Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day Lyrics

The best voice I alredy listened

Классная песня только в конце нужно 2 минуты ждать

604 people are literally cancer

uma das melhores músicas que já ouvi e uma das minhas favoritas.

Essa música me remete oas lembranças! Amo muito ❤

Goldenrod and the 4H stone
The things I brought you when I found out
You had cancer of the bone

Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car into the Navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry

In the morning, through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulderblade
I could see what you were reading

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth

Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens

I remember at Michael's house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse

In the morning at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared

All the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you

Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I found the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of your mother

On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom

In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window

In the morning in the winter shade
On the first of March, on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications when I see His face
In the morning in the window

All the glory when He took our place
But He took my shoulders and He shook my face
And He takes and He takes and He takes

This song is sad and sadder than most people think. Its not just about a girl dying of cancer. Its about that, a boy losing his best friend and first crush, and losing faith in his religion (which is a massive deal if you're a religious person.) And whats more, it seems to me that the mother had been dead awhile (hence the pictures of your mother line) and the father died when the girl was diagnosed with cancer because he was so distraught, driving his car into the navy yard, so also the girl is dying without her family around to be there for her. And all this through the lens of a young boy trying to make sense of it all as its in opposition to his whole world view about religion and God taking care of you. Finally the name of the song is Casimir Pulaski Day, a very small holiday mainly recognized in Chicago which will still forever overshadow the death of the girl. Saddest and most beautiful song I know.

Saddest damn song I've ever heard.

Goldenrod and the 4H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone

Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car into the navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry

In the morning, through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulder blade
I could see what you were reading

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth

Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens

I remember at Michael's house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse

In the morning at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared

All the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you

Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I find the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of you mother

On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom

In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window

In the morning in the winter shade
On the 1st of March on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications when I see His face
In the morning in the window

All the glory when he took our place
But he took my shoulders and he shook my face
And he takes and he takes and he takes

Impulse!!!!!!!! <3

I lost my mom last year to bone cancer. I both love and hate this song. I connect with it way to much.

How on FUCKING EARTH do almost 600 dislike this song????????

Please stop cancer ♋️

My favourite song

"And he takes, and he takes, and he takes" The quote normally goes _The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away._ When he augments the quote to only be that he takes it seems to reflect a bitterness in him towards god for seemingly only taking from him over and over again.


It's a beautiful bit of lyricism. I'm in love with this song.

MUSICAL COMFORT FOR THE YEARS I WAS FADING ( DOCTORS WERE GOING TO SHIP ME TO MAYO CLINIC ) IN SANTA FE , N.M. IN 2007 . I LEANED ON THIS SONG W/ MY FAMILY & FRIENDS FOR TWO YEARS TILL I PULLED OUT OF THE ILLNESS . THIS IS ''MY SONG'' FOREVER AS I GOT REPRIEVE AFTER 2 YEARS OF PREDNIZONE & DOCTORS COULDN'T DIAGNOSE . I WILL KEEP THIS YOUNG MAN'S MUSIC CLOSE ALWAYS!

Shopping in Costco and i had to stop this song because i was tearing up. :')

This makes me think of my aunt whose got als and how this will be her last christmas this year.

My mum has cancer again

'' I am crying in the bathroom ''

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN???

Goldenrod and the 4H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone

Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car into the Navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry

In the morning, through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulder blade
I could see what you were reading

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth

Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens

I remember at Michael's house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse

In the morning, at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared

All the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you

Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I found the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of your mother

On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom

In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window

In the morning in the winter shade
On the first of March, on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications when I see his face
In the morning in the window

All the glory when he took our place
But he took my shoulders and he shook my face
And he takes and he takes and he takes

The album and classic Sufjan defining song together with Chicago:):)

These lyrics are some of the saddest I’ve ever heard. Anyone else get the impression he sings it in such a lighthearted melody to keep himself from breaking down in the middle of the song?

I need another song that makes me feel this much

big fan of the solid 3 minutes of silence that always makes me think my computer crashed

I just found out today. That my best friend has bone cancer.

I heard this song. then one day I listened to Hamilton. Then I freaked out.

#SADNIGGAHOURS ☹

My mom passed March 2018 of cancer. It was so hard to watch her go.

My dad showed up on their first date with sunflowers in his hand. They were her favorite. A month after she passed my dad and I were pulling weeds in the garden, but there was one that was taller than the others, so I convinced him to leave it alone. A couple weeks later it bloomed into a beautiful sunflower. Our yard hadn’t been watered or tended to in years, and I am certain it was her.

Time after time I revisit this song. It makes me feel less alone in this process. Every now and then I spot a sunflower growing in an unusual spot- it’s just mom, saying hello.

