 Solitude Standing (1987) [ larger cover art ] |
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Musicbrainz DBMy name is Calypso and I have lived alone
I live on an island and I waken to the dawn
A long time ago I watched him struggle with the sea
I knew that he was drowning and I brought him into me
Now today come morning light
He sails away after one last night
I let him go
My name is Calypso
My garden overflows
Thick and wild and hidden is the sweetness there that grows
My hair blows long as I sing into the wind
I tell of nights where I could taste the salt on his skin
Salt of the waves and of tears
And while he pulled away
I kept him here for years
Now I let him go
My name is Calypso
I have let him go
In the dawn he sails away to be gone forever more
And the waves will take him in again
But he'll know their ways now
I will stand upon the shore
With a clean heart and my song in the wind
The sand may sting my feet and the sky will burn
It's a lonely time ahead
I do not ask him to return
I let him go
I let him go
| Stingray (NWO reloaded) | Posted: Jan 13, 2012 - 10:54 Her first album was a MASTERPIECE in a quality rarely found, this one (except Luka) and anything that followed was a step closer to her musical grave |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Dec 12, 2011 - 16:32 Perfect song for this rainy day.... Repost: I have to give this a 10, I have always loved this song, and Suzanne Vega's work...I cannot let it pass without raving about the brillance of this album, this song and many other Suzanne Vega compositions! RP I applaud you on this one! |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Aug 11, 2011 - 16:26 Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing, Live"Suzanne Vega's music, a brilliant mix of poetry and social activism defined her as an artist, resulting in a select fan base which took her message seriously. Her views of society and the human condition gave rise to a newer and more defined perception of life's struggles, individually and collectively." jiminy911 "After enjoying ‘Small Blue Thing', hit me with the most beautiful songs you can think of. It doesn't matter where you find their beauty; in sadness or in joy, whether it pours from the music, is enshrined in effective wordplay, or it's simply the image that either conjures up in your mind which is most beautiful of all (thinking of Leonard Cohen's "the sun pours down like honey" line, from ‘Suzanne', funnily enough; you'd be hard-pressed, though, to find better than." 5150ortiz
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| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Jul 08, 2011 - 05:51 Marley wrote: This song always makes me sad. How hard is it to let the one you love go because you know it's the right thing to do, while knowing how lonely you will be without them... Odysseus leaves and Calypso stands on the hot sand and watches him leave. It's an ancient heartbreak and a wonderful re-telling of this tale. |
| contractor07 (Ann Arbor Michigan) | Posted: Jan 31, 2011 - 13:53 "My Name is Luca" now "My Name is Calypso" , I mean seriously?
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| Jelani (Home of the freak, land of the vague) | Posted: Nov 29, 2010 - 14:16 Marley wrote: This song always makes me sad. How hard is it to let the one you love go because you know it's the right thing to do, while knowing how lonely you will be without them... Don't even want to think about it. |
| Jelani (Home of the freak, land of the vague) | Posted: Nov 29, 2010 - 14:15 I really like this song, but there's something about that instrumental chorus/break that sounds like it could have come from a romantic interlude/vignette from Miami Vice or something like that. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: May 07, 2010 - 18:01  suzanne vega by ~mrspillowhead zsófi b. |
| Marley (Portland, Or) | Posted: Feb 16, 2010 - 14:39 This song always makes me sad. How hard is it to let the one you love go because you know it's the right thing to do, while knowing how lonely you will be without them... |
| westslope (BC coast) | Posted: Feb 16, 2010 - 14:39 First noticed Vega listening to covers of Leonard Cohen. |
| DaveInVA (In a hovel in effluent Damnville, VA) | Posted: Feb 16, 2010 - 14:36 Saw her do this live years ago... great stuff  |
| Toke (Bournemouth UK) | Posted: Jan 16, 2010 - 04:48 She always brings a feeling of the wide open spaces breathing fresh dewy air into ones lungs, beauty to the Max... :-) |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Sep 12, 2009 - 08:45 smooth groove... |
| inindian (Sea of joy) | Posted: Aug 11, 2009 - 20:55 Welly wrote: Always makes me think of sailing. And that is a very good thing! |
| (former member) (Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated) | Posted: Mar 06, 2009 - 14:38 dmax wrote: That bugs me EVERY SINGLE TIME. She must have cojones the size of bowling balls to have done that. Including this time. |
| Arcee | Posted: Feb 03, 2009 - 01:26 One of my first albums and still one of my best. Love this song. Sonically beautiful. Great mix with Tragically Hip also. |
| snowcat (Cold, Frozen Minnesota) | Posted: Dec 01, 2008 - 19:35 One of my first CDs. I remember still being blown away by the sound difference over tapes (and the fact they took most of my allowance to buy). |
| Welly (Lotusland) | Posted: Dec 01, 2008 - 19:33 Alafia wrote: Always been one of my favorite SV songs.  |
| CamLwalk (Albany NY) | Posted: Jul 28, 2008 - 13:21 Hehe...that synth solo reminded me of these guys...  |
| californiatwin (6,500 miles from home) | Posted: Feb 22, 2008 - 01:42 Nice! I like SV. |
| Alafia (on the slopes) | Posted: Dec 21, 2007 - 04:32 Always been one of my favorite SV songs. |
| sukilau (cellar dweller) | Posted: Oct 19, 2007 - 09:49 Welly wrote: Always makes me think of sailing.
and Joan Armitrading... |
| nigelr (Coffs Harbour, Australia) | Posted: Jul 17, 2007 - 01:48 Excellent track, excellent album. |
| dionysius (The People's Republic of Austin) | Posted: Jun 15, 2007 - 15:46  |
| Bill_Rockoff (Marietta, GA) | Posted: May 15, 2007 - 07:49 "Well, my name's John Lee Pettimore Same as my daddy and his daddy before.." - Steve Earle, Copperhead Road |
| On_The_Beach (Vancouver, Canada) | Posted: Mar 13, 2007 - 13:20 dwhayslett wrote: I can certainly understand why. "My name is ..." is such an unusual phrase, you hardly ever hear it. To use it in two different songs is just really incredible.  |
| ziggytrix (Dallas, TX) | Posted: Mar 13, 2007 - 13:18 ick, no. dull, boring... let's follow it up with a song sung from the perspective of the the Cyclops. "My name is Polyphemus, He poked out my eeeeeyeeeeee!" |
| Jack_Jefferson (Columbus, OH) | Posted: Mar 13, 2007 - 13:16 veegez wrote: Ok, I'll play! My name is.. What? My name is.. Who? My name is.. slicka slicka Slim Shady Ahem...excuse me! Can I have the attention of the class for one second. or My name is Mud. My name is Mud. Not to be confused with bill or jack or pete or dennis or My name is Jonas. I'm carrying the wheel. Thanks for all you've shown us. This is how we feel. or My name is Donald White, you see, I stand before you allll. I was judged by you a murderer And the hangman's knot must fallll. or My name is Lee, I murdered little Sadie in the first degreeee. or Say my name, say my name.... Let's not forget: "My name is Sue How do you do?" "...My name's Johnny and it might be a sin but I'll take your bet you're gonna regret 'cause I'm the best there's ever been.." |
| madaxeman (Scottish west coast) | Posted: Mar 13, 2007 - 13:15 Oh my,how beautiful.I've heard so little of her since the debut album,which I have on vinyl.Enchanting. |
| musikalia (Somewhere (over the rainbow)) | Posted: Mar 13, 2007 - 13:11 I absolutely love this song! This album is great. I used to listen to it a lot in high school. Haven't heard it in many many years. Thanks Bill! |
| Welly (Feet on the ground, head in the clouds) | Posted: Mar 13, 2007 - 13:10 Always makes me think of sailing. |
