We Are What You Say
Echoes of Identity: Sufjan Stevens' Melodic Reflections
Lyrics
We are a servant,
We identify ourselves as servants.
We have a song,
We possess a song, suggesting a form of expression or identity.
The side of a beehive,
Comparing ourselves to the side of a beehive, perhaps signifying structure and community.
A tabernacle choir.
Reference to a tabernacle choir, possibly highlighting a communal and sacred musical association.
We are the sound
We are the sound, active participants in conflicts or struggles.
Working in wars,
Engaged in wars, with the bishop, a religious figure, absent.
The bishop is gone
The bishop is gone, possibly indicating a lack of spiritual guidance.
To the acolyte shores.
Heading towards acolyte shores, symbolizing a journey or transition.
We save our bibles,
We value and preserve our Bibles.
We pull our sleeves.
Taking action, symbolized by pulling sleeves up.
The word is a guard
The word is a guard, emphasizing the protective nature of language.
And the guard is a cleave.
The guard is a cleave, suggesting a close association between protection and unity.
We are the right,
We represent what is right and enduring.
We are the stay,
We persist, indicated by "the stay."
The accolade's gone,
The accolade, a mark of honor, is gone, possibly implying a loss of recognition or validation.
We are what you say.
We are what others describe or define us as.
We have no language,
We lack a specific language or defined role.
We have no chore,
No assigned task or duty (chore).
The side of a beehive,
Reiteration of the beehive, now juxtaposed with the negative imagery of a bride as a whore.
The bride is a whore.
Symbolic contrast between purity (bride) and degradation (whore).
We are a spite,
We embody spite, possibly suggesting a sense of resentment or malice.
We are at bay,
At bay, in a defensive position.
The spirit is life,
The spirit represents life and vitality.
We are what you say.
We are influenced by what others say about us.
We have a sermon,
We possess a sermon, indicating a message or belief system.
We have a song,
We still have a song, emphasizing the enduring nature of expression.
The bishop is easy,
The bishop is portrayed as easy, possibly critiquing the simplicity of religious authority.
The bishop is wrong.
The bishop is wrong, questioning or challenging religious leadership.
The spirit is right,
The spirit is aligned with what is right and just.
The spirit will say:
The spirit will proclaim, indicating a confident assertion of righteousness.
We are a light,
We are a light, symbolizing enlightenment or guidance.
We are what you say.
We are influenced and defined by societal perceptions and expressions.
Comment