[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Sufjan Stevens — They Are Night Zombies!!
Album: Illinois
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 882









Released: 2005
Length: 5:10
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share tweet wikiwebsitesearchamg
cd
mp3
search
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Ring the bell and call or write us
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Can you call the Captain Clitus?
Logan, Grant, and Ronald Reagan
In the grave with Xylophagan
Do you know the ghost community?
Sound the horn, address the city

(Who will save it? Dedicate it?
Who will praise it? Commemorate it for you?)

We are awakened with the axe
Night of the Living Dead at last
They have begun to shake the dirt
Wiping their shoulders from the earth
I know, I know the nations past
I know, I know they rust at last
They tremble with the nervous thought
Of having been, at last, forgot

I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Ring the bell and call or write us
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Can you call the Captain Clitus?
B-U-D-A! Caledonia!
S-E-C-O-R! Magnolia!
B-I-R-D-S! And Kankakee!
Evansville and Parker City

Speaking their names, they shake the flag
Waking the earth, it lifts and lags
We see a thousand rooms to rest
Helping us taste the bite of death
I know, I know my time has passed
I'm not so young, I'm not so fast
I tremble with the nervous thought
Of having been, at last, forgot

I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Ring the bell and call or write us
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Can you call the Captain Clitus?
Comer and Potato Peelers!
G-R-E-E-N Ridge! Reeders
M-C-V-E-Y! And Horace!
E-N-O-S! Start the chorus

Corn and farms and tombs in Lemmon
Sailor Springs and all things feminine
Centerville and Old Metropolis
Shawneetown, you trade and topple us
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Hold your tongue and don't divide us
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S!
Land of God, you hold and guide us
Comments (232)add comment
 freemusic wrote:
Hopefully by, "changing the station",  you meant:

*  PSD ("Play Something Different", bypassing only this song), 
........ Change the "Channel" from:
*  "RP Main Mix" to: 
*  "RP Rock Mix",
*  "'RP Mellow Mix", or,
*  "RP World Music".  
*  Or for a "more perfect song choice", (ala one of the other services like Spotify), try "RP 'MY FAVORITES'", playing only what you rated 7 or above.

"Favorites" however will not include all of Bill's new finds, which is one reason why we love this station.  
(BillG, how hard would it be to add an option to FAVORITES:  "40% Main Mix"?) 





Or better yet, the ability to auto-skip songs you´ve rated as 1.  That would cut out sooo much whining... (including my own )
Posted 1 year ago by MilesW    [ Reply ]
 chyk5 wrote:


Because Bill has great taste. 


Not on this one IMHO - the album name is highly appropriate for this particular track - IlliNoise. This song is like a cheese-grater on my ears; simply awful... 
Posted 1 year ago by RicoDrumz    [ Reply ]
I love this guy! And some day I'll stop calling him Surfjan!
Posted 1 year ago by awhfman    [ Reply ]
 xcranky_yankee wrote:

nice follow up tune after Lived and Died Alone 



Exactly! Nice catch.
Posted 1 year ago by pshand    [ Reply ]
 RicoDrumz wrote:

Why...?




Why not?
Posted 1 year ago by AlienRelic    [ Reply ]
 RicoDrumz wrote:

Why...?



Because Bill has great taste. 
Posted 1 year ago by chyk5    [ Reply ]
Why...?
Posted 1 year ago by RicoDrumz    [ Reply ]
 bhallmark wrote:

It's so rare for me to have to switch to another station.......

Hopefully by, "changing the station",  you meant:

*  PSD ("Play Something Different", bypassing only this song), 
........ Change the "Channel" from:
*  "RP Main Mix" to: 
*  "RP Rock Mix",
*  "'RP Mellow Mix", or,
*  "RP World Music".  
*  Or for a "more perfect song choice", (ala one of the other services like Spotify), try "RP 'MY FAVORITES'", playing only what you rated 7 or above.

"Favorites" however will not include all of Bill's new finds, which is one reason why we love this station.  
(BillG, how hard would it be to add an option to FAVORITES:  "40% Main Mix"?) 



