Most people interpret the song as metaphorical, alluding to God. Also, he's never said he's gay, so your interpretation is probably incorrect. It is an interesting take, nevertheless :)
@@Straumnes this song has two (obvious) levels of meaning, and by rejecting one of them - like you're doing - it becomes harder to understand the other and the work in it's entirety. don't do this to yourself :(
@@bpinheiro4748 They're not obvious at all, and it's weird to ascribe a sexuality to someone who's publicly never talked about it before. Especially when it's gay men doing it to a man who's likely straight. It's just a little predatory and fetishistic :(
the only explanation on why sufjan never hit his wings to anything on stage eventhough there is like 265938 instruments there is because he is an angel and he is already used to having wings
At 2:00 it’s if he’s recalling a memory and starts to smile then he quickly catches himself and assumes his former serious expression. This is simultaneously so sweet and so sad especially because the lyrics at the end of that phrase :(
I first heard this song almost a decade ago. It broke through me in a way almost nothing else ever has. Revisiting with the news of Sufjan’s partner’s death. I don’t even know how to talk or think about any of it-grief and love are too close. But this song still gives me hope, in a strange way. It gave me hope as a scared-to-death closeted teenager and it gives me hope as an adult who now has a hard time summoning hope. I don’t know.
i can’t get over the duality between religion and his yearning for his friend as the two choruses clash and fight to be heard over the other, a head and the heart almost in a battle on what they want.
I’m so spoiled. I was a U.C.L.A. student, and my roommate and I would drive to Malibu on Sundays listening to this entire album. This song is ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Stevens' ability to rip right through me emotionally is unparalleled. He is a fucking genius for everything that he makes. When the orchestra kicks into full gear, it's such an intense rush of feeling.
Same. This song has been part of my life since 2005 and I still don’t know how to handle the emotion it evokes in me. So I just cry and sing along in the most dramatic embodiment of life I can imagine. I would give anything to see him live
Probably my favourite live version of a song. The endings so beautiful :( such a bittersweet song; it's mostly a beautiful and positive thing, but something about the switch to past tense at the end (he was my best friend) feels...sad...
Seeing Sufjan performing is such a strange and mystical experience. Such a humble and genuine human and yet filled with such extreme talent and creativity. He’s definitely not of this earth. An angel of music come to save the voice of humanity.
To be with someone as beautiful and deep as Sufjan and then be the inspiration for one of the most beautiful songs of his...... It wouldn't make my day, it would make my LIFE, personally.
Jeez what a feat to make something like this sound so good live. A lot of nuance and instruments hitting perfectly to make this work. Great performance.
oh my god how is this possible … how can something this beautiful and painful and heartfelt be created … this entire experience felt like having someone rip my heart out with their bare hands
When I had a head injury and had to lay in the literal dark, this is all I listened to. The way the players follow his commands at the end, putting method his madness, was so beautiful to me.
Okay, so fun music nerd thing: while the album version of this song is clearly in 3/4, I firmly believe that this version is in a lilting 4/4. For one thing, it makes the drawing-out of some phrases, like “meant-to-tease-him” work better, and second, it’s cool that Stevens is a gifted enough composer to write such a beautiful song in multiple time signatures! If you need some help feeling it, try hearing the opening guitar part as 1-2-3-4, or the “we were in love” as “(1)we were (2)in (3)lo-o-(4)ove”.
@@Taerus I mean, I wouldn’t really argue that. If anything, the lulling back-and-forth pulse could be an indication that it’s in 6/8. For 6/4, you have to feel six distinct beat divisions, and I don’t really hear that.
It's Austin city limits. You can find the full thing on RUclips but this song was too good to be buried in a full concert and needed It's own video. I hope you enjoybitand love exploring his music
Do we know what show this was from? My first sufjan show was from this tour and to date it is easily one of my favorite concerts. I don’t know what I will do if I ever lose that recording. 😢
I always feel a little bit bad for Sufjan in that he’s a Christian who mainly appeals to atheist hipsters in much the same way that Ta-Nehisi Coates is mainly read by upper-middle class white people.
Can you imagine being the dude for whom this song was written. I don't think I would have survived hearing it.
No. It would break my heart.
If I were a dude, *the* dude, I would bawl my eyes out upon hearing this.
