I'm still sitting here with goosebumps 35 years and hundreds of listens after the first time I heard it. And yes, I got a bit weepy when she performed it the one time I was fortunate enough to see her live.
36 years after we first heard this lovely, haunting song on the 1st album- WE are here listening to it again in 2021! This live version is beautiful. x
There aren't many songs whose opening chords can send me a shiver. This is one of those beautiful exceptions. Beautiful, haunting, yearning lyrics. Pure poetry x
Definitely my favourite Suzanne Vega song, I used this song more than 30 years ago as English comprehension and discussion with foreign students, I loved it so much. I hope the students appreciated the genius behind the song.
Interestingly, my English teacher from the UK in the 90s, also used this song as English comprehension. I fell in love with the song and still find it as one of the most beautiful and meaningful songs written.
I still remember seeing this at the time. Montreux and an almost endless line of crap-artists and then - a shy-looking NYC lady with a guitar that looked bigger than herself and... I've never looked back. First encounter with the music of the great Suzanne Vega.
This is the song that made me want to learn how to play guitar. It only took me 30; years to learn it. I busk in Georgetown Texas. Come listen sometime.
Suzanne Vega is obviously an old soul, that refuses to quit and move on and just leave this earth to its limited devices. I would be lost without her like. Thank you honey, for your soft whisper of wind in an otherwise unrelenting environment that is our existence here. I'll work to repay your kindness always.
This is musical pure art in it's highest form. For me it's the favourite from a wonderful catalogue of greatness! It's sound, depth and message are unforgettable. A friend introduced me to the debut album. I bought it the very next day. Awesome. 👍🏻
This is an even more subtle, nuanced, lovely version of this song than the studio version I'm familiar with. This song is so much unlike, yet so much like, another of Suzanne's great songs, "Luka": Understated, creepy, powerful. This is a work of genius.
🎼such an overhelming masterpeace of beautiful, dramatic lyrics, Suzannes phenomenal soft voice and absolutely touching music. She is an authentic, outstanding sympathic artist and woman❤️
There is only one other person on this planet who could have matched her lyrically and that is Sting. He could have written this song. Suzanne will always be One of the true musical greats!
The soldier came knocking upon the queen's door He said, "I am not fighting for you any more" The queen knew she'd seen his face someplace before And slowly she let him inside. He said, "I've watched your palace up here on the hill And I've wondered who's the woman for whom we all kill But I am leaving tomorrow and you can do what you will Only first I am asking you why." Down in the long narrow hall he was led Into her rooms with her tapestries red And she never once took the crown from her head She asked him there to sit down. He said, "I see you now, and you are so very young But I've seen more battles lost than I have battles won And I've got this intuition, says it's all for your fun And now will you tell me why?" Well the young queen, she fixed him with an arrogant eye She said, "You won't understand, and you may as well not try" But her face was a child's, and he thought she would cry But she closed herself up like a fan. And she said, "I have swallowed a secret burning thread It cuts me inside, and often I've bled" He laid his hand then on top of her head And he bowed her down to the ground. "Tell me how hungry are you? How weak you must feel As you are living here alone, and you are never revealed But I won't march again on your battlefield" And he took her to the window to see. And the sun, it was gold, though the sky, it was gray And she wanted more than she ever could say But she knew how it frightened her, and she turned away And would not look at his face again. And he said, "I want to live as an honest man To get all I deserve and to give all I can And to love a young woman who I don't understand Your highness, your ways are very strange." But the crown, it had fallen, and she thought she would break And she stood there, ashamed of the way her heart ached She took him to the doorstep and she asked him to wait She would only be a moment inside. Out in the distance her order was heard And the soldier was killed, still waiting for her word And while the queen went on strangling in the solitude she preferred The battle continued on.
This is one of those songs where you can recall the exact place you first heard it. I was part of the team painting the interior of the Auckland, NZ first gay night club, this was in 1987. The radio was tuned into 'bfm' the Auckland uni station and thinking back now, it may even have been on a sunday because the station had great stuff broadcast on Sundays. I was probably working on my own, having a break from painting in the stairwell when this came on. Stopped me in an instant and started my love affair with Suzanne. I can still recall being mesmerised by the lyrics and voice and the vibration continues to this day...
gawwwwwd hearing this now reminds me of a college boyfriend who sang this for me and played the guitar all so amazingly all these years later finally realized he didnt break my heart.. broke my own damn heart
My first time hearing this amazing song, the story telling of Suzanne brings it to life and I was in the room watching the interaction between the Queen and the Soldier and how sad it was at the end, if not predictable.
I love the controlled emotion in her voice. Repressed but rippling through every note - Susan Vega, Florence Welch, Birdy... it's all about the control.
@@steveharris5008 Birdy’s another singer, I liked Without A Word from her, she came out with it when she was very young but her singing had the emotive quality of an older soul
her guitar sound is interesting, kind of medieval bouzouki or mandola...and the bass guitar is perfect. The voice is that of a mother voice singing to our baby's ears, that sweet and lighten voice of ever.
When she played at La Cigale in Paris, the audience recognized the song and cheered at the very first note played on the guitar. One of my very favourite.
Wow oh wow. This means so much to me and anyone who wonders where this fine musician went. A song that must resonate deeply within any true Vega fan...thanks so very much for shearing. May i please reccomend for fans a lady called Bjork without sounding all spammy? . Thanks..much warmth and love to all....
Yeah, one morning freshman year of high school upon learning a massive English project was due that day (not the next week as I had thought), I totally just wrote this song down and handed it in. The worst part was the teacher trying to get my permission to publish it in the school paper... that was awkward. Did I learn anything? Not really...
I learned about a folk singer and song writer named Connie Converse today in a NY Times article and I listened to several songs, and in particular when I heard The Witch and the Wizard I immediately thought of this song, which I haven't listened to for a few years but first heard when Suzanne's debut album (produced by Lenny Kaye, guitarist for the Patti Smith Group) came out and Suzanne played in NY, and I was lucky enough to see her play and sing this song, but hearing it today I have to say I am startled by the Game of Thrones flavor of the story, or maybe I should say Throne of Dragons, and coincidentally I just watched it on DVD from the public library, I had to wait months for it on the waiting list, if you've seen it you know that a murderous Queen and a soldier figure prominently in the story
So in love with her as teenager wanted to marry her. That first album was awesome but this song destroys me every time especially having served in military for 18 years - such a beautiful voice - love her still ❤
Ella fascinante como siempre... Las imágenes son un asco....tomas De espada, tomas de la mano, ni siquiera los dedos... Las luces etc.. Un Espectáculo aparte el director o quien Sea.... Ella Diosa como siempre....
My favorite song of hers. I bought her albums when they came out. Then it was Jewel and Heather Nova. Norah Jones. But they're all just imitations of Joni at the end of the day.
Great song ! Great performance ! However, whoever suggested all the purple graphics is terrible it completely pulls complete focus from the Artist, the Words, the Music and Performance! On her additional UA-cam songs if the vocals can be louder for some reason the engineering the instrumentals seem to overpower the vocals and the listeners can hardly hear the Great Words. It’s the voice!! and the words not so much the loudness of music… 💙 ✨✨✨🖋️🌞🌞🌞😁🐷🎨🖋️ 📣👀
Actually, "Left of Center" wasn't on Suzanne's debut album. It wasn't on any of her studio albums. It was on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack which was released between her first two albums.
I bought the album back in 1985 when I was 15 and spent 6 months stoned listening to this!
Susanne Vega's voice on this song is flawless.
If all I had ever done was write this song, that would be enough.
Life's work
Yes. Said through tears
Agreed.
I'm still sitting here with goosebumps 35 years and hundreds of listens after the first time I heard it. And yes, I got a bit weepy when she performed it the one time I was fortunate enough to see her live.
Same
One of The Great Tunes and poems of all time, on the level of Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
or Chapin or Croce
36 years after we first heard this lovely, haunting song on the 1st album- WE are here listening to it again in 2021! This live version is beautiful. x
There aren't many songs whose opening chords can send me a shiver. This is one of those beautiful exceptions. Beautiful, haunting, yearning lyrics. Pure poetry x
I adore this wonderful Lady! What a story teller!
A haunting story, telling much more than the words say. That, my friends, is poetry.
As a folkie, a bassist, and a lover of poetry, I absolutely adore this.
Best comment of them all - well said Ian
I am none of the above and I still love this song.
One of her best songs, if not the best. A fable about Innocence vs Might.
Like some here, i still cry when hearing.
Definitely my favourite Suzanne Vega song, I used this song more than 30 years ago as English comprehension and discussion with foreign students, I loved it so much. I hope the students appreciated the genius behind the song.
I, too, used this beautiful song in the early 90s while teaching Developmental Reading at community college.
Interestingly, my English teacher from the UK in the 90s, also used this song as English comprehension. I fell in love with the song and still find it as one of the most beautiful and meaningful songs written.
I still remember seeing this at the time. Montreux and an almost endless line of crap-artists and then - a shy-looking NYC lady with a guitar that looked bigger than herself and... I've never looked back. First encounter with the music of the great Suzanne Vega.
This is the song that made me want to learn how to play guitar. It only took me 30; years to learn it. I busk in Georgetown Texas. Come listen sometime.
First new song I’ve heard since the 80’s. And she never fails.
Suzanne Vega is obviously an old soul, that refuses to quit and move on and just leave this earth to its limited devices. I would be lost without her like. Thank you honey, for your soft whisper of wind in an otherwise unrelenting environment that is our existence here. I'll work to repay your kindness always.
I keep coming back to this song. 2024. Flawless performance.
Unbelievable. So good. My favourite. Classic storytelling
As an old punk who is really not into folk I adore Suzanne Vega! She is her own genre
This is musical pure art in it's highest form. For me it's the favourite from a wonderful catalogue of greatness! It's sound, depth and message are unforgettable. A friend introduced me to the debut album. I bought it the very next day. Awesome. 👍🏻
This is an even more subtle, nuanced, lovely version of this song than the studio version I'm familiar with. This song is so much unlike, yet so much like, another of Suzanne's great songs, "Luka": Understated, creepy, powerful. This is a work of genius.
What a classy singer/ writer, beautiful song, beautiful woman
Always loved this song, this lady and musician and her music. Simply beautiful. Profound as the stars and deeper than the sea.
🎼such an overhelming masterpeace of beautiful, dramatic lyrics, Suzannes phenomenal soft voice and absolutely touching music.
She is an authentic, outstanding sympathic artist and woman❤️
The most beautiful rendition of one her most beautiful songs, thank you Suzanne, I love you x
There is only one other person on this planet who could have matched her lyrically and that is Sting. He could have written this song. Suzanne will always be One of the true musical greats!
Yeah, Sting's "The Dance Alone" comes to mind... 🥹
I wish the message gets old.Classic still relevant message.So gentle the voice so brutal the meaning...
The soldier came knocking upon the queen's door
He said, "I am not fighting for you any more"
The queen knew she'd seen his face someplace before
And slowly she let him inside.
He said, "I've watched your palace up here on the hill
And I've wondered who's the woman for whom we all kill
But I am leaving tomorrow and you can do what you will
Only first I am asking you why."
Down in the long narrow hall he was led
Into her rooms with her tapestries red
And she never once took the crown from her head
She asked him there to sit down.
He said, "I see you now, and you are so very young
But I've seen more battles lost than I have battles won
And I've got this intuition, says it's all for your fun
And now will you tell me why?"
Well the young queen, she fixed him with an arrogant eye
She said, "You won't understand, and you may as well not try"
But her face was a child's, and he thought she would cry
But she closed herself up like a fan.
