In a 2016 interview with Consequence of Sound, Ó Cíosóig explained how the musical composition differed from his and Hope's other bands, "It's not that our other bands have restrictions, but there's a certain sound in those bands. Hope and I have a sound, but it's always changing and morphing into different things while still carrying a similar thread".
Suzanne
Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions Lyrics
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But all she does is waste your time
And she looks just like my sister
But she feels just like my man
And all the times I mean to tell her
The cats in here are over-flowin'
She pulls aside a four leaf clover
Suzanne, Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
Suzanne is waiting at your doorway
But all she does is waste your time
And she looks just like my sister
But she feels just like my man
Suzanne, Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
The lyrics to "Suzanne" by Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions depict a complex relationship between the singer and a woman named Suzanne. The singer seems to be torn between his attraction to Suzanne and his frustration with her behavior. She is waiting at his doorway, but he perceives her as a waste of his time. However, her presence also elicits a feeling of comfort and familiarity, as she looks like his sister but feels like his lover.
The singer struggles to express himself, intending to tell Suzanne that the cats in his house are overflowing, but he is unable to do so. Suzanne pulls out a four-leaf clover, which could represent luck or hope, and makes him feel at ease. The repetition of "Suzanne, Suzanne" throughout the song only heightens the ambiguity and intensity of their relationship.
Perhaps the lyrics suggest that the singer is in a complicated relationship with someone who is both familiar and foreign to him. Suzanne is simultaneously a source of comfort and frustration, and he is unable to express his emotions clearly to her. The use of imagery, such as the overflowing cats and the four-leaf clover, adds a layer of complexity to the song's meaning and interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Suzanne is waiting at your doorway
Suzanne is present at your doorstep, but what she contributes is a waste of time
But all she does is waste your time
Regrettably, Suzanne does nothing more than squander time
And she looks just like my sister
Although there is a resemblance between Suzanne and my sister in terms of appearance
But she feels just like my man
Suzanne creates a sense similar to that of a man in terms of feelings
And all the times I mean to tell her
Each time I intend to share my thoughts with her
The cats in here are over-flowin'
I attempt to warn her that the situation here is dire
She pulls aside a four leaf clover
Rather than acknowledge the danger, Suzanne focuses on a symbol of good luck
And makes me feel right on my own
It's just me, but her presence empowers me to feel secure
Suzanne, Suzanne
The name of the woman in question is Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
Repetition of Suzanne
Suzanne, Suzanne
Continued repetition of Suzanne
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind