“Predatory Wasp” chronicles Sufjan’s romantic relationship with a male friend during a Methodist summer camp he attended in his youth.

In a 2017 interview with Salon, he described it as being “an awakening,”… Read More Thinking outrageously I write in cursive

I hide in my bed with the lights on the floor

Wearing three layers of coats and leg warmers

I see my own breath on the face of the door

Oh I am not quite sleeping

Oh I am fast in bed

There on the wall in the bedroom creeping

I see a wasp with her wings outstretched

North of Savanna we swim in the Palisades

I come out wearing my brother's red hat

There on his shoulder my best friend is bit seven times

He runs washing his face in his hands

Oh how I meant to tease him

Oh how I meant no harm

Touching his back with my hand I kiss him

I see the wasp on the length of my arm

Oh great sights upon this state! Hallelu-

Wonders bright, and rivers, lake. Hallelu-

We were in love. We were in love

Palisades! Palisades!

I can wait. I can wait

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Trail of Tears and Horseshoe Lake. Hallelu-

We were in love. We were in love

Palisades! Palisades!

I can wait. I can wait

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Trusting things beyond mistake. Hallelu-

[Horn breakdown]

We were in love. We were in love

Palisades! Palisades!

I can wait. I can wait

We were in love. We were in love

Palisades! Palisades!

I can wait. I can wait

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Lamb of God, we sound the horn. Hallelu-

We were in love. We were in love

Palisades! Palisades!

I can wait. I can wait

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Unto us your ghost is born. Hallelu-

I can't explain the state that I'm in

The state of my heart, he was my best friend

Into the car, from the back seat

Oh, admiration in falling asleep

All of my powers, day after day

I can tell you, we swaggered and swayed

Deep in the tower, the prairies below

I can tell you— the telling gets old

Terrible sting and terrible storm

I can tell you the day we were born

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Oh great sights upon this state! Hallelu-

My friend is gone, he ran away

I can tell you, I love him each day

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Wonders bright, and rivers, lake. Hallelu-

Though we have sparred, wrestled and raged

I can tell you I love him each day

[Backing - Simultaneous to above]

Trail of Tears and Horseshoe Lake. Hallelu-

Terrible sting, terrible storm

I can tell you...

[Backing - Simultaneous to final stanza]

We were in love. We were in love

Palisades! Palisades!

I can wait. I can wait

[Backing - Simultaneous to final stanza]

Trusting things beyond mistake. Hallelu-