Most people interpret the song as metaphorical, alluding to God. Also, he's never said he's gay, so your interpretation is probably incorrect. It is an interesting take, nevertheless :)
@@Straumnes this song has two (obvious) levels of meaning, and by rejecting one of them - like you're doing - it becomes harder to understand the other and the work in it's entirety. don't do this to yourself :(
@@bpinheiro4748 They're not obvious at all, and it's weird to ascribe a sexuality to someone who's publicly never talked about it before. Especially when it's gay men doing it to a man who's likely straight. It's just a little predatory and fetishistic :(
Quite literally one of the most beautiful love songs ever
Agreed!
yes!!!! this along with say yes by elliott smith are the most beautiful love songs ever written in my opinion
@@mikebatie Don't get me started on just how much I love Sister Winter.
the only explanation on why sufjan never hit his wings to anything on stage eventhough there is like 265938 instruments there is because he is an angel and he is already used to having wings
This is it. The perfect balance of emotion, storytelling, song-writing, and musicianship. Amazing, beautiful, sad, happy, and a true work of art.
The perfect description of this work of art!
I feel that way about this song, and "Objects in the Rearview Mirror" by Meatloaf and Jim Steinman.
man that full orchestra kicking in with the triumphant refrain of "WE WERE IN LOVE, WE WERE IN LOVE," hits you like a damn truck.
This song is what the most pure love feels like.
So gentle
At 2:00 it’s if he’s recalling a memory and starts to smile then he quickly catches himself and assumes his former serious expression. This is simultaneously so sweet and so sad especially because the lyrics at the end of that phrase :(
This comment destroyed me
@@saranicole5898 me too I’m crushed
this comment broke my heart
He always does that smile thing singing . It's just a facial reaction I think your overthinking it
I first heard this song almost a decade ago. It broke through me in a way almost nothing else ever has. Revisiting with the news of Sufjan’s partner’s death. I don’t even know how to talk or think about any of it-grief and love are too close. But this song still gives me hope, in a strange way. It gave me hope as a scared-to-death closeted teenager and it gives me hope as an adult who now has a hard time summoning hope. I don’t know.
Sufjan can get you so far but know that I love you. You've got this.
when the full orchestra came in, the effect was powerful enough to make me say “oh my god” out loud.
i can’t get over the duality between religion and his yearning for his friend as the two choruses clash and fight to be heard over the other, a head and the heart almost in a battle on what they want.
when he sings “i can tell you,,,” um i am sobbing and knitting what the fuck
Same but not knitting, just laying in a pile of laundry I was in the middle of putting away
I’m so spoiled. I was a U.C.L.A. student, and my roommate and I would drive to Malibu on Sundays listening to this entire album. This song is ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
The ending for this is breathtaking. I wish it was the ending to Casimir Pulaski day. It evokes the death rattle of the dying. So sad, so moving.
Yes sir
Stevens' ability to rip right through me emotionally is unparalleled. He is a fucking genius for everything that he makes. When the orchestra kicks into full gear, it's such an intense rush of feeling.
I lose it every time somewhere between "my friend is gone..." and "I love him each day." So much...in fact, too much...truth in this for me.
Same. This song has been part of my life since 2005 and I still don’t know how to handle the emotion it evokes in me. So I just cry and sing along in the most dramatic embodiment of life I can imagine. I would give anything to see him live
@@jehssickah oh :(
I would do anything to see this song performed live again
Probably my favourite live version of a song. The endings so beautiful :( such a bittersweet song; it's mostly a beautiful and positive thing, but something about the switch to past tense at the end (he was my best friend) feels...sad...
Seeing Sufjan performing is such a strange and mystical experience. Such a humble and genuine human and yet filled with such extreme talent and creativity. He’s definitely not of this earth. An angel of music come to save the voice of humanity.
Songs to mourn your closeted youth to
I love his facial expressions while singing
2022 anyone? still in love?
2023 and amen. This will always be my favorite song.
❤
To be with someone as beautiful and deep as Sufjan and then be the inspiration for one of the most beautiful songs of his...... It wouldn't make my day, it would make my LIFE, personally.
I freaking love Sufjans tunes
Meeeee toooooooo❤️
At 1:37 he looks so happy and still in love and joyful. My heart is bursting at the seams.