Posted 2 years ago by freemusic    [ Reply ]
nice follow up tune after Lived and Died Alone 
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Well that's gotta be one of the most distinctive background vocals I've heard in years.
Posted 2 years ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
I love everything about this.
Posted 7 years ago by GuiltyFeat    [ Reply ]
Great album and the perfect song for Halloween.
Posted 10 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
Let's hear some off his "The Age of Adz".  {#Yes}
Posted 13 years ago by JiffyPark    [ Reply ]
It's so rare for me to have to switch to another station, but this one did it.  Sorry Bill, I can't back you up on this.
Posted 13 years ago by bhallmark    [ Reply ]
Not necessarily my cuppa but I'll give it a "creative and interesting".
Posted 13 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
urk
Posted 13 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Som LEGAL!!!!!!

Posted 13 years ago by muzikbrazil    [ Reply ]
That distinctive voice in the background is Annie Clark of St Vincent.

Posted 14 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
 copymonkey wrote:
Another artist that brings out the whining haters
 
I'll remind you of that next time Metric or Poe is played.

Posted 14 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
best song name ever
Posted 14 years ago by diegotz    [ Reply ]
 Laptopdog wrote:

Not.
Me.
I.
Am.
Not
Digging.
This.
No.
Not.
Me.
I.
Am.
Not.
Digging.
This.

 
What
The
Hell
Is
This
Crap?
Can
You
Im-ag-ine
Some-one
Pay-ing
Good
Mon-ey
To
Lis-ten
To
This?

Posted 15 years ago by Stave    [ Reply ]
 copymonkey wrote:
Ahhh Sufjan! Another artist that brings out the whining haters—but Bill continues to play anyway. I LOVE when he does that!

 

{#High-five}
Posted 15 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
 scraig wrote:
Oh, I have to add this to next year's Halloween playlist!
 
I requested it but Bill didn't play it, {#Cry} but in fairness I requested about 20 songs and Bill did play a few. Still, I was a little disappointed on the brevity of the Halloween play list.

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
That's a very walkable bass line...
Posted 15 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
Oh, I have to add this to next year's Halloween playlist!
Posted 15 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
What's with the popularity of guys with weak, tremulous voices? {#Eyes}
Posted 15 years ago by crockydile    [ Reply ]
 ercasul wrote:
love sufjan's voice.  it's wistful.   When was the last time you could associate the word 'wistful' with Illinois?
 
Right after you could associate it with Michigan.

I live in Illinois...but Sufjan seems to have not bothered to actually visit before he wrote this tedious, pretentious droning mush.


Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
love sufjan's voice.  it's wistful.   When was the last time you could associate the word 'wistful' with Illinois?
Posted 15 years ago by ercasul    [ Reply ]
First verse:

I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Ring the bell and call or write us
I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Can you call the Captain Clitus?
Logan, Grant, and Ronald Reagan
In the grave with Xylophagan
Do you know the ghost community?
Sound the horn, address the city

Dunno what the hell is goin on here, I like it though :).
Posted 15 years ago by mybaldbird    [ Reply ]
Ahhh Sufjan! Another artist that brings out the whining haters—but Bill continues to play anyway. I LOVE when he does that!

Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
Four for the song; ten for the title.
Posted 16 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
 vandal wrote:

as
a
mat-
-ter
of
fact
this
sick-
-ens
me
I
feel
like
purg-
-ing
my
guts
 
kill
kill
kill
me
now
i
can't
stand
this
song
any-
more
jumping
off
of
bridge
bye
mean
cruel
world

{#Drunk} 
Posted 16 years ago by netstv    [ Reply ]
mrrmt wrote:
best title ever. hands down.
I second that! Even if I don't like all his songs, I always find them interesting in content.


Posted 16 years ago by smilestoomuch    [ Reply ]
 Laptopdog wrote:

Not.
Me.
I.
Am.
Not
Digging.
This.
No.
Not.
Me.
I.
Am.
Not.
Digging.
This.

 
as
a
mat-
-ter
of
fact
this
sick-
-ens
me
I
feel
like
purg-
-ing
my
guts


Posted 16 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
 gandalfbmg wrote:
dig the background chanting chicks......
 
Not.
Me.
I.
Am.
Not
Digging.
This.
No.
Not.
Me.
I.
Am.
Not.
Digging.
This.

Posted 16 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
tclodes wrote:
Know what I do when I hear something I don't like on RP? I rate it accordingly and move on.


dude you are just way too mature for this board. . . 




Posted 16 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Know what I do when I hear something I don't like on RP? I rate it accordingly and move on.
Posted 16 years ago by tclodes    [ Reply ]
Thanks for keeping this one around Bill.
Posted 16 years ago by RcF    [ Reply ]
Awesome!
Posted 16 years ago by coolpeople_rule    [ Reply ]
dig the background chanting chicks, but somebody ditch Sufjan's verses...
Posted 16 years ago by gandalfbmg    [ Reply ]
Just when I thought this was pulled from the rotation. :(
Posted 16 years ago by jlind    [ Reply ]
1wolfy wrote:
Nice vocal work..good style
...and a nice 'overall-groove', if you know what I mean...
Posted 16 years ago by prickelpit96    [ Reply ]
Nice vocal work..good style
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
...wowsa - this is the first time i've heard sufjan on radio paradise in ages...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Sufjan Stevens - They Are Night Zombies!! They ... Nada Surf - Your Legs Grow Let's settle this dispute. The Nada Surf song is great, but Sufjan Stevens is better.
Posted 16 years ago by ekalvi    [ Reply ]
best title ever. hands down.
Posted 17 years ago by mrrmt    [ Reply ]
6 7
Posted 17 years ago by fingerpin    [ Reply ]
Nice to hear Sufjan back in the rotation - has the statute of limitations passed, after the heavy play when the album came out?
Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
UltraNurd wrote:
Sufjan is growing on me, in general. It's hard not to laugh at a song title this long :oD.
Check out the rest of the song titles on the album. This is neither the longest nor the funniest. It is, however, my favorite song from the album.
Posted 17 years ago by alanthecowboy    [ Reply ]
Hey Bill, thanks for playing some of the good old stuff I started listening to RP for. I have been hearing a lot of Sufjan, Flaming Lips, Neko Case, etc... recently. After taking a little bit of a break, it is good to hear these again.
Posted 17 years ago by GChevy410    [ Reply ]
Well that\'s new to me. Folk singer versus Dahleks.
Posted 17 years ago by folkalta    [ Reply ]
silverrain wrote:
fine song, give it another year and you will understand
exactly ... "should i like this? ... will others not like me if i do? ..."
Posted 17 years ago by themotion    [ Reply ]
Sufjan is growing on me, in general. It\'s hard not to laugh at a song title this long :oD.
Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
fine song, give it another year and you will understand
Posted 17 years ago by silverrain    [ Reply ]
You guys are all crazy. This is a great song!
Posted 17 years ago by ekeyte    [ Reply ]
The album cover is so crappy yet so awesome!
Posted 17 years ago by TimeWaster    [ Reply ]
shakitten wrote:
Ya know, the more I hear from this kid, the more I'm convinced that he's just #@$%^ in the head. And not in a good way. PLEASE throw this album out! The cheezy title should have been clue enough.
The title rules!
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
Ya know, the more I hear from this kid, the more I'm convinced that he's just #@$%^ in the head. And not in a good way. PLEASE throw this album out! The cheezy title should have been clue enough.
Posted 17 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
This is quite intriguing and different... I like this... I give it a 7
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
UGHGHGHGHGHGH!!! No MORE PLEASE!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by netstv    [ Reply ]
I've given Sufjan more than his fair share of listens, but I just can't warm up to him, he's officially on the mute list.
Posted 17 years ago by JonnyNismo    [ Reply ]
So different!
Posted 17 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
accordionista wrote:
I'm trying to like him, but this song has set me back some.
Oddly, this is the only one I can really stand.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Ahhhh!
Posted 17 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
I'm trying to like him, but this song has set me back some.
Posted 17 years ago by accordionista    [ Reply ]
amandabarrett wrote:
Sufjan provides a rich and beautiful melodic tapestry of song. Thanks Sufjan.
Yes, quite.
Posted 17 years ago by Diamond_Dog    [ Reply ]
Small doses of this work best.
Posted 17 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
laozilover wrote:
OK, this picture gets a thumbs up. Overall, Sufjan is incredibly twee, and I just can't get past his twee-ness.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Cruithne3753 wrote:
for the title... Unfortunately, only for the actual song...
Actually, I quite like the chanting backing vocals so I'll bump it up to a
Posted 17 years ago by Cruithne3753    [ Reply ]
Sufjan provides a rich and beautiful melodic tapestry of song. Thanks Sufjan.
Posted 17 years ago by amandabarrett    [ Reply ]
"They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh!" And this is the song they use to kill the rest of us.
Posted 17 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
for the title... Unfortunately, only for the actual song...
Posted 17 years ago by Cruithne3753    [ Reply ]
ploafmaster wrote:
Well this is one of them artists that sure brings out the haters...sorta like any Reggae on RP...
Yeah. I don't get it. Then again, lots of people here seem to be unsupportive of new, younger artists. Go listen to your classic rock stations, I say. I think Sufjan's great.
Posted 17 years ago by suddenchad    [ Reply ]
Why is there such hatred for such a talented musician?
Posted 17 years ago by queenofthenerds    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
Waybo wrote:
Sucks. 2.
Well said.
Posted 17 years ago by Daniel_Pittenger    [ Reply ]
Sucks. 2.
Posted 17 years ago by Waybo    [ Reply ]
Verpeiler wrote:
It's growing on me 6
Me too, but the prescription my Dr. provided has arrested it. Thankfully. 3.
Posted 17 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
I don't see what's wrong with this song. It's great.
Posted 17 years ago by ekeyte    [ Reply ]
Sufjan rocks my world. to all the Sufjan haters!
Posted 17 years ago by Darkmatter    [ Reply ]
vandal wrote:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Posted 17 years ago by ekeyte    [ Reply ]
It's growing on me 6
Posted 17 years ago by Verpeiler    [ Reply ]
Well this is one of them artists that sure brings out the haters...sorta like any Reggae on RP...
Posted 17 years ago by ploafmaster    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
CAN'T STAND THIS.. PLEASE NEVER AGAIN!
Posted 17 years ago by tony620d    [ Reply ]
I've heard this about 5-6 times on RP now, and each time it's followed by Shivaree - Goodnight Moon. Nice combo, but why every time?
Posted 17 years ago by MJMJ    [ Reply ]
WTF, WTF, WTF, WTF, WTF????????
Posted 17 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Make. It. Stop.
Posted 17 years ago by tapatia    [ Reply ]
BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAAAAAAAAAD BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAD, BAAAAAAAAAD STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, YOU'RE KILLING ME!!!!
Posted 17 years ago by kaviksdad    [ Reply ]
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Awful. Just awful.
Posted 17 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
I like it. Makes me want to hear Jesus Etc. by Wilco...
Posted 17 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
Awful. Just awful.
Posted 17 years ago by Odyzzeuz    [ Reply ]
The first seconds I thought I heard Vienna Teng - Blue Caravan and settled in for some coziness. Then Sufjan came on... blah :P
Posted 17 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Is it just me, or was that an unusually awkward segue from MC 900 Ft. Jesus?
Posted 17 years ago by JohnErle    [ Reply ]
optimusprime10 wrote:
this song makes me think kanye west. je. sus. walks.
Posted 17 years ago by sunnysoul03    [ Reply ]
this song makes me think kanye west. je. sus. walks.
Posted 17 years ago by optimusprime10    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Andreee    [ Reply ]
Ah, that's better
Posted 17 years ago by liser    [ Reply ]
horstman wrote:
Simple cure. Go out and buy the album.
You got a point there.
Posted 17 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
hippiechick wrote:
Haven't heard this lately and frankly, I miss my dose of Sufjan!
Simple cure. Go out and buy the album.
Posted 17 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
I find the lyrics haunting and evocative, and Sufjan Steven's style artistically demanding, bringing me to pay attention. I feel of this song that is something one can easily shelve as backdrop, unless one listens, then it grasps and won't let go. I've become one of the latter. I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Ring the bell and call or write us I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Can you call the Captain Clitus? Logan, Grant, and Ronald Reagan In the grave with Xylophagan Do you know the ghost community? Sound the horn, address the city (Who will save it? Dedicate it? Who will praise it? Commemorate it for you?) We are awaken with the ax Night of the Living Dead at last They have begun to shake the dirt Wiping their shoulders from the earth I know, I know the nations past I know, I know they rust at last They tremble with the nervous thought Of having been, at last, forgot I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Ring the bell and call or write us I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Can you call the Captain Clitus? B-U-D-A! Caledonia! S-E-C-O-R! Magnolia! B-I-R-D-S! And Kankakee! Evansville and Parker City Speaking their names, they shake the flag Waking the earth, it lifts and lags We see a thousand rooms to rest Helping us taste the bite of death I know, I know my time has passed I'm not so young, I'm not so fast I tremble with the nervous thought Of having been, at last, forgot I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Ring the bell and call or write us I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Can you call the Captain Clitus? Comer and Potato Peelers! G-R-E-E-N ridge! Reeders M-C-V-E-Y! And Horace! E-N-O-S! Start the chorus Corn and Farms and Tombs in Lemmon Sailor Springs and all things feminine Centerville and Old Metropolis Shawneetownn, you trade and topple us I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Hold your tongue and don't divide us I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S! Land of God, you hold and guide us
Posted 18 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
weird. I really can't decide how I feel about this song...I mean, I'll give it points for originality, and it's kind of catchy, but....hmm, serious ambivilance.
Posted 18 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
This might be better if she would take one deep breath and sing the whole thing out at once.
Posted 18 years ago by islander    [ Reply ]
Another song that would be good for a soundtrack...or simply just biting your shoulders!...There are references to "Tasting" on this also...Maybe it's a song for dancing around a buffet table...going from one item to the next...Putting food on yer plate or in your mouth as ya dance around to that beat.
Posted 18 years ago by btrax    [ Reply ]
s u f y a w n
Posted 18 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
hippiechick wrote:
I think people who call other people pretentious tend to be prententious themselves.
Moi? Dunno, could be. It is a perceived charactertistic, afterall. Maybe even you too?
Posted 18 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
ScottN wrote:
Pretentious can certainly "be in the eye of the beholder". I am aware of its meaning. And yes, I will still characterize most of what I have heard from Sufyawn with that term.
I think people who call other people pretentious tend to be prententious themselves.
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
ploafmaster wrote:
How about the people who overuse the word pretentious, as if they knew the motivations of the musician?
Pretentious can certainly "be in the eye of the beholder". I am aware of its meaning. And yes, I will still characterize most of what I have heard from Sufyawn with that term.
Posted 18 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this lately and frankly, I miss my dose of Sufjan!
Posted 18 years ago by hippiechick    [ Reply ]
Rest Assured SufYawn!! Your Drivel Still Sucks!! You Have Come Back From Muteland!! Ahhhh!
Posted 18 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
brokemusician wrote:
This stuff is brilliant, man. . . I'm diggin'. You dig?
Digging-digging...
Posted 18 years ago by Kerly    [ Reply ]
ploafmaster wrote:
How about the people who overuse the word pretentious, as if they knew the motivations of the musician?
I think we've discussed this before. One does not need to understand an artist's motivations to find his/her work pretentious. We can go round and round on this issue; it's a subjective qualification no matter which way you cut it. That said, would somebody care to explain what this song has to do with the state of Illinois? (Aside from spelling out the name in the chorus.) Is this really representative of the state of Illinois in any way, aside from all the name-dropping in the lyrics? I mean zombies aren't just an Illinois phenomenon, right?
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
I'll grant that he does have a musical ear. But his fey, breathy delivery is just grating.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
OK, That was truly awful!!! 'nuff said.
Posted 18 years ago by Walrus_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
Marr wrote:
Is that Enya singing the chorus? Snark
Nah - she doesn't "do" real music!
Posted 18 years ago by highwindows    [ Reply ]
ScottN wrote:
How about people who have thought about the song and still think it's pretentious pablum?
How about the people who overuse the word pretentious, as if they knew the motivations of the musician?
Posted 18 years ago by ploafmaster    [ Reply ]
buckskin wrote:
I find this tune rather interesting. I'm a new member & have read, with bemusement, many of the postings for various tunes. While I am not a fan-boy of EVERYTHING, I am definitely eclectically oriented. I like the mix here. A W-I-D-E variety. RP: Screw the self-righteous, elitist, wanna-be Bohemian, pseudo-artsy snobs. Keep doin' whatcher doin'!!! It inspires dialog and may get some people to THINK!!! A concept they may NOT be too familiar with.
How about people who have thought about the song and still think it's pretentious pablum?
Posted 18 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
I find this tune rather interesting. I'm a new member & have read, with bemusement, many of the postings for various tunes. While I am not a fan-boy of EVERYTHING, I am definitely eclectically oriented. I like the mix here. A W-I-D-E variety. RP: Screw the self-righteous, elitist, wanna-be Bohemian, pseudo-artsy snobs. Keep doin' whatcher doin'!!! It inspires dialog and may get some people to THINK!!! A concept they may NOT be too familiar with.
Posted 18 years ago by buckskin    [ Reply ]
Like it or don't the guy (sufjan?)has instigated a conversation here and made all of us do something - even if it's to bitch. Kuddo's NOT being bubblegum pop. and did I mention followed up by The Good The Bad and The UglY ... nice contrast
Posted 18 years ago by slaskey    [ Reply ]
This stuff is brilliant, man. . . I'm diggin'. You dig?
Posted 18 years ago by brokemusician    [ Reply ]