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Lyr Req: Lonely Man of Winter (Sufjan Stevens)

14 Jun 09 - 10:23 PM (#2656564)
Subject: Lyr Req: Lonely Man of Winter
From: GUEST,I Chose The Name Calvin

The Lonely Man of Winter- by Sufjan Stevens

A few of us - might have now heard enough - that we should be able
to begin a compilation of the elusive lyrics to this sad soulful song.

By posting lyrics here - those listening next - should be able to fill in the the missing pieces - and an entire work-of-art be returned to the public.

Sort of a Folk-Music scavenger hunt.

Music belongs to the people!

Power to the people!

Yes, We Can!

DO!


15 Jun 09 - 10:41 AM (#2656933)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Man of Winter (Sufjan Stevens)
From: M.Ted

For those who don't know about this song, here is the low down, from Pitchfork:
monday, february 9

"Unheard" Sufjan Song Gets Exclusive Listening Parties

Back in 2007, Sufjan Stevens conducted "The Great Sufjan Song Xmas Xchange," in which the singer-songwriter asked fans to send him holiday tunes. The person behind the best entry would win the rights to an exclusive Sufjan Christmas track, while Sufjan would gain the rights to the winning song. As his label, Asthmatic Kitty explained: "Sufjan's song becomes your song. You can hoard it for yourself, sell it to a major soft drink corporation, use it in your daughter's first Christmas video, or share it for free on your website. No one except Sufjan and you will hear his song, unless you decide otherwise. You get the song and all legal rights to it."

In early 2008, we reported that the Xchange winner, Alec Duffy, was quite the purist. He had decided that the Sufjan song, "Lonely Man of Winter" would be kept away from the greedy clutches of the internet, and instead would premiere in a 2008 holiday show put on by his theater company, the New York-based Hoi Polloi.

So what happened? There was no holiday show, and more than a year later, very few have heard "Lonely Man of Winter". But now he's letting people hear the track...four at a time.

Yep, Duffy's holding exclusive listening parties in his apartment every Wednesday this month. (Sunday listening sessions may be added as well.) Duffy claims the low-capacity get-togethers are a way "to counter the cheapening effects of internet all-availability, and to recapture an era when to get one's hands on a particular album or song was a real experience." Some fans say Duffy is hoarding the song like an indie Scrooge. (Yes, there really is a minor web hullabaloo about these sessions-- people take their Sufjan seriously!) According to this insider report, the listening parties seem pleasant.

I give Duffy credit for using the opportunity to promote anachronistic indie rock ideals of community. He's fighting a losing battle. (I wonder if he pats down attendees for recording devices...) I sort of wish he would've sold the song to some ridiculous conglomerate as a goof. But something tells me Sufjan would approve of this method...


28 Mar 21 - 12:07 PM (#4099670)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Man of Winter (Sufjan Stevens)
From: GUEST,#

Times change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DPqg8Ti-N4

PS Some of the comments made there are worth a look. ;-)


31 Mar 21 - 11:11 AM (#4100111)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lonely Man of Winter (LYRIC ADD)
From: GUEST,#

Lonely Man of Winter by Sufjan Stevens

[Verse 1]
In the world that you would make up
With unicorns and buffalo packs
I know that you would wake up
With the sunny side touching your back

[Chorus 1]
Is it the lonely man of Christmas?
Coming up with theories on him
Is it the lonely man of Christmas?
He's riding in the devil's abyss

[Verse 2]
Oh, I would rate the future
If I could put a finger on it
But I have no idea
If what I want is better than this

[Chorus 2]
Is it the lonely man of winter?
I could put my finger on that
Is it the lonely drive to Denver?
The loneliness of Hoppington's hat

[Chorus 3]
Is it the time we spent in silence?
The silence of a winter he had
Is it the lonely man of winter?
I could put my finger on that

[Outro]
And even if it's Christmas
Could we just pretend for a bit
That everything we went through
Was someone else's carpenter kiss



Note that the lyrics were posted on the YouTube link from 28 Mar 21 - 12:07 PM by Rahul Gaur (2 years ago).