| SuperWeh (51° 59' 46" N, 4° 21' 13" E) | Posted: Jul 02, 2006 - 15:23 veegez wrote: Ok, I'll play! My name is.. What? My name is.. Who? My name is.. slicka slicka Slim Shady Ahem...excuse me! Can I have the attention of the class for one second. or My name is Mud. My name is Mud. Not to be confused with bill or jack or pete or dennis or My name is Jonas. I'm carrying the wheel. Thanks for all you've shown us. This is how we feel. or My name is Donald White, you see, I stand before you allll. I was judged by you a murderer And the hangman's knot must fallll. or My name is Lee, I murdered little Sadie in the first degreeee. or Say my name, say my name.... One I remembered: "my name is prince and I am funky!" |
| ampersand | Posted: Mar 12, 2006 - 16:20 Love this song, but not the vocal style. However, I'll give her a break because I just heard "Gypsy" and loved it. The trouble is that my first listen to "Calypso" was not Vega's recording but a truly well-arranged, beautifully layered a capella version by the Princeton University WildCats. |
| veegez (Minnesoter) | Posted: Mar 11, 2006 - 08:25 dwhayslett wrote: I can certainly understand why. "My name is ..." is such an unusual phrase, you hardly ever hear it. To use it in two different songs is just really incredible. Ok, I'll play! My name is.. What? My name is.. Who? My name is.. slicka slicka Slim Shady Ahem...excuse me! Can I have the attention of the class for one second. or My name is Mud. My name is Mud. Not to be confused with bill or jack or pete or dennis or My name is Jonas. I'm carrying the wheel. Thanks for all you've shown us. This is how we feel. or My name is Donald White, you see, I stand before you allll. I was judged by you a murderer And the hangman's knot must fallll. or My name is Lee, I murdered little Sadie in the first degreeee. or Say my name, say my name.... |
| Kerly (Estonia) | Posted: Mar 06, 2006 - 01:00 Kairit, this one is again for you :) With all my love. Hugs. |
| guiguy (Here) | Posted: Feb 04, 2006 - 16:25 a hauntingly, beautiful cd.... |
| dwhayslett (Raleigh, NC) | Posted: Dec 08, 2005 - 10:33 dmax wrote: japanmoran wrote: "My name is Luka" ... umm no, "My Name is Calypso" That bugs me EVERY SINGLE TIME. ... I can certainly understand why. "My name is ..." is such an unusual phrase, you hardly ever hear it. To use it in two different songs is just really incredible. |
| (former member) (Shadow Valley Condos) | Posted: Dec 08, 2005 - 10:27 japanmoran wrote: "My name is Luka" ... umm no, "My Name is Calypso"
That bugs me EVERY SINGLE TIME. She must have cojones the size of bowling balls to have done that. |
| nohopenofearnoname (wine country) | Posted: Nov 23, 2005 - 19:09 why? |
| SuperWeh (51° 59' 46" N, 4° 21' 13" E) | Posted: Oct 25, 2005 - 13:43 veegez wrote: Lyrics are shallow and unoriginal, huh? Are you some kind of hypercritical m-f'er or something? Oh, uh, great idea about the album with Metallica. Great! One thing though. Lose the Metallica. Suzy dominates and everything else is just average. (obvious hyperbole) ;) OK, I was probably in a bad mood when I wrote that, I usually try to be more subtle than that. SV gets on my nerves because I find the music monotonous and soulless and I get the feeling she thinks that what she sings is meaningful because she sings it in a monotonous/pensive way. I could be totally wrong, maybe SV is the the deepest most soulful person alive, I don't know her at all. I'm entitled to voice how her music makes me feel though, nothing hypocritical about it. I could probably could try to be more subtle though. Yes, Metallica, bad idea, maybe Aretha Franklin or Angie Stone et all would do a better job? |
