Sufjan Stevens - The Lakes of Canada - A Take Away Show

I remember first watching this video when I was 15 years old, and I was absolutely obsessed. Now I’m 28 years old and still obsessed.

"I'm in awe of big songs, national anthems, rock opera, the Broadway musical. But what I always come back to, after the din and drum roll, is the small song that makes careful observations about everyday life. This is what makes the music by TIM so moving and profound. 'Lakes of Canada' creates an environment both terrifying and familiar using sensory language: incandescent bulbs and rowboats are made palpable by careful rhythms, unobtrusive rhyme schemes, and specificity of language" - sufjan

please don't ever delete this video, i come back to it every few years just to bask in the beauty

This is probably the most beautiful thing on the internet

I like how he says "Fuck! It's too cold!" and then in the next shot he's got a jacket. I don't know why but that made me giggle.

Almost 11 years later, and I’m back here again.

Anybody still watching in 2024? 😁

This video exists for more than 12 years and Youtube chooses to tell me about it now.... unbelievable

i remember my friend converted this to mp3 and then downloaded this to his ipod to show me on the way home from school one day because we both loved sufjan so much lol

thank you sufjan for toughing out the cold.  this is video is of immortal beauty and has brought me so much joy.

its been 11 years since i first cried listening to this, and since then I've changed changed career paths more times than i can count, found and lost love, lived in 4 different places and watched my kitty grow up into a fat old cat (bigger kitty...) but one thing hasn't changed. it still makes me cry. thanks sufjan

Je t'aime, Sufjan. 

It takes a lot for me to show this to someone.

I first heard this when I was 23. I’m 35 and it still has the same impact.

I just want to give him a big hug.

9 years later, still goosebumpin

A friend of mine introduced me to The Innocence Mission (the adorable Pennsylvania couple/High school sweethearts and friends who wrote this tune) ages ago. One day I’m looking for more of their music and this brilliant piece pops up leading me into a wondrous world of Sufjan, Shara, Over the Rhine (somehow), Rosie Thomas, Denison Witmer, the National, the Dessners, Mason Jar, St. Vincent, Fleet Foxes, Fr. John Misty and on and on and… To the flaming souls who can’t help but burn, Thank You! ❤️‍🔥

You know that feeling you get when hear a song for the first time and you get a tingly warm sensation and you suddenly for sure know that true love is possible and real and you have the dumbest grin on your face to prove it? Totally just felt it.

This is so hauntingly beautiful. I can't stop coming back to this video.

Look for me another day. I feel that I could change, I feel that I could change. There's a sudden joy that's like a fish, a moving light; I thought I saw it rowing on the lakes of Canada Oh laughing man, what have you won? Don't tell me what cannot be done. My little mouth, my winter lungs, don't tell me what can't be done. Walking in the circle of a flashlight someone starts to sing, to join in. Talk of loneliness in quiet voices. I am shy but you can reach me. Rowing on the lakes of Canada, rowing on the lakes of Canada. Oh laughing man, what have you won? Don't tell me what cannot be done. My little mouth, my winter lungs, don't tell me what can't be done. Look for me another time Give me another day I feel that I could change Rowing on the lakes of Canada