The perfect recording of the track
I've lost this version, then found it again, for years. It is the best.
the best performance of the best song of all time
he's so fuckin cute here tho
that's what a masterpiece sounds like...
he is a musical genius. this is one of the prettiest songs ever written
Jeez what a feat to make something like this sound so good live. A lot of nuance and instruments hitting perfectly to make this work. Great performance.
oh my god how is this possible … how can something this beautiful and painful and heartfelt be created … this entire experience felt like having someone rip my heart out with their bare hands
greatest moment in live music? maybe
do u ever just cry bc u love him so much
What he meant to me after losing my dad in high school, i am forever grateful
Good God, Sufjan's voice is really calming and charming
The strings at the end makes me lose my breath. What an amazing version of this song.
the look on his face... i think i am 18k of these 19k views. thank you for uploading this!
@3:40 onwards is one of the most beautiful moments of music it's possible to hear
Was having an absolutely shit day but this just made me day ive never heard this before
Max....I am in love with you for your music playlist. I feel less lonely in the world, knowing there is another who feels (as deeply) as I do
I love this song so much.
When I had a head injury and had to lay in the literal dark, this is all I listened to. The way the players follow his commands at the end, putting method his madness, was so beautiful to me.
2:27 I WAS NOT READY
Holy crap I needed this tonight.
Simply beautiful
I love being gay
love this so much, thank you
This is incredibly beautiful.
kinda the best song of all time
My God. This sounds just like the album and he is live. I'm just learning about this guys material. He is ridiculous and I'm drawn to it.
my friend is gone.... he ran away..... I can tell you... I love him each day....
beautiful
The tears are flowing. ❤
Okay, so fun music nerd thing: while the album version of this song is clearly in 3/4, I firmly believe that this version is in a lilting 4/4. For one thing, it makes the drawing-out of some phrases, like “meant-to-tease-him” work better, and second, it’s cool that Stevens is a gifted enough composer to write such a beautiful song in multiple time signatures!
If you need some help feeling it, try hearing the opening guitar part as 1-2-3-4, or the “we were in love” as “(1)we were (2)in (3)lo-o-(4)ove”.
As a music nerd, I find the timing of this easier to track than 2 other songs on the album
Nope
@@cotw1234 yep
I feel like you could also argue that the song is in 6/4
@@Taerus I mean, I wouldn’t really argue that. If anything, the lulling back-and-forth pulse could be an indication that it’s in 6/8. For 6/4, you have to feel six distinct beat divisions, and I don’t really hear that.
Music at its best!!
i think that they are on a snow mountain actually i dont think they are in a building personally
does someone know when this concert was? like year and name :)? I'm new to sufjan's music
It's Austin city limits. You can find the full thing on RUclips but this song was too good to be buried in a full concert and needed It's own video. I hope you enjoybitand love exploring his music
@@Max-zk8of Thank you so so much!! I'm happy you uploaded it. it's such a wonderful performance. Thank you!
Ugh this MAN! I love him so much :D
thank you Max
thank you for that
Extremely underrated
he so amazing
this is perfect iluv uuuuuuu suf
He smiles like a child
Pure soul 1:35
45,000 views is not enough for this magic
whats his skincare routine omg. i know this is from when i was a toddler but he still looks so incredibly young
No seriously, he looks so much younger than he is all the time
slay queen
Oh, how I meant no harm
My name is also Max!
Do we know what show this was from? My first sufjan show was from this tour and to date it is easily one of my favorite concerts. I don’t know what I will do if I ever lose that recording. 😢
This is from Austin City Limits.
If Wes Anderson was a musician!
2:27
te smo
I always feel a little bit bad for Sufjan in that he’s a Christian who mainly appeals to atheist hipsters in much the same way that Ta-Nehisi Coates is mainly read by upper-middle class white people.
Spot on hahaha
It's about Jesus, guys
Nope ;)
No
Nuh uh
What he had was NOT real love.
Explain yourself
@@mr_cleeverett9825 It's s all a lie.
Lies can make you feel good until you learn the ugly truth. By then it will be too late.
But by shaving the sole patch off could take him from a 5 to a 8
It's a great song although I think it would be 20% better if they weren't wearing wings.
What did those wings ever do to you😭😭😭😭
@@prempatel4403 the wings make it BETTER
Wrong
no
here to remind u that u said this and ur very wrong