Lyrics:

I have called you, children
I have called you, son
What is there to answer
If I'm the only one
Morning comes in Paradise
Morning comes in light
Still I must obey
Still I must invite

If there's anything to say
If there's anything to do
I there's any other way
I'll do anything for you

I was dressed in embarrassment
I was dressed in white
If you had a part of me
Will you take your time
Even if I come back
Even if I die
Is there some idea
To replace my life

Like a father to impress
Like a mother's mourning dress
If we ever make a mess
I'll do anything for you

I have called you, preacher
I have called you, son
If you have a father
Or if you haven't one

I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you

I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you

I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you
I did everything for you

He's from there? Why would he whack half of Michigan, including Ypsilanti, from the cover? Wisconsin is what they got there. 3 for bad geography.
 
(At least he got most of da UP in. Underappreciated.)

 WonderLizard wrote: 
After he did the math, he gave it up.

I'm sure Sufjan's actually singing about Ypsilanti, North Dakota.

For the record, I think this guy's a stone genius, up there with Sam Beam and Elliot Smith for unique tunesmithing. However, if I recall correctly the "50 States" project proposed a "State" album on a fairly rigorous schedule—after all, even every two years meant that the 50th would be delivered in 2101—after my lifetime and maybe his. Still haven't seen the third.

Got it.... you'd do anything for me.... loud and clear.....

 Sorcha wrote: 
And you probably won't hear it again. But that's one of the things that makes Stevens a unique talent.

 keemun wrote:
It's difficult to separate this from his usual tripe, but I think it's much better.

I was thinking 'dreck', but 'tripe' works.
 
Another emasculating selection from Sufjan Stevens. Sounds like a soundtrack for a Hallmark commercial during Oprah.

 vandal wrote: 
No.

Songs that are poignant and pointed... SS has a knack. I like it.

Two states down, 48 to go. I don't know if I'll be able to stand it.

Pathetic.

Who did he do everything for? I'm not clear.

love love love love love love

Absolutely LOVE this album!

 spootwo wrote: 
The exact reason that I give it low marks. Short of Béla Fleck, I think of the banjo as nothing but noise...

 dboseman wrote: 
That is a very big statement.  One which seems unsupported by almost three decades of musical history.  I guess it depends on your definition of "consistent".  Some would argue that Caribou, Rock of the Westies and just about everything Mr. Dwight did after Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is consistently awful.

Mr. Stevens has potential but it drowns in his self-indulgence.  Sort of like Mr. Dwight.

OMG!  I was *born* in Ypsilanti!  I have certainly never heard that town used in a song title (or in any other way, for that matter!).

This song always makes me feel sad. Actually the whole album does; the songs are sad.

...hey, remember back when you could listen to radio paradise on any given day and hear sufjan stevens at least three times?..

I'm not a big fan of Sufjan.  But turn it up, turn other things down, and pay attention to this track.  If you do, you might quickly come to like it.  I did.

What an amazing talent!  He's this first guy since Elton John in the 70's to consistently turn out beautiful songs.

The way I look at it, his lyric narrative style is in the tradition of Carl Sandburg & Robert Frost, telling the stories of small towns, families, the American countryside.  At the same time, many hipsters of their day thought they were hacks, but those hipsters are now dead & mostly forgotten.  Do what you do best & let history sort it out.

 keemun wrote:



However, better tripe is still tripe.

Gryn wrote:It is a poor bluegrass remake.

netstv wrote: Simple mind, eh? That would make a great name for a pop group.

This sounds like a poor bluegrass remake.

I really don't like almost everything else he's done, but this track is put together extremelly well. I never really get tired of it. a 9 for me.

wally42 wrote:

sufyawn

It's difficult to separate this from his usual tripe, but I think it's much better.

People seem to either hate or love this stuff, I've definitely heard worse stuff. 6.

I always wondered who did this song. And hooray for banjos and horns in the same song!

Bizzarefall wrote: I hate everyone but Matlock and Slayer. And Sufjan. His work is all beautiful. So beautiful. So beautiful.

Waste of bits and bytes.

vandal wrote: I completely agree. Everytime I hear this guy I keep thinking the same thing.. ugh. I'm sure some people like him and his songs mean something for them, but I just don't get him. I know.. I have a simple mind.

wally42 wrote: Becuae he is a hipster it seems to be hip to hate him.. I heart him too

I don't get why people hate this guy so much.... I really don't. So creative and different.

Only slightly less craptacular than his other dross. But only slightly.

I'm giving it high marks for the use of a banjo. It's nice to hear a variety of sounds coming out of my paradise.

Wahey! another sufjan tune that sounds exactly like the last one. This is one of the few moments when I wield my executive control over the player and point it to other sources of great music for a while.

