Sufjan Stevens — Should Have Known Better
Album: Carrie & LowellAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1679
Length: 5:03
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I should have known better
To see what I could see
My black shroud
Holding down my feelings
A pillar for my enemies
I should have wrote a letter
And grieve what I happen to grieve
My black shroud
I never trust my feelings
I waited for the remedy
When I was three, three maybe four
She left us at that video store
Be my rest, be my fantasy
I'm light as a feather
I'm bright as the Oregon breeze
My black shroud
Frightened by my feelings
I only wanna be a relief
No, I'm not a go-getter
The demon had a spell on me
My black shroud
Captain of my feelings
The only thing I wanna believe
When I was three, and free to explore
I saw her face on the back of the door
Be my rest, be my fantasy
I should have known better
Nothing can be changed
The past is still the past
The bridge to nowhere
I should have wrote a letter
Explaining what I feel, that empty feeling
Don't back down, concentrate on seeing
The breakers in the bar, the neighbor's greeting
My brother had a daughter
The beauty that she brings, illumination
Don't back down, there is nothing left
The breakers in the bar, no reason to live
I'm a fool in the fetter
Rose of Aaron's beard, where you can reach me
Don't back down: nothing can be changed
Cantilever bridge, the drunken sailor
My brother had a daughter
The beauty that she brings, illumination
To see what I could see
My black shroud
Holding down my feelings
A pillar for my enemies
I should have wrote a letter
And grieve what I happen to grieve
My black shroud
I never trust my feelings
I waited for the remedy
When I was three, three maybe four
She left us at that video store
Be my rest, be my fantasy
I'm light as a feather
I'm bright as the Oregon breeze
My black shroud
Frightened by my feelings
I only wanna be a relief
No, I'm not a go-getter
The demon had a spell on me
My black shroud
Captain of my feelings
The only thing I wanna believe
When I was three, and free to explore
I saw her face on the back of the door
Be my rest, be my fantasy
I should have known better
Nothing can be changed
The past is still the past
The bridge to nowhere
I should have wrote a letter
Explaining what I feel, that empty feeling
Don't back down, concentrate on seeing
The breakers in the bar, the neighbor's greeting
My brother had a daughter
The beauty that she brings, illumination
Don't back down, there is nothing left
The breakers in the bar, no reason to live
I'm a fool in the fetter
Rose of Aaron's beard, where you can reach me
Don't back down: nothing can be changed
Cantilever bridge, the drunken sailor
My brother had a daughter
The beauty that she brings, illumination
Comments (62)add comment
this may be the only song of his i enjoy. and i think it's because it was used in a movie or something that i have seen. maybe not...
"I should have written a letter" does not quite work does it?
i sing along to this every time....pure beauty
awestenb wrote:
Word.
Dreary and twee. I don't get everyone's fascination with this record.
Word.
Beautiful!
From the magnificent album Carrie & Lowell - every song on this album is wonderful.
Jamus wrote:
I think Jamus is referring to "I should have wrote a letter", instead of 'written'. I think the "mistake" was intentional, since that's how people speak.
Augh Mr. Stevens, please learn respect for the English language before you try to land them upon mediocre melodies.
I think Jamus is referring to "I should have wrote a letter", instead of 'written'. I think the "mistake" was intentional, since that's how people speak.
Mackmoney3000 wrote:
It is an honest song. I like the line "A pillar for my enemies". Not sure what it means, but I like it.
This song cuts right through any ironic facade I like to present to the world
It is an honest song. I like the line "A pillar for my enemies". Not sure what it means, but I like it.
This song cuts right through any ironic facade I like to present to the world
Couldn't resist.
Jamus wrote:
Wrote Jamus, whose own English seems unable to match singular and plural.
Augh Mr. Stevens, please learn respect for the English language before you try to land them upon mediocre melodies.
Wrote Jamus, whose own English seems unable to match singular and plural.
Such a great sound to play while working on projects
kind of Eliot Smithy, without the suicide
Jamus wrote:
I'm sure i'll regret asking this, but what specifically bothers you about the lyrics to this melancholy beauty of a song?
Augh Mr. Stevens, please learn respect for the English language before you try to land them upon mediocre melodies.
I'm sure i'll regret asking this, but what specifically bothers you about the lyrics to this melancholy beauty of a song?
Augh Mr. Stevens, please learn respect for the English language before you try to land them upon mediocre melodies.
Sjaaks wrote:
Nice! Hope you're still doing well after whatever it was, and this is exactly why I try (try is key word) to not shit on people's parades....stay good Sjaaks and LLRP!!
I am delighted to read a lot of positive comments on this. This album helped me through a rough time earlier this year and hearing just anything from this album hits me right away, but in a good way.
10
10
Nice! Hope you're still doing well after whatever it was, and this is exactly why I try (try is key word) to not shit on people's parades....stay good Sjaaks and LLRP!!
awestenb wrote:
Maybe part of (my) fascination with this guy is how much different he sounds from what he looks like he would sound like...as in, he's breaking stereotypes, and this song sounds great, in fact I'm going +1 to a 9 today...Long Live RP and different tastes!!
Dreary and twee. I don't get everyone's fascination with this record.
Maybe part of (my) fascination with this guy is how much different he sounds from what he looks like he would sound like...as in, he's breaking stereotypes, and this song sounds great, in fact I'm going +1 to a 9 today...Long Live RP and different tastes!!
