Song meaning of Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens

Ah, the mystical musings of Sufjan Stevens. In "Fourth of July," he takes us on a deep journey through life, death, and the existential dread that accompanies barbecues and sparklers. The song opens with Sufjan pondering the spread of evil, because apparently, evil is like a contagious fever that's rude enough to ruin your fireworks display. He then questions what he could have done to resurrect someone from the dead, as if he's auditioning for a role in a supernatural soap opera. The chorus kicks in with Sufjan scolding a little hawk for crying and demands to know what he learned from the Tillamook burn. Because let's face it, if you didn't learn something profound from a fire, were you even paying attention? In the second verse, Sufjan finds himself at a hospital, contemplating life's ever-elusive truths, like whether or not the body should be cast. Because nothing says deep introspection like pondering burial arrangements. He apologizes for leaving, claiming it was for the best and it never felt right. Classic excuse, Sufjan. Classic excuse. The song continues to cascade into a whirlpool of philosophical musings, reminding us that we're all gonna die. Thanks, Sufjan, for the uplifting reminder that life is fleeting and we're all just floating specks in the grand cosmic scheme. So, embrace the absurdity, my dear loon, and make the most of your existence while it's still illuminated by the flickering flame of mortality. And hey, don't cry too much. After all, we're all gonna die. Cheers!