It's about the 1893 Worlds Fair (also called the World Columbian Exposition) held in Chicago. Cream of Wheat and the ferris wheel were first introduced there. As for the "what would Frank Lloyd Wright say?" line, he was an architect whose style was a depart from European influences. The exposition consisted of Romanesque, Greek, and Renaissance architecture.
I'm not quite sure of the 2nd part of the song yet. Any ideas?
The second part is, overall, Sufjan having a dream about talking to the ghost of Carl Sandburg (who was a very famous poet and writer). It seems like he is having a conversation with the ghost about writing, the way it starts out sounds like he is frustrated with writing (I cried myself to sleep last night), and asks Carl for advice on writing. Towards the beginning it also sounds like he's suffering from depression possibly feeling alone in the world (even in my best condition...I am riding all alone) They have a conversation, about him feeling alone, confused, like...
The second part is, overall, Sufjan having a dream about talking to the ghost of Carl Sandburg (who was a very famous poet and writer). It seems like he is having a conversation with the ghost about writing, the way it starts out sounds like he is frustrated with writing (I cried myself to sleep last night), and asks Carl for advice on writing. Towards the beginning it also sounds like he's suffering from depression possibly feeling alone in the world (even in my best condition...I am riding all alone) They have a conversation, about him feeling alone, confused, like his writing isn't good enough. Carl lectures him a bit, asks him if he's writing from the heart, and to trust his instinct and know he's a good writer. "even in his heart the devil has to know the water level" is a line I'm still trying to work out.
I love this song.
It's about the 1893 Worlds Fair (also called the World Columbian Exposition) held in Chicago. Cream of Wheat and the ferris wheel were first introduced there. As for the "what would Frank Lloyd Wright say?" line, he was an architect whose style was a depart from European influences. The exposition consisted of Romanesque, Greek, and Renaissance architecture.
I'm not quite sure of the 2nd part of the song yet. Any ideas?
The second part is, overall, Sufjan having a dream about talking to the ghost of Carl Sandburg (who was a very famous poet and writer). It seems like he is having a conversation with the ghost about writing, the way it starts out sounds like he is frustrated with writing (I cried myself to sleep last night), and asks Carl for advice on writing. Towards the beginning it also sounds like he's suffering from depression possibly feeling alone in the world (even in my best condition...I am riding all alone) They have a conversation, about him feeling alone, confused, like...
The second part is, overall, Sufjan having a dream about talking to the ghost of Carl Sandburg (who was a very famous poet and writer). It seems like he is having a conversation with the ghost about writing, the way it starts out sounds like he is frustrated with writing (I cried myself to sleep last night), and asks Carl for advice on writing. Towards the beginning it also sounds like he's suffering from depression possibly feeling alone in the world (even in my best condition...I am riding all alone) They have a conversation, about him feeling alone, confused, like his writing isn't good enough. Carl lectures him a bit, asks him if he's writing from the heart, and to trust his instinct and know he's a good writer. "even in his heart the devil has to know the water level" is a line I'm still trying to work out.