And she said, "I have swallowed a secret burning thread
It cuts me inside, and often I've bled"
He laid his hand then on top of her head
And he bowed her down to the ground.
"Tell me how hungry are you? How weak you must feel
As you are living here alone, and you are never revealed
But I won't march again on your battlefield"
And he took her to the window to see.
And the sun, it was gold, though the sky, it was gray
And she wanted more than she ever could say
But she knew how it frightened her, and she turned away
And would not look at his face again.
And he said, "I want to live as an honest man
To get all I deserve and to give all I can
And to love a young woman who I don't understand
Your highness, your ways are very strange."
But the crown, it had fallen, and she thought she would break
And she stood there, ashamed of the way her heart ached
She took him to the doorstep and she asked him to wait
She would only be a moment inside.
Out in the distance her order was heard
And the soldier was killed, still waiting for her word
And while the queen went on strangling in the solitude she preferred
The battle continued on.
Vanaf het eerste moment tot vandaag ,bij het horen van haar stem en het verhaal dat zij brengt ❤.
Een van de beste muzikant van de laatste 50 jaar🎉
Just a great song and a great voice. Brings me back to when I bought the CD new.
I've loved her from the first time I heard her first album.
This is one of those songs where you can recall the exact place you first heard it. I was part of the team painting the interior of the Auckland, NZ first gay night club, this was in 1987. The radio was tuned into 'bfm' the Auckland uni station and thinking back now, it may even have been on a sunday because the station had great stuff broadcast on Sundays. I was probably working on my own, having a break from painting in the stairwell when this came on. Stopped me in an instant and started my love affair with Suzanne. I can still recall being mesmerised by the lyrics and voice and the vibration continues to this day...
gawwwwwd hearing this now reminds me of a college boyfriend who sang this for me and played the guitar all so amazingly all these years later finally realized he didnt break my heart.. broke my own damn heart
i new the lirics to this song at the age of 7 loved it then and love it now..... stil gived me goosebumps... 💖
My favorite song of her
Couldn’t be better still makes me cry any more I’d be out of tears for sure xx
Army buddy from California gave me this cassette in korea1988..love every song..still today..
My first time hearing this amazing song, the story telling of Suzanne brings it to life and I was in the room watching the interaction between the Queen and the Soldier
and how sad it was at the end, if not predictable.
Music at its very best. Suzanne Vega is just amazing. ♩♩♩
used to listen to this returning from leave on my walkman in the 80s
I heard this song first exactly 30 years ago :) Smoke gets in my eyes...
Einer ihrer schönsten Lieder..da kommen sehr schöne Gedanken wieder hoch..Love this Song
As moved hearing it now as I was a kid.Brilliant.
I love the controlled emotion in her voice. Repressed but rippling through every note - Susan Vega, Florence Welch, Birdy... it's all about the control.
is that the book Birdy by Wharton...?
@@steveharris5008 Birdy’s another singer, I liked Without A Word from her, she came out with it when she was very young but her singing had the emotive quality of an older soul
her guitar sound is interesting, kind of medieval bouzouki or mandola...and the bass guitar is perfect. The voice is that of a mother voice singing to our baby's ears, that sweet and lighten voice of ever.
Her music is getting more subtle I like this better than earlier versions. That is rare ofter older musicians are sad shadows of there younger selves.
Brilliant poem, and melody, and delivery, and message, and singer.
... and bassist 🙂
I love this song and Suzanne Vega.
Simply beautiful…….a voice of pure gold….
singing this for myself it always feels pretty short. But the song has so much more to offer.
When she played at La Cigale in Paris, the audience recognized the song and cheered at the very first note played on the guitar. One of my very favourite.
M'n grootste wens is dat mensen gaan beseffen waar dit systeem om draait , en dat de muziek in hun ogen simpelweg een dekmantel is ,
Still Astonishes me everytime I hear it.
