The title “Fourth of July” might make you think of fireworks and parades. But Sufjan Stevens had something else in mind when he wrote this song.

His 2015 track uses the holiday as a setting for exploring grief and saying goodbye. The song caught listeners off guard with its raw honesty and quiet delivery.

It became one of his most discussed works, not for celebration, but for how it handles loss.

This article breaks down the song’s background, shares verified details, and points you toward similar music. If you’re here looking for answers about this track, you’re in the right place.

About the Song

“Fourth of July” tackles grief and mortality with quiet honesty. The song reflects on losing a parent, using sparse instrumentation and whispered vocals to create an intimate atmosphere.

Stevens wrote it after his mother’s death, processing complicated feelings about their relationship. The track doesn’t offer easy answers or comfort.

Instead, it sits with sadness and accepts the finality of loss. Listeners often describe feeling moved by its raw vulnerability and gentle approach to heavy themes.

Fourth of July Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens

Here are the complete Lyrics to “Fourth of July” for fans who want to read along or understand the song better. The lyrics capture the conversation between Stevens and his mother during her final moments.

Verse 1

The evil spread like a fever ahead
It was night when you died, my firefly
What could I have said to raise you from the dead?
Oh, could I be the sky on the Fourth of July?

Chorus

“Well, you do enough talk
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Tell me, what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
We’re all gonna die”

Post-Chorus

Ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh

Verse 2

Sitting at the bed with the halo on your head
Was it all a disguise, like junior high?
Where everything was fiction, future, and prediction
Now, where am I? My fading supply

Chorus

“Did you get enough love, my little dove?
Why do you cry?
And I’m sorry I left, but it was for the best
Though it never felt right?
My little Versailles.”

Post-Chorus

Ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh

Verse 3

The hospital asked, “Should the body be cast?”
Before I say goodbye, my star in the sky
Such a funny thought to wrap you up in cloth
Do you find it all right, my dragonfly?

Chorus

“Shall we look at the moon, my little loon?
Why do you cry?
Make the most of your life, while it is rife
While it is light
Well, you do enough talk
My little hawk, why do you cry?
Tell me, what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
Or the Fourth of July?
We’re all gonna die”

Post-Chorus

Ooh-ooh, ooh
We’re all gonna die
Ooh-ooh, ooh
We’re all gonna die

Outro

We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die
We’re all gonna die

Songs Similar to Fourth of July

If this song struck a chord with you, these five tracks offer similar emotional depth and quiet introspection. Each one handles heavy themes with care and restraint.

• Death With Dignity: Sufjan Stevens Another track from the same album that deals with mourning and memory through soft guitar and honest lyrics.
• Holocene: Bon IverA meditation on feeling small in the world, built around fragile vocals and minimal arrangements that create space for reflection.
• I Will Follow You Into the Dark: Death Cab for Cutie. An acoustic ballad about love persisting beyond death, stripped down to just voice and guitar.
• Motion Picture Soundtrack: Radiohead A haunting closer about acceptance and letting go, featuring organ and strings that build emotional tension.
• Youth: Daughter A somber look at growing up and losing innocence, carried by melancholic guitar work and whispered vocals.

Artists Similar to Sufjan Stevens

Fans of Stevens’ confessional songwriting and folk arrangements will find common ground with these artists. They share his approach to turning personal stories into moving music.

• Bon Iver
  Genre: Indie Folk
  Top Album: For Emma, Forever Ago

• Iron & Wine
  Genre: Folk Rock
  Top Album: Our Endless Numbered Days

• Elliott Smith
  Genre: Indie Folk
  Top Album: Either Or

• Phoebe Bridgers
  Genre: Indie Folk
  Top Album: Punisher

• Nick Drake
  Genre: Folk
  Top Album: Pink Moon

Looking Ahead

“Fourth of July” remains a powerful song because it doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions. Stevens created something honest and vulnerable, turning personal grief into music others can connect with.

The stripped-down folk sound lets the message breathe without distraction. Years after its release, people still search for these lyrics, wanting to understand or sit with the feelings it brings up.

If this song moved you, explore the similar tracks and artists listed above. They offer the same kind of thoughtful, reflective listening experience.

What’s your take on “Fourth of July”? Share your thoughts in the comments below.