 Songs In Red & Gray (2001) [ larger cover art ] |
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The reproach in your daughter's most beautiful face
made me wonder just how she could know
of that something that happened between you and me
so much more than a long time ago
Her mother, I can see, lives within her still
cause she looked at me with her eyes
though I had only just met her right then
I feel that she peeled back my guilty disguise
Did i break the thread, or did you break the thread?
well at this point we could ask who cares
as for the promises broken and frayed
it's 19 years late for repairs
The grey pewter vase held the deep red rose,
one piece of coral shone white,
by the brass candlestick near your red velvet coat,
is everything I can recall of one night
Will you please tell me why I remember these things
after all of this time, I don't know
i must have left all those feelings inside
cause that year I had no courage to show
Was i the name you could never pronounce?
or did i even figure at all?
all of this happened before she was born
did i shadow her young pencil marks on the wall
Still i am sure i was only but one
of a number who darkened that door
of your home and your hearth and your family and wife
who'd been darkened so often before
Oh, the red leaf looks to the hard gray stone
to each other, they know what they mean
somewhere, their future is still yet to come
in ways that are yet as of now unforeseen
made me wonder just how she could know
of that something that happened between you and me
so much more than a long time ago
Her mother, I can see, lives within her still
cause she looked at me with her eyes
though I had only just met her right then
I feel that she peeled back my guilty disguise
Did i break the thread, or did you break the thread?
well at this point we could ask who cares
as for the promises broken and frayed
it's 19 years late for repairs
The grey pewter vase held the deep red rose,
one piece of coral shone white,
by the brass candlestick near your red velvet coat,
is everything I can recall of one night
Will you please tell me why I remember these things
after all of this time, I don't know
i must have left all those feelings inside
cause that year I had no courage to show
Was i the name you could never pronounce?
or did i even figure at all?
all of this happened before she was born
did i shadow her young pencil marks on the wall
Still i am sure i was only but one
of a number who darkened that door
of your home and your hearth and your family and wife
who'd been darkened so often before
Oh, the red leaf looks to the hard gray stone
to each other, they know what they mean
somewhere, their future is still yet to come
in ways that are yet as of now unforeseen
| tulfan (Still in SE MI) | Posted: Nov 29, 2012 - 07:23 The track "Soap and Water" from this effort is stunning... |
| gillespp (Portland, OR) | Posted: Sep 27, 2012 - 11:40 gjeeg wrote: omg. This is about the most haunting song I have heard in years. Reading the lyrics afterward, I get the chills. me too |
| Kimberly8 (Washington, DC) | Posted: Mar 21, 2012 - 20:47 bitbanger wrote: What a great comment. Right on the mark! Heartbreaking yes. But the love goes on unbroken in this music as it is in my soul. |
| Papernapkin (Mountain View, CA) | Posted: Oct 15, 2011 - 09:33 "Cause she looked at me with her eyes" ... as opposed to her ears? |
| bitbanger (Upper West Side) | Posted: Feb 05, 2011 - 09:37 dogpound wrote: listening to her is like failing in love and having your heart broken at the same time What a great comment. Right on the mark! |
| dogpound (the island on which I belong) | Posted: Dec 04, 2010 - 11:25 dogpound wrote: listening to her is like failing in love and having your heart broken at the same time wow, I can't believe I wrote that. How my life has changed since. |
| gjeeg (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Jun 14, 2009 - 08:09 omg. This is about the most haunting song I have heard in years. Reading the lyrics afterward, I get the chills. |
| kyleminor (San Francisco) | Posted: May 13, 2009 - 14:01 Somewhere their future is still yet to come in ways that are yet as of now unforseen. Classic SV. Awesome! |
| greyfin10 (Panama City, FL) | Posted: Mar 11, 2009 - 11:25 Its the daughter of that wife she meets ("her mother's eyes live within her still", the wife is dead now). Its a song of guilt for the affair... No one found out, no one ever knew, but she feels guilt over the act and wonders wether he feels the guilt she feels over this... she suspects he doesn't. All this I think I get. The verse I don't get is this one: And the red leaf it looks to the hard gray stone To each other, they know what they mean Somewhere, their future is still yet to come In ways that are yet as of now unforeseen Somehow I think she's the leaf and he's the hard gray stone... but... not sure. I always love her imagery. hippiechick wrote: This song is about meeting her lover's wife, after many years. You can feel the feelings in her words and music. |
| gutboy (hanging out in) | Posted: Feb 07, 2009 - 21:41 dogpound wrote: listening to her is like failing in love and having your heart broken at the same time she smirked goodbye as she sealed me in the vault |
| TheKing2 (outside the USofA) | Posted: Dec 06, 2008 - 15:55 Clicking " < click for info & purchase > " now. awesome |
| MrKite (An Isiltir) | Posted: Nov 05, 2008 - 03:16 dogpound wrote: listening to her is like failing in love and having your heart broken at the same time What a wonderful description - I love it. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Oct 04, 2008 - 13:05 odd style - 8. |
| nigelr (Coffs Harbour, Australia) | Posted: Oct 24, 2007 - 03:27 radiojunkie wrote: Suzanne Vega can do no wrong in my book.
