Sufjan Stevens is notoriously enigmatic in his songwriting. The kind of enigmatic that makes you feel at once that you know him and that you don’t. This, among the many other endearing elements of Stevens’ music, is what keeps me listening. I read once that artists are driven by both the desire to hide and the desire to reveal, and I would take this a step further to say that good art comes from those two ideas being in perfect balance with one another.
Stevens’ describes events that feel intensely personal, but are shrouded in religious and mythological imagery. In this way he engages both his listeners’ intellect and emotions, and that’s another indicator of great art. While there are many articles that take apart each of the layered metaphors and references in the song, it is the magic of Stevens’ songwriting that I’d like to focus on. Casimir Pulaski Day, as it turns out, is a day of commemoration for a Polish soldier who fought and won America’s independence. While various reasons can be argued for the choice of song title, I like to think its significance lies only in the dates’ significance for the speaker. I’m partial to separating an artist’s life from his or her work, but there is an intimacy to Stevens’ writing that feels intensely personal. What is it that creates this sense of intimacy? The combination of personal detail and universal emotion that pervades Stevens’ music is hard to ignore. Casimir Pulaski Day takes us through a series of events, starting with a cancer diagnosis, and ending with a death. Something I appreciate about Sufjans’ lyrics is the way in which he wrestles with questions of faith. He speaks of praying for healing and being disappointed. He speaks of the glory of shared affection in mundane moments. He speaks of the beauty of vulnerability and the fragility of life. Stevens’ takes all of this a step further by concluding the song in a whispered cry of despair – his God has caused his loss as well as given him life. Complexity communicated simply. The detail that Stevens’ zones in on create a visual that draws you in. It creates moments of nostalgia and moments of universal experience. He’s cleaning, he’s praying, he’s kissing a person he feels affection for, and realising the complications it will cause for both of them. He’s falling in love while he’s watching her disappear and it’s heartbreaking in its simple beauty. I find it tricky to choose a favourite song in Stevens’ discography, but Casimir Pulaski Day is definitely one of them.