| billybab (Seattle, WA) | Posted: Oct 25, 2005 - 13:40 Listening to this song brings back memories of my high school literature class. My teacher loved to play modern music that referenced the classics, so we listened to this song while reading "The Odyssey"; I think we also listened to "King of Pain" by the Police, but I'm hard-pressed to remember the connection there. fishy1 wrote: I first heard this song as part of collection I ordered from NPR. Every song in the collection was inspired by a piece of literature. This made for an eclectic mix. The most memorable was a song about Einstein's brain in the back of a Buick! I am posting because it seems unfair to call the song uninspired. It also seems incorrect to make the connections to Luka. And if the lyrics seem unintelligent, well . . . . literature isn't for everyone. |
| billybab (Seattle, WA) | Posted: Oct 25, 2005 - 13:40 Listening to this song brings back memories of my high school literature class. My teacher loved to play modern music that referenced the classics, so we listened to this song while reading "The Odyssey"; I think we also listened to "King of Pain" by the Police, but I'm hard-pressed to remember the connection there. fishy1 wrote: I first heard this song as part of collection I ordered from NPR. Every song in the collection was inspired by a piece of literature. This made for an eclectic mix. The most memorable was a song about Einstein's brain in the back of a Buick! I am posting because it seems unfair to call the song uninspired. It also seems incorrect to make the connections to Luka. And if the lyrics seem unintelligent, well . . . . literature isn't for everyone. |
| dctrpunda (the thin line of here.) | Posted: Oct 25, 2005 - 13:38 I once listened to this album before going on a trailess trek alone through the Trinities. While I didn't exactly get lost, I did get majorily confused as to where I was for a couple of days. After a lot of pushing through dense brush and climbing up cliffs that I had no business being on, I finally made it back to my truck. Suzanne Vega's album picked up where I had left it, on this song. I was never so happy to hear this coming from my car's speakers, then or since. It was one of those "good to be alive" moments and Suzanne's song was very much a part of that. |
| jbtidwell (Atlanta, GA) | Posted: Oct 25, 2005 - 13:30 Separated at birth? 
|
| veegez (Minnesoter) | Posted: Aug 27, 2005 - 16:56 SuperWeh wrote: hmm, I don't really like this. Lyrics seem shallow and unoriginal, the melody is rather non-existent. Suzanne should consider venturing into other styles every once in a while, like this I get the feeling she is a one trick pony because all her songs sound the same to me. How about doing an album with metallica suzanne?
Lyrics are shallow and unoriginal, huh? Are you some kind of hypercritical m-f'er or something? Oh, uh, great idea about the album with Metallica. Great! One thing though. Lose the Metallica. Suzy dominates and everything else is just average. (obvious hyperbole) ;) |
| TheLoneIguana (Central California) | Posted: Aug 12, 2005 - 16:22 fishy1 wrote: The most memorable was a song about Einstein's brain in the back of a Buick!
Now that I have to hear. |
| fishy1 (Ohio) | Posted: Jul 28, 2005 - 20:45 I first heard this song as part of collection I ordered from NPR. Every song in the collection was inspired by a piece of literature. This made for an eclectic mix. The most memorable was a song about Einstein's brain in the back of a Buick! I am posting because it seems unfair to call the song uninspired. It also seems incorrect to make the connections to Luka. And if the lyrics seem unintelligent, well . . . . literature isn't for everyone. |
| SuperWeh (51° 59' 46" N, 4° 21' 13" E) | Posted: Jul 14, 2005 - 01:48 hmm, I don't really like this. Lyrics seem shallow and unoriginal, the melody is rather non-existent. Suzanne should consider venturing into other styles every once in a while, like this I get the feeling she is a one trick pony because all her songs sound the same to me. How about doing an album with metallica suzanne? |
| timandjuliet (Lidsville) | Posted: Jun 29, 2005 - 08:36 Great rainy day album. |
| Zep (The City) | Posted: May 01, 2005 - 16:36 smitchell wrote: I love you Suzanne Vega.
Me too. Saw her a year ago in a small venue. Great show, one of the best I've seen in years. |
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