Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Canonical path: /sufjan-stevens/the-ascension
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
The Ascension
Read The Ascension lyrics by Sufjan Stevens on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
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Curated by Ethan Walker
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Lyrics
The Ascension
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When I am dead
And the light leaves my breast
Nothing to be told
Nothing to confess
Let the record show
What I couldn’t quite confess
For by living for myself
I was living for unrest
Then the evidence came back
In a chariot of vindication
Something to behold
Glorious in its path
But the prophecy fell back
As it gave to me an invitation
Show them what is right
Show them what is blessed
But now it strikes me
Far too late again
That I was asking far too much
Of everyone around me
And now it strikes me
Far too late again
That I should answer for myself
As the Ascension falls upon me
So what should be said
Of a life that leaves its mess?
For once your life was sold
It could never be possessed
You were selfishly as a continent
You were finally at your best
For you favored for yourself
When selfishness was blessed
Then Cordelia came back
In a chariot hallucination
Something to rejoice
Glorious in its wrath
But the prophecy was a pantomime
As came to me in accusation
Show them what is right
Show them what is best
But now it strikes me
Far too late again
That I was asking far too much
Of everyone around me
And now it strikes me
Far too late again
That I should answer for myself
As the Ascension falls upon me
And now it frightens me
The thought against my chest
To think I was asking for a reason
Explaining why everything’s a total mess
And now it frightens me
The dreams dreams that I possess
To think I was acting like a believer
When I was just angry and depressed
And to everything
There is no meaning
A season of pain
And hopelessness
I shouldn’t have looked
For revelation
I should have resigned
Myself to this
I thought I could change the world around me
I thought I could change the world for best
I thought I was called in convocation
I thought I was sanctified and blessed
But now it strengthens me
To know the truth at last
That everything comes
From consummation
And everything comes
With consequence
And I did it all with exultation
While you did it all
With hopelessness
Yes I did it all with adoration
While you killed it off
With all of your holy mess
What now? What now?
What now? What now?
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Who performs "The Ascension"?
Sufjan Stevens performs "The Ascension", and this lyric page sits inside the Sufjan Stevens catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "The Ascension"?
Yes. The related section below points to Christmas Unicorn and John My Beloved with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Sufjan Stevens?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Sufjan Stevens's lyric pages.
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