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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
With hairy chest and all rehearsed Sufjan Stevens – All for Myself
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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The character reminisces of a time in the past where they had been close, setting out on a trip together.
It is revealed to the listener that the lover is also a man, adding another layer of complication onto the already convoluted theme.
The hairy chest is a symbol of masculinity, and the narrator can be seen as again going back to his love interest, recalling how similar they were, and how they acted as one, not separately. .
What is this?
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However, the main character’s jealousy, or another problem, began to catch up with their relationship.
This may have ended up in a major occurrence, whether an argument, or a full-on split.
Whether or not this was the problem, the couple is separated at one point in the song, and this problem can be interpreted as the major reason. .
What is this?
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The character elaborates on a problem, probably the cause of the aforementioned reservedness. Instead of it being a major problem, it was just a minor annoyance, like a stone in his shoe.
This ‘problem’ is probably the main character’s jealousy, and this line is a way of downplaying something that ends up becoming a major factor in their relationship, and a deciding factor in the story. .
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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These lines are a metaphor for the feeling of love he feels for his romantic pursuit.
The character in the song likens his feelings for his romantic partner to the weightless feeling of flying, a sort of elation and carelessness.
However, he couples this feeling with ‘bearing down,’ which is a common phrase, meaning to be stringent or controlling.
This is the first hint in the song that the narrative character may be a bit controlling and obsessive, as it is not typical to use a statement of restriction or reservedness when describing love.
This sets the tone for the rest of the song; love with an omnipresent dementedness and corruption. .
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.
The narrator is being complimentary, trying to get back on his good side.
This comes from royal tradition, where someone will kiss the king or queen’s feet as a sign of respect.
He is saying that he’s going to treat the lover as a king, to regain his approval. .
Also, “to kiss the hem” is an alternative way of an idiomatic phrase, “to kiss/touch the hem of someone’s garment”, a biblical reference to a tale where a woman touched Christ’s garment after being cured of desease.