Updated: Watch Sufjan Stevens’ New Video for “Justice Delivers Its Gift (not Death)”
As we’ve written before, the stupendously-talented Sufjan Stevens will soon release a box-set of covers of Christmas songs entitled Silver & Gold. Stevens has now released the official video for a track off the new album, an embellished cover of Johnny Marks’ song, Justice Delivers Its Death Gift. Check out the song below and what appears to be a melange of Stevens’ old home movies. Stevens explains the song and video: “Super 8 of my nephew Gavin, age 4, exhibiting immense joy. I shot this a few years ago in HK. Sorry, title card is wrong. Should read “Justice Delivers Its GIFT (not Death, oops!)” by Sufjan Stevens and Johnny Marks ©St. Nicholas Music Inc. No I’m Not Going Crazy for Cocoa Puffs. Peace to the world. XXO, S”.
The song’s lyrics follow the video. Stevens has once again hit his lofty target. Amen brother!
“Justice Delivers Its Death
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Everyone wishes for it
How do you measure its worth?
Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth.
Oh I’m getting old. Oh I’m getting old. Everyone wishes for youth.
How have I wasted my life?
Trusting the pleasure it gives here on earth.
Lord, come with fire. Lord, come with fire. Everyone’s wasting their time
Storing up treasure in vain.
Trusting the pleasure it gives here on earth.
Oh I see the end. Oh I see the end. Everyone’s waiting for death
How do you measure its worth? Justice delivers its gift here on earth.
Silver and gold. Silver and gold. Silver and gold. Silver and gold.”
The CD includes load of other holiday favorites including:
-Jeffrey Dahmer
-A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Mrs. Claus Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze
-The War on Christmas, or, How to Demolish an Entire Holiday and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the New Year, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience but You’re Going to Have to Leave Now, or, ‘I Have Fought the Big Box Stores and Will Continue to Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!’
Derp, Derp, Derp….don’t be so simple. “Justice delivers its death” is Sufjanese for “Santa will deliver despite all”.
I thought this was a Christmas song? He doesn’t mention Santa even once.