Suzanne
Belafonte Harry Lyrics
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Ev'ry night when the sun goes down
Ev'ry night when the sun goes down
Hang my head and mournful cry
Suzanne, Suzanne, Suzanne you're gone
True love don't weep, true love don't mourn
True love don't weep, true love don't mourn
Goin' back to mobile town
Suzanne, Suzanne, Suzanne you're gone
Someday I pray my train will come
Someday I pray my train will come
Someday I pray my train will come
Then I can go back where I come from
Suzanne, Suzanne, Suzanne you're gone
Belafonte Harry's song, Suzanne, features a protagonist who is experiencing heartbreak and longing for his lost love. The repetition of "Ev'ry night when the sun goes down" highlights the cyclical nature of his grieving, as he contemplates his loss night after night. The mournful tone is emphasized through the repetition of "Hang my head and mournful cry," which paints a vivid picture of the singer's sadness.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his "true love," whom he refers to as Suzanne. He repeats the phrase "True love don't weep, true love don't mourn," perhaps as a means of consoling himself or attempting to rationalize his pain. However, he acknowledges his own tears soon after, stating that "True love don't weep or mourn for me." This juxtaposition highlights the complexity of grief and how easily it can contradict our values.
The final stanza speaks to the hope the singer feels for the future, as he prays for his "train" to arrive and take him back to where he comes from. This suggests that Suzanne and the town where they likely lived together hold a great deal of meaning and comfort for him. The repetition of Suzanne's name serves to reinforce the intensity of his feelings for her and how deeply he mourns her absence.
Overall, Suzanne is a poignant depiction of heartbreak, loss, and the cyclical nature of grief. By repeating certain phrases and emphasizing the singer's pain, Belafonte Harry creates a vivid portrait of a person who is struggling to move on from a significant loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Ev'ry night when the sun goes down
Every single night when darkness sets in
Hang my head and mournful cry
I bow my head down in sorrow and weep
Suzanne, Suzanne, Suzanne you're gone
My beloved Suzanne, you are no longer here
True love don't weep, true love don't mourn
Genuine love doesn't cry or mourn
Goin' back to mobile town
I'm leaving to go back to my hometown
Someday I pray my train will come
I hope and pray that my train will arrive someday
Then I can go back where I come from
So I can return to the place I belong
Suzanne, Suzanne, Suzanne you're gone
My dear Suzanne, you're no longer with me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JIM LEFEVRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind