The Henney Buggy Band
Echoes of Life: Sufjan's Melodic Reflections on Memories and Choices
Lyrics
Oh life, with your shoulders in the mirror
Reflecting on life, metaphorically portrayed with shoulders in the mirror.
From the park when Dakota ran and brought you there
Recalling a moment when someone named Dakota ran in a park and brought the speaker there.
In the car when your mother lost her temper
Remembering a car ride where the speaker's mother lost her temper.
The catalog and the catastrophic smile
Referencing a catalog and a catastrophic smile, possibly indicating a mix of mundane and significant moments.
Let the bugles play the sermon on the raid
Suggesting bugles playing a sermon on the raid, perhaps alluding to a ceremonial or impactful event.
I kissed you on the face
Expressing a moment of intimacy where the speaker kissed someone on the face.
I kissed you on the playground
Recalling another kiss, this time on a playground.
Oh Father John, you cannot tell me
Possibly addressing Father John, questioning his ability to define right and wrong.
What's right and wrong you cannot tell me
Asserting that Father John cannot dictate what is right or wrong.
I jump before I get around you
Expressing a willingness to take risks or make decisions before consulting others.
Oh Father John
Repeating the mention of Father John, possibly seeking guidance or challenging authority.
Pick it up with the band on the Ronald Reagan tollway
Referring to a location (Ronald Reagan tollway) and suggesting persistence despite challenges.
Don't give up, let's go forget about yourself
Encouraging resilience and advising not to give up, urging to move forward without self-focus.
Illinois in it ran from the Ronald Reagan tollway
Indicating a connection to Illinois and the tollway, emphasizing the need to forget personal plans.
Forget about yourself and all your plans
Reiterating the importance of selflessness and discarding personal aspirations.
Oh life, with your colorful surprises
Describing life with its unexpected and vibrant elements.
Eleanor, how you put one on disguises
Mentioning Eleanor and disguises, suggesting themes of identity and pretense.
Oh Father John, you cannot tell me
Repeating the questioning of Father John's authority on morality.
What's right and wrong you cannot tell me
Reiterating that Father John cannot dictate what is right or wrong.
In the mortal life far in the morning light
Referencing mortal life and a morning light, possibly contemplating the transient nature of existence.
We're back from Bloomington we let the runners win
Recalling a return from Bloomington and letting others win, suggesting humility.
Far in the morning light we let the movies play
Describing a morning with movies playing, hinting at the enjoyment of simple pleasures.
A weekend from the holiday
Referencing a weekend after a holiday, possibly highlighting a break or respite.
Pick it up with the band on the Ronald Reagan toll way
Repeating the reference to the Ronald Reagan tollway and the band, emphasizing persistence.
Don't break down, let's go forget about yourself
Encouraging resilience and advising not to break down, reinforcing the focus on moving forward without self-concern.
Illinois in it ran from the Ronald Reagan toll way
Reiterating the connection to Illinois and the tollway, challenging the concept of right and wrong.
If I'm wrong makes nothing right about yourself
Suggesting that being wrong doesn't affect what is right about oneself.
Snowmobile on the field where the gunners throw their weight around
Depicting a scene with a snowmobile and gunners, possibly symbolizing confrontation and power struggles.
Forget about yourself and all your plans
Reiterating the call to forget about oneself and personal plans.
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