Song Explication

Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You

I'd swim across Lake Michigan
I'd sell my shoes
I'd give my body to be back again
In the rest of the room
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you

You gave your body to the lonely
They took your clothes
You gave up a wife and a family
You gave your ghost
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
You went up on a tree

To be alone with me
You went up on a tree

I've never known a man who loved me

Sufjan Stevens, a baroque pop/alternative classified musician who plays ten instruments and writes all of his own material, clearly shows his religious beliefs in the lyrics of "To Be Alone With You" and the biblical allusions he utilizes to strengthen the personal relationship he possesses with God. Although he is a more private person, saying in a 2004 interview "I don't like talking about that stuff[religion] in the public forum because, I think, certain themes and convictions are meant for personal conversation.", his lyrics speak for themselves. Within this song Stevens directly correlates to the life of Jesus and the sacrifices experienced by his savior.
The first stanza deals with the connection Stevens has with Jesus. He feel so strongly that he is willing to sacrifice things, even if they aren't exactly of the same magnitude of that which Jesus sacrificed. He offers to swim across Lake Michigan, possibly bringing bodily harm to himself. Sufjan would give up material possessions and money to feel closer to God, even if it is a miniscule as "I'd sell my shoes". He even will do thaumaturgy and volunteers his body just to be in a room with Jesus. All of these oblations depict the esoteric and personal relationship felt between Sufjan and God. This connection is more like a consanguinity to Stevens and is also a very intimate one, specific towards him. Not many other people can tell of the same affiliation to Jesus, though other experiences may be analogous.
Stevens' second stanza utilizes biblical allusions to show Jesus' peregrination. Jesus eschews his life to save the lives of those he truly loves. He too gave up material chattels to live devoutly to his father and his teachings. "They took your clothes" not only refers to the absence of possessions but also to when the Roman soldiers take Jesus' clothing in Romans 19:23-24 during his crucifixion. Jesus was fully human and also fully divine. He was tempted with numerous things and could have chosen to take the fully human divergence and lived a easier, more normal life. Instead Jesus gave up human appanages, such as "a wife and a family". He leaves behind these privileges in order to save a population of followers. "You gave your ghost" alludes to the fact that Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit, sometimes referred to as the Holy Ghost, to his apostles so that they would continue on with their beliefs and the spreading of the Gospel. Jesus was crucified which resulted in the saving of sinners and followers everywhere. Stevens shows this connection by singing "To be alone with me You went up on a tree". The tree in this lyric represents a cross. Sufjan ends his powerful song with "I've never known a man who loved me". This statement shows how deeply he believes God loves him and the feeling he also reciprocates. To Stevens, no love compares to the love of God.
Sufjan Stevens' religion has certainly come through his lyrics, but they can also be interpreted to personal relationships. The biblical connections to the story of Jesus and his crucifixion seal the religious theme on this song. Stevens has allowed his personal beliefs to influence, but not overpower, his lyrics.

Vocabulary
oblation - offering
esoteric - intended for or understood by only a few
thaumaturgy - the performance of miracles or magic
consanguinity - a family relationship
analogous - similar, alike
peregrination - journey
eschew - abandon, sacrifice
chattel - possession
divergence - route
appanage - a natural or necessary accompaniment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoQzWb_f1oA