This song captures the feeling of grief like no other I’ve ever heard

This song and Neil Young Harvest Moon....chicago on a cold night, a girl I used to love with

How to become a Biblical Elect

If you want to become an Elect, then you should read the KJV Bible, fast, and pray about it. It’s not difficult. Vegetarianism and veganism both count for all intents and purposes as fasting. Try to pray for thirty minutes a day, read the KJV Bible for 30 minutes a day, and be a vegan or a vegetarian. If you do this, there is a good chance that an angel will visit you or that you might automatically be put onto Elect radio. I’m telling you this as an earth angel. I only serve the Lord Jesus.

If you want to become an Elect, it is not difficult. This is the real thing! This is how you can become one. Jesus loves you!

This. Freaking. Song. Oh man.

This song makes me feel like I'm a kid in an old dirty basement, alone playing, with tentacled aliens outside eradicating humanity.

suggest me more song like this.

There are a lot of Sufjan Steven songs like this. Fourth of July, Romulus, The Only Thing, John My beloved.

"All the glory that the lord has made, and the complications when i see his face, in the morning in the window."

The "lord" takes people from us, he has made the world a certain way by taking someone we love from it. The glory of "god" - it can be terrible. We have to face waking up everyday knowing that person is gone. Everything feels different, more complicated after you lose someone you love.

"Oh, the glory when he took our place, but he took my shoulders and he shook my face. And he takes and he takes and he takes."


In this case the glory can be wonderful/helpful.
It reminds us of someone, a loved one - shaking us, telling us it's okay - get up, there is more to experience, to love, to go on for. In this case it could be little moment after crying really hard, you sigh, feel lighter. A small burden is lifted. You can go on with your day a little easier.


"he" "she" "it" "god" also helps to take or lighten our burden somehow.

This song was always a huge part of me and my siblings relationship. I cry every time.

I tried showing this song to some of my friends and none of them liked it. 😔

How dare them! U don't deserve to have them then

@karl marx I really don't understand why they can't just like this...one of them said it's too boring and long .

They haven't learned the meaning of life yet

Ann George oh my try showing them impossible Soul that’ll shut em up. Maybe also try Chicago!?

Every time I see that cardinal fly by.. I'm reminded of her face

After many years, i finally figured out that "golden rod" is another name for the mullien herb which has healing qualities. It is also found in Illinoise

I'm a 28 year old grown and this song makes me realize that once Oso, my chiwinnie passes on, I'll probably be crying my eyes out 😭.

Goldenrod and the 4H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone
Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car into the navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry
In the morning, through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulder blade
I could see what you were reading
All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth
Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens
I remember at Michael's house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse
In the morning at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared
All the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you
Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I find the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of you mother
On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom
In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window
In the morning in the winter shade
On the 1st of March on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing
All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications when I see His face
In the morning in the window
All the glory when he took our place
But he took my shoulders and he shook my face
And he takes and he takes and he takes

The redemptive power of art, when music crosses over into the transcendent. The number of people Sufjan has helped with this one song alone... That's why artists play, that's why we listen.

and he takes and he takes and he takes in this song and will you call me when you get there in Joanna Newsom's Cosmia elicit the same longing ache in my sternum

My grandmother got cancer a few years ago, then she ''got that shrimp'' well; she died. But she got dat shrimp atleast. Good thing I don't think much people are listening to this anymore.

“On the floor of the Great Divide, with my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied, I am crying in the bathroom.” For some reason, this particular line hits me because of how real and...tangible it seems.

This song stole all my feelings :'(

Can anyone describe the last stanza?

I have no way of proving it but this song was inspired by "Ambulance Blues" by Neil Young... it just... was

Tommy Okuniewski Ambulance blues is my favourite Neil young song... I’d agree with you

Arya Gaikwad Hey, thanks for sharing! It might be my favorite too. I certainly considered it one of my favorite songs around the time I first discovered it a few years ago.

Tommy Okuniewski Me too :)

This song is an amazing take on grief. But I've always thought it's gender fluid in an understated way (and long before gender fluid became a "thing"). And now I just read this article. Weird. But it feels like a circle has been squared https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/06/casimir-pulaski-polish-general-woman-intersex

Fuck cancer.

I was listening to this song on train one sunny day and finally realized the meaning of the song. It has sort of bittersweetness. I cried. Beautiful song.

Now 2019.When I playing this song at 6am on my guitar my eyes getting tear I don't know why.maybe I'll remember something special in my past.

my grandmother died on october 1st, 2018.

my brother and i left the hospital and walked up to the parking lot. not a word was spoken. it was around 6. the sun was setting.

i hop into the car and stare at the sky, trying my hardest to choke back tears. he puts on this song. we start driving.

that whole drive- the music, the lack of words, the beautiful golden light- never has a song impacted me like this. i remember choking up, soaking in every single word, remembering all she had done for my family. i loved her so much and i still do. i miss her incredibly.

this was my introduction to sufjan. his music has helped me through countless depressive episodes and i am forever grateful that he took the opportunity to share his talent with us.

My cousin has bone cancer. It’s awful to watch him go through it. 😔

happy Casimir Pulaski Day everyone. March 4th, 2019

It's March 4, 2019, happy Casmir Pulaski Day. :(

DeeJay Rico my sister birthday :’(

March 1st

Happy Casmir Pulaski Day!

"Grief is a desert that must be crossed on foot." For those who are grieving, fight the good fight and finish the race. No one who is worth your grieving would ever want to see you give up so stick it out and make sure you have some great stories to tell them when you see them again. You will.

Si, yo también vengo de una historia con mucho feeling de 4chan

Happy casimir pulaski day!

Love this song. Helped me through the recent death of my mother. Completely different
Circumstance, I guess, because she was 81, but all the glory when you think of how quickly cancer turns your loved one from a rock star into nothing. God has a plan, but for those of us left sad and wondering...it does seem like he takes.

Who came here after watching - if and when!!❤

Any other great songs out there?

i hope youre okay anon

esto es tan hermoso y triste a la vez. I can't wn

00:03 repeat pls ...

"we prayed over your body, but nothing ever happens" that line gives me chills everytime

My grandmother died of cancer a couple months ago. I was with her near the end but for some reason I held back my tears at her funeral. I'm finally letting it all out. Thank you Sufjan, this song means more to me now than it ever has.

Feels bad anons

sufjan stevens are one of the few artists where i actually listen to the lyrics...amazing

this song is a kleenex

I came here from dovabruh, listened to it since his video came out, it's so good.

From Chile ! thanks a lot for this music !

Just got fired from my first job and I’m listening to this song while I’m waiting for my ride to keep myself from crying

I haven't cried from a song in years. This is beautiful.

Not just one of Sufjan's best songs...but one of the best songs in the whole history of music.

I love this song to death, but find it pretty disappointed with you trying to extend the length of the video with 2 minutes of silence. :/

Does anyone cares about Pulaski? Actually Krzesimir Pułaski.... Anyone?

I remember years ago when this album came out, it was as impactful to me as it obviously has been to so many as evidenced by the comments here.

Friends and I would talk about the meaning and the beauty of the songs on Illinoise, how even the song about John Gacy is so heart wrenching.

It’s so many years later now and I came looking for this song, surprisingly because I don’t have it stored on my phone, but when I thought of it a few hours ago, I kept it playing in my mind.

This song has changed for me as I’ve grown older, from in my late twenties when it came out to now in my early 40’s and it’s taken new shape.

Now I come looking for it as I think of losing my uncle last week to cancer, and how I’ve seen two of my closest friend’s fathers taken from them in the last 5 years by the fucking awful disease and it has devastated them and their families.

I wanted to hear it now because I wanted to break down, I wanted to be overcome by grief. That catharsis of letting your swelling heart overflow, it’s necessary to us as conscious beings.

I grew up catholic so I have always had a relationship with God, often a strained one so I feel I understand what Sufjan is saying. Sometimes it’s hard to remember how much we are given, especially when something so dear to us is lost and we know there is no replacing it. That is true loss, the feeling of having something irreplaceable taken.

It really is amazing to read how this affects everyone, so beautiful in that aspect, and I appreciate what you all have had to say.

And he takes and he takes and he takes..but its bullshit because we cant even defy him. I want to defy him and cant and thats the worst. Thats what hurts. Having my liver eaten on a daily basis, forever laboring to push a boulder up a hill that always falls back down...id choose these over this almost decade long cancer i got after she left thats just eating me and eating me and eating me and not killing me. Hes not omnipotent..hes a con man with aces up his sleeves and loaded dice. And we got dealt deuce 7 off suit from the beginning.

From Chile !

Should've just given her a chug jug that would've been a #victoryroyale.

5:47 sounds like the sound medical equipment makes when the heart stops beating

I love this piece because it's a whole novel in a song

Can't believe I first heard about a song so sincere and beautiful from /b/ of all places.


if you say "rule 1: there is no /b/" i hate you.

Rule:1 there is no /b/

Quem chegou até aqui pelo vídeo da Declaração de amor mais linda do planeta levanta a mão \o

will never forget tht /b feelsgreentext.. :c

New fan of Steven, I've only heard a few songs so far and worried if I listen to the rest of the album(s) something might die inside 😢

And he takes and he takes and he takes..

Progress, steady and slow, retain, then go.

It is either this one, or Racing in the Streets by Bruce, which must be the most beautiful song ever made. They are both poetic, but both also don't need lyrics to transfer the feelings.

When life strikes, i pick one of the two. Sometimes both. I listen, i hear the beauty, and slowly gain strength.

I play this song every day on my sad guitar. There's just something really powerful about this folkey song.
To me, Sufjan is like the modern-day counterpart to Neil Young. I'm glad that folk music is still going strong.
God bless.

This video was released 6 days before my sister was born.

What makes Sufjan's faith compelling is that he explores the complicated and painful parts, the doubts

Finally a song that makes Me shed tears god, this song is magical

the line "i am crying in the bathroom" will always hit me like a brick, fucking beautiful.