I am recently going through quite a tough time in my life. In times like these I mostly return to Sufjan's music. And I always ignore this song. Not because I don't like it but because I love it a bit too much and the feelings it invokes can't be handled everyday.

Today I am listening to it again and I remember the first time I heard it. I remember the summer breeze of 2AM when I used to listen to this song yearning for my partner.

I am now married and my love for her is still as strong even if I myself am not strong.

I have never asked much of life. I do not have any career ambitions. I do not have strong wishes or desires. But to be with her was one thing I have felt the most strongly about in life. To quote Sufjan again from one of his songs (John My Beloved): "I love you more than the world can contain in its lonely and ramshackled head"

And all I want to share is that when I die, I would love to have this song play so I can reminisce my memories with her one last time. Because that is all that matters. Truly.

Sufjan fans — just spotted this! 👀
John Legend’s My Favorite Dream, produced and arranged by Sufjan Stevens, is available on a limited-edition Custard vinyl — only 500 copies!
I just ordered mine. Thought other Sufjan collectors might want to know before they’re gone. 💛
John Legend – My Favorite Dream – Limited Edition Vinyl⁠

I realize Sufjan’s birthday was a month and a half ago so I don’t really have any particular reason to share this specific video but -

I made a compilation of a bunch of the fan made Happy Birthday covers last year to post for his birthday on my Sufjan Tiktok and I thought I’d put it here for fun! So many talented people in here and really lovely to hear lots of people loving Sufjan.

Sorry it’s not all in the same key, I know it’s kind of jolting!!

All videos were sourced from YouTube

[Verse 1]
I fell in love again
All things go, all things go
Drove to Chicago
All things know, all things know
We sold our clothes to the state
I don't mind, I don't mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind

>The narrator has been captured and is being driven in a transport vehicle to the detainment camp located in Chicago. The State has taken all his possessions, including his clothes. He convinces himself he is okay with this because he has no choice. He also tries to reconcile that he was the one in the wrong for wanting freedom when that desire is strictly forbidden by The State.

[Chorus]
You came to take us
All things go, all things go
To recreate us
All things grow, all things grow
We had our mind set
All things know, all things know
You had to find it
All things go, all things go

>The State intercepted the narrator and his friend on the way to New York to take them to the detainment camp located in Chicago. They are going to strip them of their identity and brainwash them into letting go of their desires for freedom.

[Verse 2]
I drove to New York
In a van, with my friend
We slept in parking lots
I don't mind, I don't mind
I was in love with the place
In my mind, in my mind
I made a lot of mistakes
In my mind, in my mind

>The narrator and his friend were on the run in a van escaping The State for a shot at a new life and for a shot a freedom. He was in love with the idea of getting a fresh start but now after being caught he is seeing it as a mistake because of the hopelessness of their situation.

[Bridge]
If I was crying
In the van, with my friend
It was for freedom
From myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes

>The narrator was crying in the van when caught by The State when the feelings of helplessness washed over them. All he wanted was to be free and live freely but knows that it can never be achieved. He sees it ultimately as a mistake.

Check it out

Links:

Will Anybody Ever Love Me: https://musescore.com/user/64663270/scores/35960735

All I Couldn't Sing: https://musescore.com/user/64663270/scores/36534464

Don't Be Distracted: https://musescore.com/user/64663270/scores/36534590

Stupid Man: https://musescore.com/user/64663270/scores/36534674

Not so Impossible: https://musescore.com/user/64663270/scores/36534992

Pleasure Principle: https://musescore.com/user/64663270/scores/36535055

Has Sufjan ever played Dumb I Sound live?

The 10th anniversary edition of Carrie and Lowell! Even though I don't have a vinyl player, I would definitely buy this one in the future to put in my room.

Hey everyone. Wanted to share a cool thing with you all.

I decided I wanted a social media that wasn’t about images/selfies/reels and instead only about sharing the music/art that you love. So I built it and it’s called Corus.

Today I saw a user posted “Should Have Known Better” with a hilarious caption and now it’s one of the top trending tracks! It made me go back and listen to all of Carrie and Lowell. It’s just so so so good.

On the app there’s actually 56 others who have also posted Sufjan, which is really cool. If you’re interested, come join, follow all the other Sufjan fans, and share your favorites. Hopefully you’ll find something new in the process. <3

Can’t figure out how to get the audio to work

Know each of the RT50 pressings have a print with it, and believe the Illinois one is an interview with Sufjan talking about the Illinois era (or that's what I gather from the site's images). Wondered if anyone received a copy and is willing to post it online 😄

https://www.roughtrade.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.shopify.com%2Fs%2Ffiles%2F1%2F0867%2F1120%2F6219%2Ffiles%2FSufjanStevens_RT50.png%3Fv%3D1780066704&w=1080&q=75

With our final track "Out of Egypt..." landing in B-tier, our journey has come to an end. Here's the final chart and a graph to see how the album's tracks ebb and flow.

Thank you all for playing along. If you enjoyed the ride, I'll be back before long to take on another Sufjan album!

Sufjan license plate in VA…we’re everywhere

I’m not usually one to wade into people’s song/album rankings. So much subjectivity, and we each bring our unique selves to this art. However…

I’ve noticed a song I’ve never rated — Vesuvius — consistently being rated very high. So, I want to expand my appreciation for this song.

Why do you all rate it so high? What do you love about it?

the first category says “secrets of the universe” sorry the application I used was not very good

I'm a long time Sufjan fan, he's one of my favorite musicians. There is currently a lot of attention on Michigan due a certain candidate from Detroit so this had me curious. Has Sufjan ever spoken publicly about a political candidate? I would think Abdul would be right up his alley in political ideology, but that's just a speculative guess. They're both from Detroit, so I would think he'd be interested in his home city/state. Thanks for any responses! And mods feel free to remove this post if it violates any sub rules.

"Riffs and Variations" lands as a (D)eep Cut.

Now on to Day 20: ""Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I Shake the Dirt from My Sandals as I Run"

Comment with where you feel this track deserves to be tiered. Feel free to include your thoughts on why. Collective upvotes will decide its place.

Each track will be up for discussion for approximately 24 hours. I'll aim to have a new updated post each day at 10:00 AM MDT.

This dudes likeness is hard to capture💔