The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!

by Sufjan Stevens

From the album: Illinois

Track 15 of 22 on Illinois (2005).

Duration: 5:23

Illinois cover art

Lyrics for The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!

Thinking outrageously I write in cursive I hide in my bed with the lights on the floor Wearing three layers of coats and leg warmers I see my own breath on the face of the door Oh I am not quite sleeping Oh I am fast in bed There on the wall in the bedroom creeping I see a wasp with her wings outstretched North of Sylvanna we swim in the Palisades I come out wearing my brothers red hat There on his shoulder my best friend is bit seven times He runs washing his face in his hands Oh how I meant to tease him Oh how I meant no harm Touching his back with my hand I kiss him I see the wasp on the length of my arm Oh great sights upon this state, hallelu Wonders bright, and rivers, lake, hallelu Trail of tears and Horseshoe Lake, hallelu Trusting things beyond mistake, hallelu We were in love, we were in love Palisades, Palisades I can wait I can wait We were in love, we were in love Palisades, Palisades I can wait I can wait We were in love, we were in love Palisades, Palisades I can wait I can wait I can't explain the state that I'm in The state of my heart, he was my best friend Into the car, from the back seat Oh admiration in falling asleep All of my powers, day after day I can tell you, we swaggered and swayed Deep in the tower, the prairies below I can tell you, the telling gets old Terrible sting and terrible storm I can tell you the day we were born My friend is gone, he ran away I can tell you, I love him each day Though we have sparred, wrestled and raged I can tell you I love him each day Terrible sting, terrible storm I can tell you

Listen On

More from Illinois

  1. Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois
  2. The Black Hawk War, Or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself In the Morning, Or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience But You're Going to Have to Leave Now, Or...
  3. Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream
  4. John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
  5. Jacksonville
  6. A short reprise for Mary Todd, who went insane, but for very good reasons
  7. Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Step-Mother!
  8. One last "Whoo-hoo!" for the Pullman
  9. Chicago
  10. Casimir Pulaski Day
  11. To The Workers of The Rock River Valley Region, I have an idea concerning your predicament, and it involves an inner tube, bath mats, and 21 able-bodied men
  12. The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
  13. Prairie Fire That Wanders About
  14. A conjunction of drones simulating the way in which Sufjan Stevens has an existential crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze
  15. The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!
  16. They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!
  17. Let's hear that string part again, because I don't think they heard it all the way out in Bushnell
  18. In This Temple As in The Hearts of Man For Whom He Saved The Earth
  19. The Seer's Tower
  20. The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders Part I: The Great Frontier Part II: Come to Me Only With Playthings Now
  21. Riffs and Variations on a single note for Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, and the King of Swing, to name a few
  22. Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I shake the dirt from my sandals as I run