Ativan by Sufjan Stevens Song Info
“Ativan” is the seventh track from Sufjan Stevens' eighth studio album, The Ascension. Ativan, the title of this song, as well as often referenced in the lyrics, is a brand name of Lorazepam, another (benzodiazepine) drug (like Diazepam) prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia or sleep difficulty due to anxiety or stress. Throughout the lyrics of this song, Sufjan describes his sense of increasing anxiety and stress, and a turn towards Ativan to “tranquilize, sanitize and revise” him. Struggling to identify a greater plan or purpose, he resigns to “minding his own business” and “doing the best he can”. This echoes strongly with his quote on “hope”.