Just discovered that there is a Paradise, Michigan. It's on the UP, on the balmy shores of Lake Superior. Brrrr.

jlind wrote: and over and over and over... and then over and over and over again... ugh.

So they did everything for who again?

I'm really getting sick of this guy. Could his song be any more hacky, I mean seriously he's worse than Coldplay when it comes to making the same song over, and over, and over again.

I usually hate the sound of banjo... except here... well done!

its craptastic

Dunno, Some of Sufjan Stevens work is pretty ok, but this one I found way too repetitive and on the dullish side.

UltraNurd wrote: Yeah, it's a little less insufferable. But Sufferyawn remains at the top of my can't-stand-em list. But this particular piece of fluff at least doesn't make me rip my headphones off.

I like this song a lot better than the stuff on Illinoise, for some reason.

I don't know why, but this song gives me goose bumps. Must be the banjo. I must give it a 9.

Love the album design. The song is not doing much for me.

Woof! Woof! (No disrespect to dogs)

That's it… I've officially reached my limit on listening to Sufjan. No more please.

I gotta say I like SS and this song is no exception. Thanks RP.

Sufyawn = 1

Sufjan is really just amazing. His music is like none other that I have heard and it is the best background music to work to. A big fat 10 on this one and all his music.

Xeric wrote: I haven't been a big fan, either, but I like this one, too.

yay, a Sufjan Stevens song that doesn't sound like people swaying and singing "Kumbayah"!

Sweet!

Shesdifferent wrote: No, keep the banjo tight!

Hey! I like this! Utterly detest other stuff by this guy, but this is cool!

Right, let it loose and keep on pluckin', Surfjan! That IS what you meant, right? Cause the banjo makes the song a '9' at least. (Or maybe you need to spell better..;) Shesdifferent wrote:

Loose the banjo

Brings me to tears, dont know why. Moving.

Nebben wrote: He also attended Hope College in Holland, MI So nice to hear this song! I love this disc - "Romulus" is also an incredible tune...

I like this track, even with the little girl vocals in the background.

Thanks to Sufjan, whenever I hear a banjo my first thought isn't Deliverance...it's my second thought.

ZombyWoof wrote: He he, sounds like little like a 'Jan' too... some words are just universal...

Awww yeah! Sufjan airplay is starting to pick up on RP! And it appears that lots o' his music is getting added fairly quickly via uploads. This song is quite beautiful, which is pretty much what I'm used to from Sufjan at this point!

Not keen on this, sounds like too many others...the song have nothing behind it, no inspiration but at least your getting thumbs up from all the Sufjan fans. Hate the banjo.

smilestoomuch wrote: Well, he was born in and grew up in Michigan, so I'd guess he has some ties there. :)

Nice! I just love this entire album, and once again, RP surprises me with by playing something that I can't image hearing anywhere else. Thanks for mixing it up!

sounds like graham nash

First time I heard Sufjan on RP. Because of this, radio paradise is officially the best eclectic mix of music anywhere. Only thing missing is a little Aaron Sprinkle. If anyone out there hears my plea and plays some Aaron, I can die a happy man.

Didn't do anything for me.

Never heard of him. But this sounds really good and the AMG entry/discography sounds interesting. Thanks, RP. My CD wishlist grows even bigger.....

Holy cow! I can't believe you're playing Sufjan!!! That's awesome! He's played at the college I used to attend a few times. He played last year, opening for Over the Rhine. It was definitely the wrong crowd for his soft exploratory music. The ideas in his songs take awhile to develop. People were laughing in the wrong places... It was terrible. But I really like him. The funny thing was that he was promoting his album "Michigan," while OTR was promoting their newest album, "Ohio." hehe... :D Btw, Sufjan has no real ties to MI. He's from NY. ha!

meditaciousB wrote: I saw him Thursday at NYU in NYC and this song was one of my favorites. Definately worth following his musical career as his talents keep expanding.

I am going to see him on Nov 11. Nicolai Dunger a Swedish artist I really like is opening up for him and I am glad to hear this on RP. I recently uploaded 2 Dunger songs that I hope you'll all get to hear as well. It would even be great to hear Stevens and Dunger back to back. Whomever uploaded this should really check out Nicolai Dunger https://www.nicolaidunger.com

nice to hear banjo being used for something other than bluegrass...

suf is what it is

Greetings from michigan heard this on the review channel and glad to hear it!

Stevens is extremely talented. I would recommend his newest album, Seven Swans. His lyrics reflect his religion very heavily. Rather than forcing anything on the listener, Stevens leaves everything open for your own interpretation. Good stuff!