“…they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

Sufjan Steven’s breathtaking anthem, “Star of Wonder,” begins from a place of amazement. It leads you through the galaxy soaring past the clouds, comets, planets, and stars. Its one-minute intro serves as a tour guide through the solar system that allows the listener to view the celestial bodies from up close. The song is about people who are lost and in search of an answer. Some guided spirit that can lead them in the right direction, however as the song begins, it becomes evident that it’s not coming from the perspective of anyone on Earth, but from someplace above.

“Star of Wonder” has always been a stand-out for me in Songs for Christmas, probably because of its blistering intro and powerful crescendo. In the beginning stages of my love for this song, it’s safe to say, I appreciated it solely from a musical perspective, not necessarily focusing (or even paying attention to) the lyrics. Because the song has the word “star” in the title, I assumed it was about the Three Wise Men and their story of locating baby Jesus by following a singular star in the sky. Now don’t get me wrong, I do think the song is about the Three Wise Men (or the Magi, as they are named in the Bible). However, I think the song is about much more than just the story of the three wise men. I believe Sufjan is trying to tell a more ambiguous tale with a universal message, using the story of the Three Wise Men as more of a reference point.

As the first verse begins, the opening lines (beautifully sung by Sufjan and his backup vocalist) set the scene: “I call you / From the comet's cradle / I found you / Trembling by yourself.” There are a couple of things that fascinate me about these lines. For one, it is told from a first-person perspective, but it’s not made clear who is speaking. This allows the listener to interpret the song in their own way. Who is saying this? To me, I read these lines as a guiding spirit from above. The other thing I love about these lines is Sufjan’s use of singular pronouns: I, you, yourself. This is what tells me the song isn’t just about the Three Wise Men like I once thought. This is also about a singular character, hopeless, lost, and desperate for answers.

One of my all-time favorite Sufjan Stevens songs is the heartbreaking piano ballad, “Fourth of July,” from the 2015 album Carrie & Lowell. In that song, the words are spoken from two different perspectives: Sufjan and his mother. The song uses each stanza as a conversation (to me, an imaginary conversation Sufjan has in his mind) between Sufjan and his mother in the hospital room just before her death. Lyrically, it’s one of my favorite songs of all time, and I like to believe “Star of Wonder” is using the same storytelling technique. The difference here is that instead of being told from the perspectives of two different people, it’s being told from the perspective of a person and a spirit.

As the second verse comes in, it’s made clear that someone else speaking: “Oh, conscience / Where will you carry me? / I found you / Star of terrifying effigies.” This is coming from the person down on Earth talking back to the spirit. After the second verse, the chorus changes its pronouns from I to we. “When the night falls / We see the star of wonder / Wonderful night falls / We see you / We see you” This stanza is what connects the story of The Three Wise Men, which I believe the pronouns “we” are referring to. Maybe the person down on Earth is thinking about that tale, and that’s what allows them to keep searching.

After the chorus, the bridge comes in. Now, this is not only one of my favorite moments in Songs for Christmas, but in Sufjan’s entire catalog of songs!

One of the best feelings in the world is when you finally find the thing you have been searching for your whole life. This could be as simple as discovering your new favorite artist (like Sufjan!) or something even grander like meeting the love of your life for the first time. Whatever that feeling is, Sufjan captures it perfectly at the start of the bridge as he sings, “I see the stars coming down there / Coming down there to the yard / I see the stars coming down there / Coming down there to my heart.” These are perfect Sufjan lines; both visually and poetically beautiful. Just like the Three Wise Men were overjoyed when they saw the star shining above baby Jesus, the narrator in the second verse, finally finds what they have been searching for their whole life.

These lines are then repeated ten times! It’s an epic crescendo of swirling piano, sleigh bells, drums, and even ambient sound effects that give it an almost sci-fi feel. The music gets grander and grander and soon enough trombone and trumpets kick in. This is one of my favorite Sufjan moments of all time. I’ve always been a fan of songs that have extended outros with repeated lines; think Death Cab for Cutie’s “Transatlanticism” or Beach House’s “Take Care.” There’s just something so uplifting and inspiring about this kind of song. If done right, it can be a transcendent experience, and Sufjan’s “Star of Wonder” is one of the best examples of this I’ve ever heard.

Sufjan, as an artist, is often known for writing “depressing” songs, but at the same time, he also has these very inspirational and hopeful songs. “Star of Wonder” has always been a personal favorite Sufjan song for me. Whenever I am feeling lost or confused I can play this song, or maybe even read the Visit of the Magi from the Bible to regain hope and clarity. To anyone who is reading this, I hope you one day find what you are looking for. And if you’re in a state of doubt or confusion, I believe a song like this one can grant you the hope to keep searching.