Nor in mine. |
| dogpound (yes sur, big sur) | Posted: Aug 22, 2007 - 08:19 listening to her is like failing in love and having your heart broken at the same time |
| hippiechick (let me out!) | Posted: Aug 22, 2007 - 08:17 This song is about meeting her lover's wife, after many years. You can feel the feelings in her words and music. |
| bobbyghanouj (Medford NJ) | Posted: Jun 20, 2007 - 10:31 pretty |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Apr 02, 2007 - 21:20 brandog wrote: I'm just saying that the negativity that bears such fruit gets tiring after awhile. It sucks to see the poet slowly die, alone, in the rain, of her own free will. Suzanne, on the other hand, seems to be in the same old rut of loss and less. |
| okobojicat (Dreaming of the Moravian Highlands) | Posted: Mar 02, 2007 - 16:04 Footbiscuit wrote: She's playing in Prague tonight and I'm dog-sitting... oops.
Ah well, she's been here twice this year, but it's nice little theatre she's playing in. Maybe next year. I can't convey the envy. Oh how I miss Praha. |
| Mari (île de lesvos) | Posted: Mar 02, 2007 - 16:04 Ah, poetry in motion!  excellent stuff! |
| kyleminor (San Francisco) | Posted: Feb 14, 2007 - 11:52 This song is pure Vega all the way. The final lines are my favorite: "Somewhere, their future is still yet to come/ in ways that are yet, as of now, unforeseen." Who else could write a lyric like that? |
| go_ski_mully (lakeside n Muskoka) | Posted: Jan 31, 2007 - 05:11 Shesdifferent wrote: However, Alanis did what all of two albums and now she is doing Jagged Little Pill Unplugged 10 years later? Come on....I don't consider that growing away from it. That's more like creative crash with no burn.
...I have agree whole-heatedly with that Alanis is in the category of industry created caricature (with IMHO no great talent to speak of) where-as Vega is at least a bonafide artist exploring and writing and performing and still occasionally producing great work. |
| Footbiscuit (Prague, CZ) | Posted: Oct 06, 2006 - 09:10 She's playing in Prague tonight and I'm dog-sitting... oops. Ah well, she's been here twice this year, but it's nice little theatre she's playing in. Maybe next year. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Oct 06, 2006 - 09:09 Top of the mark for this song....she's brilliant |
| kgish (Lost in the Netherlands) | Posted: Aug 23, 2006 - 11:01 I knew that this was her the moment I first heard the song, right away and sounds very excellent. |
| kilroyjoe3 (New York City) | Posted: Aug 23, 2006 - 11:00 A bit too annoyingly Sean Colvin. |
| hippiechick | Posted: Mar 30, 2006 - 08:10 This song always moves me, even if I don't listen to the words. SV is a real poet. |
| Sarcasm-hime | Posted: Mar 15, 2006 - 15:01 I don't get the people complaining that Suzanne's always gloomy - did you listen to "Nine Objects Of Desire"? There's plenty of sweet and non-gloomy music on that one. And after a messy divorce I think she can be forgiven for some angst and gloom. :P |
| crockydile | Posted: Jan 30, 2006 - 12:21 This is the most poetic description of the feelings of "the other woman" that I've ever heard. The line about being a shadow of the child's writing on the wall...damn. Garrison Keillor would do well to read this stuff instead of poems about garden hoses on his Writer's Almanac. |
| Danny_G (www.frappr.com/radioparadise) | Posted: Jan 15, 2006 - 21:21 |
| nohopenofearnoname | Posted: Nov 18, 2005 - 15:52 :puke: |
| veegez (Minnesoter) | Posted: Oct 20, 2005 - 12:18 Roverfish wrote: Likeable tune, and the album is probably her best work since Solitude Standing. P.S. I see no comparison to Alanis. Suzanne's a legitimate singer song-writer. Exactly right. |
| Tux (The Netherlands) | Posted: Sep 21, 2005 - 00:00 I like it. Very recognizable. Don't know weather I like her early works better or her later stuff. In the early days it was realy new, now it is comfortable. |
| Huey (Netherlands) | Posted: Aug 22, 2005 - 07:37 Phew..all very profound.. Can I just say... I like it?? :nodhead: |
| Roverfish (Tucson, AZ - Thanks for visiting, please drive through!) | Posted: Aug 07, 2005 - 10:39 Good discussion. Interesting note: Mitchell Froom, the ex-hubby who ran off with Vonda Shepard, not only produced Suzanne on 99.9'F and Nine Objects but also Crowded House (Neil Finn follows this tune). This album marked her first original work post-divorce and a number of other personal changes/events. As to the gloomy music, she was a folk-influenced singer with an urban upbringing who saw Lou Reed in concert and knew that's what she wanted to do. I don't think it's so much that she flew the red flag of fatalism or self-pity as she wrote songs about tragic subjects (e.g. "Luka" about child abuse). Don't shoot the messenger. Likeable tune, and the album is probably her best work since Solitude Standing. P.S. I see no comparison to Alanis. Suzanne's a legitimate singer song-writer. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Jul 08, 2005 - 21:17 brandog wrote: I'm just saying that the negativity that bears such fruit gets tiring after awhile. It sucks to see the poet slowly die, alone, in the rain, of her own free will. I'll go out on a limb here and compare Suzanne to Alanis Morisette in that Alanis' earlier writing was pretty sad and or angry, but she grew up, got therapy, smoked pot, whatever, and grew from it. Suzanne, on the other hand, seems to be in the same old rut of loss and less. I am lamenting this for her sake - a bit of compassion for a beautiful human spirit and an artist I deeply respect. As for Alanis, she was great when she was angry and it fueled her creativity, much like Fiona Apple. However, Alanis did what all of two albums and now she is doing Jagged Little Pill Unplugged 10 years later? Come on....I don't consider that growing away from it. That's more like creative crash with no burn. |
| (former member) (Right Here) | Posted: Jun 09, 2005 - 11:00 brandog wrote:
I've always thought Suzanne a wonderful performer / songwriter. I would probably have fallen in love with her if the red flags of despair and self-martyrdom did not fly so high through her lyrics - besides, she sounds like she's still complaining, 15 years, and she's no less unsatisfied... Poor Suzanne. shesdifferent wrote: Well if you had listened to this album it appears to be about the break up of her marriage-a complaint worth hearing in such poetic and wonderful melodies in my opinion!!!!!!! radiojunkie wrote: Suzanne Vega can do no wrong in my book. shesdifferent wrote: I whole heartedly agree!! This CD that this song comes from is a masterpiece. I'm just saying that the negativity that bears such fruit gets tiring after awhile. It sucks to see the poet slowly die, alone, in the rain, of her own free will. I'll go out on a limb here and compare Suzanne to Alanis Morisette in that Alanis' earlier writing was pretty sad and or angry, but she grew up, got therapy, smoked pot, whatever, and grew from it. Suzanne, on the other hand, seems to be in the same old rut of loss and less. I am lamenting this for her sake - a bit of compassion for a beautiful human spirit and an artist I deeply respect. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: May 25, 2005 - 19:02 brandog wrote: I've always thought Suzanne a wonderful performer / songwriter. I would probably have fallen in love with her if the red flags of despair and self-martyrdom did not fly so high through her lyrics - besides, she sounds like she's still complaining, 15 years, and she's no less unsatisfied... Poor Suzanne. Well if you had listened to this album it appears to be about the break up of her marriage-a complaint worth hearing in such poetic and wonderful melodies in my opinion!!!!!!! 
radiojunkie wrote: Suzanne Vega can do no wrong in my book.
I whole heartedly agree!! This CD that this song comes from is a masterpiece! |
| radiojunkie (a sleepy bordertown (NY/CT)) | Posted: Apr 11, 2005 - 20:59 Suzanne Vega can do no wrong in my book. |
| davveld (France) | Posted: Mar 13, 2005 - 10:43 Thanks RP to help me discovering Suzanne Vega... Now, I'm fan !   |
| ironlung (Montreal) | Posted: Jan 28, 2005 - 04:18 brandog wrote: I've always thought Suzanne a wonderful performer / songwriter. I would probably have fallen in love with her if the red flags of despair and self-martyrdom did not fly so high through her lyrics - besides, she sounds like she's still complaining, 15 years, and she's no less unsatisfied... Poor Suzanne. :-({|= :-({|= |
| (former member) (Right Here) | Posted: Dec 29, 2004 - 17:15 I've always thought Suzanne a wonderful performer / songwriter. I would probably have fallen in love with her if the red flags of despair and self-martyrdom did not fly so high through her lyrics - besides, she sounds like she's still complaining, 15 years, and she's no less unsatisfied... Poor Suzanne. |
| B-dub (Durham, NC) | Posted: Nov 15, 2004 - 08:49 great imagery in this song |
| Alexandra (Ohioville) | Posted: Nov 15, 2004 - 08:45 Pretty vocals, but too damn gloomy. And I'd probably like it more if it didn't remind me of the sadder aspects of a past relationship. :( |
| masterhead (Sacramento, Ca) | Posted: Nov 14, 2004 - 10:39 jdorn1 wrote: Thanks for playing this.
This eminds me what a great songwriter she is and what a smooth voice she has! Great song, it really Wowed me |
| Dais (Chicago) | Posted: Oct 02, 2004 - 07:52 I used to listen to Suzanne Vega a lot, but haven't lately. This has prompted me to pull out a CD or two again. Sweet. |
| jdorn1 (The land of Cheese) | Posted: Sep 17, 2004 - 13:02 Thanks for playing this. This eminds me what a great songwriter she is and what a smooth voice she has! |
| rulebritannia (Deep in the English countryside) | Posted: Sep 17, 2004 - 12:59 Sweet tune, but maybe not among the best on this excellent disk. |