Dreary and twee. I don't get everyone's fascination with this record.
justin4kick wrote:
Exactly my thoughts. The live album of Carrie & Lowell is even better.
Thank you for this. Didn't know this was release but buying immediately.
Exactly my thoughts. The live album of Carrie & Lowell is even better.
Thank you for this. Didn't know this was release but buying immediately.
lovely and profound
I should rate this as he is from here (SE Mich) but not sure how I feel about it. Perhaps more info. will help...
This song is brilliant.
youngers wrote:
Exactly my thoughts. The live album of Carrie & Lowell is even better.
Carrie & Lovell is such a great album. This song really transports me to another place.
Exactly my thoughts. The live album of Carrie & Lowell is even better.
Carrie & Lovell is such a great album. This song really transports me to another place.
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
How do you know they're real? You may still be fantasizing.
Don't fantasies kind of stop being fantasies when they become real?
How do you know they're real? You may still be fantasizing.
The music is fine to listen to but the lyrics are capable of disrupting me and lead to pretty powerful emotional responses. Which is to say, this is a profound piece of work; that is the entire album. This is not easy listening music. The fact that it is basically autobiographical makes it all the more powerful. I can't listen to this album too much.
zerosomething wrote:
I read something that indicates its close to true. But not real abandonment. True or not he make them seam real and you really feel it.
At least it's not as weepy as some of his other stuff...
I read something that indicates its close to true. But not real abandonment. True or not he make them seam real and you really feel it.
At least it's not as weepy as some of his other stuff...
Sufjan has a knack of writing songs which hit a deep chord.. as far as I'm concerned.. I imagine being elsewhere, raw and experiencing life less hindered.
Sufjan just lays it out there. Not for everyone. Powerful writing.
Touching and sweet tune. Makes you introspect a bit..
Skydog wrote:
I read something that indicates its close to true. But not real abandonment. True or not he make them seam real and you really feel it.
"When I was three, three maybe four
She left us at that video store"
are these lyrics true?
She left us at that video store"
are these lyrics true?
I read something that indicates its close to true. But not real abandonment. True or not he make them seam real and you really feel it.
"When I was three, three maybe four
She left us at that video store"
are these lyrics true?
She left us at that video store"
are these lyrics true?
Moving up 6 > 7.
Really soulful - powerful tune.
This is just ' ORRIBLE. The shrub in my yard writes better songs than this!
I am delighted to read a lot of positive comments on this. This album helped me through a rough time earlier this year and hearing just anything from this album hits me right away, but in a good way.
10
more from this album please
Should Have Seen Better.
Carl wrote:
No Grammy for this. But you'll be happy to know that DJ Jazzy Snoop K & the Funky Bunch won for Album Of the Year.
Don't recall this being honored on recent Grammy's. Was it? Should'a been, IMO. This is the good stuff.
No Grammy for this. But you'll be happy to know that DJ Jazzy Snoop K & the Funky Bunch won for Album Of the Year.
Don't recall this being honored on recent Grammy's. Was it? Should'a been, IMO. This is the good stuff.
amma123 wrote:
Wet eyes here too. Best album of 2015 for sure!
This whole album moves me to tears...it just guts me. So beautiful, and just devastating. RP, you definitely need more songs from Carrie & Lowell in the library.
Wet eyes here too. Best album of 2015 for sure!
This whole album moves me to tears...it just guts me. So beautiful, and just devastating. RP, you definitely need more songs from Carrie & Lowell in the library.
Crazy talent.
chyk5 wrote:
Agreed. Beautiful record from start to finish.
Yes, please, play more from this beautiful album! It totally deserves it...
Agreed. Beautiful record from start to finish.
Yes, please, play more from this beautiful album! It totally deserves it...
ColdBear wrote:
Agreed. Beautiful record from start to finish.
They are such good songs in carrie and lowel album, why this one only. Fourth of july is so touching. Please more Sufjan
Agreed. Beautiful record from start to finish.
They are such good songs in carrie and lowel album, why this one only. Fourth of july is so touching. Please more Sufjan
End now.
I like this but musically it sounds a lot like Djali Zwan's cover of "Number of the Beast" from the Spun movie soundtrack.
The simplicity at the start, the complexity towards the end, and the beauty throughout. A deserved 9. Welcome back to form, Sufjan.
Don't fantasies kind of stop being fantasies when they become real?
Nice segue from Moby. Works well.
Good choice, early on train in NL. Give it a 7.
dang rp - you make my music appreciation grow. good tune indeed, especially after a few hearings.
Sufjan usually grows on me with a few listens. Not holding out much hope for this one though.
I like, has an Elliot Smith vibe.
I'd be okay with hearing that several more times.......as well as several other cuts on the album.
dammit
blotto wrote:
I'd be OK with never hearing that again.
An acquired taste I'll admit, although I'll always listen to him twice because someone up here in Nova Scotia said they knew the Sangamon River from one of his Illinois tunes. And that's a river I canoed with friends many times in my high school years. Good memories brought back through an unexpected set of circumstances. Gotta love when life turns and twists like that, eh?
I'd be OK with never hearing that again.
It is going to take a few listens to get this tune for me. Always takes a while for this artist.
so much new music lately... it has been fun hearing the new material from so many.
first listen, I like this. A 7 from the Georgia Jury.
first listen, I like this. A 7 from the Georgia Jury.
My brother had a daughter
The beauty that she brings, illumination
That's me, right here. The baby and this song are healing parts of myself I didn't know they needed it.