In "On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)," Sufjan Stevens pairs a holiday plea for forgiveness with a restless confession of doubt. He calls himself misanthropic, admitting he sees the worst in things, yet a friend insists the Earth can still get better in the end. The song moves between dreams of everlasting light and waking darkness, between earthly riches and the certainty of death. Christmas becomes a moment to ask pardon for careless words while still distracted by fear, holding onto a fragile hope that things might improve.
On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better) Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens
On this Christmas
I ask forgiveness
For all the funny things I’ve said and done
Though I admit I am
A misanthropic man
I only see the worst in things I guess
For in my dreams I might
See everlasting life
But when I wake I still see darkness
For in the future tense
There will be recompense
For all the funny things we’ve said and done
Oh will it get much worse my friend?
You said no matter what it’s worth my friend
You said don’t put it past the Earth to get better in the end
And you may find your worth
In riches on this earth
It never hurts to try I guess
But all the treasures laid
The hidden pleasures paid
They cannot keep you from your death
Though I believe in light
The righteous afterlife
I’m still distracted by this darkness
And on this Christmas
I ask forgiveness
For all the funny things I’ve said and done
Oh will it get much worse my friend?
You said no matter what it’s worth my friend
You said don’t put it past the Earth to get better in the end
