Sufjan Stevens – No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross Lyrics

Sufjan Stevens – No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross Lyrics

No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens

“No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross” was released in advance of Sufjan Stevens’ 2015 album Carrie & Lowell.

In “No Shade”, Sufjan writes about his descent into self-destructive behavior after his mother’s death.

Sufjan discussed this time in an interview with Pitchfork.

I was so emotionally lost and desperate for what I could no longer pursue in regard to my mother, so I was looking for that in other places. At the time, part of me felt that I was possessed by her spirit and that there were certain destructive behaviors that were manifestations of her possession.

Sufjan’s vocal delivery is deliberately weak and wispy, at times in danger of being overwhelmed by a softly played acoustic guitar.

Now that I fell into your arms
My only lover
Give out to give in
I search for the capsule I lost

Drag me to hell in the valley of The Dalles
Like my mother
Give wings to a stone
It’s only the shadow of a cross

I slept on my back in the shade of the meadowlark
Like a champion
Get drunk to get laid
I take one more hit when you depart

I’ll drive that stake through the center of my heart
Lonely vampire
Inhaling its fire
I’m chasing the dragon too far

There’s blood on that blade
Fuck me, I’m falling apart
My assassin
Like Casper the ghost
There’s no shade in the shadow of the cross