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Suzanne Vega — Tom's Diner [DNA version]
Album: Retrospective
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 212









Released: 1987
Length: 3:44
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I am sitting
In the morning
At the diner
On the corner

I am waiting
At the counter
For the man
To pour the coffee

And he fills it
Only halfway
And before
I even argue

He is looking
Out the window
At somebody
Coming in

"It is always
Nice to see you"
Says the man
Behind the counter

To the woman
Who has come in
She is shaking
Her umbrella

And I look
The other way
As they are kissing
Their hellos

I'm pretending
Not to see them
Instead
I pour the milk

I open
Up the paper
There's a story
Of an actor

Who had died
While he was drinking
It was no one
I had heard of

And I'm turning
To the horoscope
And looking
For the funnies

When I'm feeling
Someone watching me
And so
I raise my head

There's a woman
On the outside
Looking inside
Does she see me?

No she does not
Really see me
Cause she sees
Her own reflection

And I'm trying
Not to notice
That she's hitching
Up her skirt

And while she's
Straightening her stockings
Her hair
Has gotten wet

Oh, this rain
It will continue
Through the morning
As I'm listening

To the bells
Of the cathedral
I am thinking
Of your voice...

And of the midnight picnic
Once upon a time
Before the rain began...

I finish up my coffee
It's time to catch the train
Tatatatatararatatatatarara
Comments (44)add comment
"The Mother of MP3"

Interesting tid-bit if ever this gets played again (been 3 years, I have my doubts). 


Ever notice that you can sing the lyrics from Steely Dan's "Do It Again" to the tune of "Tom's Diner" and it scans perfectly?
masterhead wrote:
I prefer the originally myself..the beat makes it annoying...
Amen to that - what a pity to do this to a pleasant (though not her best) song :( . If I want to be BOOM-DE-BOOM'ed half to death for no good reason, I'll listen to some reggae... :P Even the horn arrangement is sucky (toot-toot / toot-toot). Blecch. But on a happier note - I've got a ticket to see her next week
Doo-doot-doot-doo-doo, Exchanging glances...do-be-do-be-doo...Wondering in the night, what were the chances....
I prefer the originally myself..the beat makes it annoying...
Shimmer wrote:
Christ, this was a bit interesting the first time I heard it -- "Look what they did to Suzanne Vega's goofy a capella song," I thought to myself. But that was 15 years ago, and now I don't want to hear it anymore. Please play a great but seldom heard Vega song like The Queen and the Soldier instead.
I could not put it any better. Marlene on the wall would be another good choice.
OK, so you played it 4 days ago. At that time, it was OK since I hadn't heard it in ten years. Now, it's got to go. Mute is on and vote will be low.
My god, I hate this song. I have to turn it off, because it brings back a horrible, horrible memory: many, many years ago, I was taking the SAT. I got about halfway into the analogies section when this song mysteriously, evilly, came into my head. All I could think was "ABCD, ABCD, ABCD,ABCD." Yeah, just imagine it. Torture...
Christ, this was a bit interesting the first time I heard it -- "Look what they did to Suzanne Vega's goofy a capella song," I thought to myself. But that was 15 years ago, and now I don't want to hear it anymore. Please play a great but seldom heard Vega song like The Queen and the Soldier instead.
I'm glad that this is the first time I have heard this song in about 10 years. I didn't miss it, and while I will be furious if it is stuck in my head, it ain't killing me yet. Fun fact: the Tom's Diner that she is singing about is the real restaurant that the Diner in Seinfeld is modeled after.
Geed wrote:
:verymad: <-X :P am I too subtle
Geed, I know that you think you have a wonderful and powerful "wit" Unfortunately, yer only "half" right! 8)
rcurrier wrote:
No one thinks she can sing, do they?
No one said she can sing. She can, however, write really interesting songs!!
Inventive, original, ejoyable, whimsical :highfive.gif:
Play the original, don't be afraid...That beat got old but not the song...
Geed wrote:
:verymad: <-X :P am I too subtle
Not at all. It's obvious what you mean: You love the song's beat so much it makes you hit your head against a wall. You hit people over the head who don't like this song. All other music is meaningless now, so I might as well destroy my computer. :verymad: I love singing along so much I sometimes forget to breath. This song it HOT! This song is so good that all other music now makes me sick. <-X No talking during the song! I'm listening! It's my favorite song to listen to when I go to bed. :P A razzberry to anyone who doesn't like this song! Thanks for letting us know how you feel!
Da da daa da da da... the lyrics in this song flow about as well as water through a concrete barrier (in addition to the lack of poetic form). I can ignore that minus the painful lack of musical interest and a beat that makes me want to hit my head against the wall in sync to it.
I was going to say that I like this big-beat remix better than the orignial, but I've heard this version so much it's become primary and I can't remember what the original sounds like. It meanders, which I appreciate.
Minimalism at it's finest!
This song is good.. the beat box can go however.... Sean in NC
MissJenn wrote:
have any of you ever heard any of the other covers of this song? they are lots of fun, too. I'll see if I can upload them.
I've only heard the one that seems to be sung by Jeannie ("Jeannie's Diner"). I just went to look it up, and, wow, there's a whole album of the stuff: Tom's Album (click here). And I like this song--always a treat whenever it shows up on the radio. Most everything from Suzanne Vega has me stop and think about what I really want from life. You know what else? I love this radio station. Feel free to complain to your heart's content, fellow listeners. I just realized how Bill has captured the essence of the 70s FM DJ: I trust him, his taste, and what he chooses to play. If something lands weird for me, I listen anyway and give it a chance.
blech...how did she get a 'best of' album?
Originally Posted by rcurrier: So how come we haven't been treated to the usual "can't sing" diatribes we get on all Bob Dylan/Neil Young/Springsteen songs? No one thinks she can sing, do they?
you haven't seen her live. she can sing. quite well, in fact.
Quick, someone take away Ms. Vega's pen knife & hand her some Zanax !!! I'm guessing this coffee shop is some place really depressing like an EQUITY retirement home.
Was never much of a Vega fan, but this remix rocks!
:verymad: <-X :P am I too subtle
So how come we haven\'t been treated to the usual \"can\'t sing\" diatribes we get on all Bob Dylan/Neil Young/Springsteen songs? No one thinks she can sing, do they?
Originally Posted by adib: Love the original, detest this travesty...
I don't need to ever hear either version again..."and instead I hit the mute..."
Love the original, detest this travesty... I especially dislike the part where they maintain the tempo of the drum machine as she slows down to sing \"...the bells of the cathedral...\", it\'s almost as if they could not be bothered. Interesting info posted earlier about the audio compression benchmark.
Normally, techno-poop make me feel like grabbing an Uzi and spraying something with lead. But I kinda actually like this.... (or maybe I\'m just in a good mood today...... )
Originally Posted by roguewarer: what's with all the negg-o-teev? I really dig this version, just sittin' here groovin' to it then i go an' reada buncha negatives. "Ewwww" your bad selves!! Don't you DARE take it out of rotation, Bill, or ELSE!! ;)
It's still in rotation as it should be! I love this tune. I wouldn't want to hear it every day of course, but once a week would be cool with me.
(pimp)
Wow, this is bad. Dispassionate \'rapping\' over a drum machine. Does it get much worse? Not sure...
ewwww
Definitely to poop on.
have any of you ever heard any of the other covers of this song? they are lots of fun, too. I\'ll see if I can upload them.
Good to have some lite pop on a saturday morning. Way to go on the mix.
wow It has been years!!!!
Ugh. Double plus Sucko-Barfo.
I would pay to hear this song again :D