"Will Anybody Ever Love Me?" by Sufjan Stevens
Reflection
Will anybody ever love me?
In every season
Pledge allegiance to my heart
Pledge allegiance to my burning heart
I have wonderful parents and an extended family that I know love me unconditionally, close friends who will do just about anything for me, and a Creator who loves me more than I can ever imagine. Yet, I find myself asking the question that Sufjan asks in this song, and at times, believing that I’m not really lovable or deserving of the love I have in my life.
I appreciate that this song doesn’t resolve this question. It is easy to brush it off, quote a verse from the Bible about God’s unconditional love, and intellectually “believe” it. Though this doesn’t fix my “burning heart”.
I admire the vulnerability of the songs and artists that we are going to feature during Lent. They present life the way that it is. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Many times we don’t have the answers. I believe being vulnerable enough to admit this is the way that we grow and heal.
I can’t say that I’ve figured this out. It will probably be a struggle and insecurity of mine until I can truly experience God’s uncompromising love in heaven. Until then, it is comforting to know that I’m not alone and that my burning heart can connect with a beautifully tragic song like this one.
Links
Lyrics
Chase away my heart and heartache
Run me over, throw me over, cast me out
Find a river running to the west wind
Just above the shoreline you will see a cloud
Tie me to a tiny wooden raft
Burn my body, point me to the undertow
Push me off into the void at last
Watch me drift and watch me struggle, let me go
'Cause I really wanna know
Will anybody ever love me? (Love me)
For good reasons
Without grievance, not for sport
Will anybody ever love me? (Love me)
In every season
Pledge allegiance to my heart
Pledge allegiance to my burning heart
Hello, wildness, please forgive me now
For the heartache and the misery I create
Take my suffering as I take my vow
Wash me now, anoint me with that golden blade
Tie me to the final wooden stake (Oh, ooh-ooh)
Burn my body, celebrate the afterglow (Afterglow)
Wash away the summer sins I made (Oh, ooh-ooh)
Watch me drift and watch me struggle, let me go (Let me go)
'Cause I really wanna know
Will anybody ever love me? (Love me)
For good reasons
Without grievance, not for sport (Not for sport)
Will anybody ever love me? (Love me)
In every season
Pledge allegiance to my heart (To my heart)
In every season
Pledge allegiance to my heart (To my heart)
My burning heart
My burning heart
My burning heart
(Will anybody ever love me? Love me)
My burning heart
(Will anybody ever love me? Love me)
My burning heart
(Will anybody ever love me? Love me)
My burning heart