50,000th like! I am privileged! :) Such a flippin' awesome song!
Lovely
Obvs she was more gorgeous than I could ever say ❤
Wow oh wow. This means so much to me and anyone who wonders where this fine musician went. A song that must resonate deeply within any true Vega fan...thanks so very much for shearing. May i please reccomend for fans a lady called Bjork without sounding all spammy? . Thanks..much warmth and love to all....
Yeah, one morning freshman year of high school upon learning a massive English project was due that day (not the next week as I had thought), I totally just wrote this song down and handed it in. The worst part was the teacher trying to get my permission to publish it in the school paper... that was awkward. Did I learn anything? Not really...
The Bass is just awesome!!
So true, ❤
This is wonderful. Thank you for posting.
Wonderfully amazingly cool, cheers
Beautiful❤️☺️
wow ... beautiful .. haunting
i so wish i could have played that with you, i spent over a week going over it on a 12 string, still love the song
beautiful xx
WoW what a great song!
This song is beautiful.
Thanks for posting this video.
Her best song - out of many good ones!!!!!!!!
Artistas como esta cantante, No hay.
voice of an angel
I pair this song with All Along The Watchtower
I learned about a folk singer and song writer named Connie Converse today in a NY Times article and I listened to several songs, and in particular when I heard The Witch and the Wizard I immediately thought of this song, which I haven't listened to for a few years but first heard when Suzanne's debut album (produced by Lenny Kaye, guitarist for the Patti Smith Group) came out and Suzanne played in NY, and I was lucky enough to see her play and sing this song, but hearing it today I have to say I am startled by the Game of Thrones flavor of the story, or maybe I should say Throne of Dragons, and coincidentally I just watched it on DVD from the public library, I had to wait months for it on the waiting list, if you've seen it you know that a murderous Queen and a soldier figure prominently in the story
セカンドアルバムが発売された頃、名古屋で彼女のライブを観てきたのが懐かしい^ - ^
Perfect.
So in love with her as teenager wanted to marry her. That first album was awesome but this song destroys me every time especially having served in military for 18 years - such a beautiful voice - love her still ❤
Bellissima
terrific
Always ❤
Beautiful sad, poignant song
she is so beatiful!
Wow........
Yes
Ella fascinante como siempre...
Las imágenes son un asco....tomas
De espada, tomas de la mano, ni siquiera los dedos... Las luces etc.. Un Espectáculo aparte el director o quien Sea....
Ella Diosa como siempre....
Those eyes.
A new tune "You Kind Of Look Like Suzanne Vega"
Her pickings so good here
My favorite song of hers. I bought her albums when they came out. Then it was Jewel and Heather Nova. Norah Jones. But they're all just imitations of Joni at the end of the day.
Yup!!
Plus je l écoute,
Plus j apprécie,
Plus je l aime...
Et ceci depuis
endlezz tearz❤💋💋💋💋💋❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤I Have Alwayzzz Loved Your Beautiful Soul Goddezz
Ah the metaphor for the great powers that be, the wars they fight, and the individuals who die for their greed.
YOU CANNOT DELETE US ALL!
❤️
Suzanne Vega's magnum opus.
Great song ! Great performance ! However, whoever suggested all the purple graphics is terrible it completely pulls complete focus from the Artist, the Words, the Music and Performance! On her additional UA-cam songs if the vocals can be louder for some reason the engineering the instrumentals seem to overpower the vocals and the listeners can hardly hear the Great Words. It’s the voice!! and the words not so much the loudness of music… 💙
✨✨✨🖋️🌞🌞🌞😁🐷🎨🖋️ 📣👀
Schöner Song
Actually, "Left of Center" wasn't on Suzanne's debut album. It wasn't on any of her studio albums. It was on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack which was released between her first two albums.
I first heard this song on Galei Tsahal - Israel Army Radio. How's that for irony?
Her voice is so crisp its like she's singing through a filter