kind of genius.
  
  Anyway I think Sufjan wishes he could’ve talked to Royal and helped him figure out these things, help him get real, get right with the Lord.
  
  Get real, get right
  For you will not be distracted by the signs
  Do not be distracted by them
  Do yourself a favor and get real
  Get right with the lord
  Get real, get right with the Lord
  
  This ties in with Impossible Soul's "don't be distracted..."
  
  More writeup: bit.ly/…

  Flag TheLightIsMineon October 24, 2010   Link

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    +1

    When I saw Sufjan in Salt Lake, he spent a good ten minutes introducing this song, essentially told Royal's whole story, and then said that the song is meant as kind of a reality check directed both at Royal and at himself.

    Flag Smintituleon November 05, 2010  
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  Lyric Correction:‘I know I've lost my conscious, I know I've lost all shape’
  
  i think should be
  
  ‘I know I've lost my conscience, I know I've lost my shame’

  Flag agwyon October 19, 2010   Link

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    make that ’ALL shame’

    Flag agwyon October 19, 2010  

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    Thank you!

    Flag strykerchickon October 23, 2010  
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  General Comment:This is almost Sufjan rapping, I love it

  Flag Sweet_Amityon October 17, 2010   Link

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