Suzanne
Reeves Dianne Lyrics
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You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.
The lyrics of Reeves Dianne's song "Suzanne" invoke a feeling of mystical serenity, describing the singer's experiences with a woman named Suzanne. The song starts with a depiction of Suzanne's place near the river, where you can hear the boats go by, and where she welcomes you to spend the night. The lyrics suggest that Suzanne may be a little crazy, but that is precisely why the singer wants to be there. Suzanne offers the singer tea and oranges from China, and when the singer tries to tell her that they cannot give her love, she gets them on her wavelength and lets the river answer, claiming that the singer has always been her lover.
In the next part of the song, the lyrics reference Jesus, describing him as a sailor who walked on water and watched from a lonely wooden tower. The song invokes hope in the idea that all men will be sailors until the sea frees them, but Jesus himself was broken long before the sky opened, and he sank beneath the singer's wisdom like a stone. The final part of the song returns to Suzanne, who takes the singer's hand and leads them to the river. She is dressed in rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters, and the sun pours down like honey on "our lady of the harbor." Suzanne shows the singer where to look among the garbage and the flowers to find heroes in the seaweed and children leaning out for love. The song concludes with the singer wanting to travel with Suzanne, trust her, and knowing that she has touched their perfect body with her mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
Suzanne invites you to visit her home near the river
You can hear the boats go by
The sounds of passing boats can be heard
You can spend the night beside her
You can stay overnight next to Suzanne
And you know that she's half crazy
It's clear that Suzanne is a bit eccentric
But that's why you want to be there
Her quirkiness is attractive to you
And she feeds you tea and oranges
Suzanne offers you refreshments of tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
The tea and oranges are imported from China
And just when you mean to tell her
Right as you're about to express something to her
That you have no love to give her
When you realize you don't have romantic feelings for her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
She manages to connect with you on an emotional level
And she lets the river answer
Suzanne allows the river to provide an answer or response
That you've always been her lover
That she sees you as a lifelong partner
And you want to travel with her
You desire to go on adventures with Suzanne
And you want to travel blind
You're willing to trust and follow Suzanne without hesitation
And you know that she will trust you
You believe that Suzanne will have faith in you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.
Because you've made an intimate connection with her emotionally
And Jesus was a sailor
The song shifts to a comparison of Suzanne and Jesus
When he walked upon the water
Referencing the story of Jesus walking on water
And he spent a long time watching
Jesus observed for a long time
From his lonely wooden tower
From a solitary location, perhaps a cross or a lighthouse
And when he knew for certain
Jesus became certain about something
Only drowning men could see him
Those in need were the only ones who could recognize and find him
He said 'All men will be sailors then
Jesus predicted that all people will face challenges in life
Until the sea shall free them'
People will continue to face challenges until they can overcome them
But he himself was broken
Despite his teachings, Jesus himself suffered and was broken
Long before the sky would open
This happened long before the heavens would open and Jesus ascended
Forsaken, almost human
Jesus, abandoned and feeling human emotions
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
Jesus felt the weight and depth of human knowledge and insight
And you want to travel with him
You feel drawn to Jesus and want to journey with him
And you want to travel blind
You're willing to have faith and follow Jesus without all the answers
And you think maybe you'll trust him
You're considering trusting and having faith in Jesus
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.
Jesus has made an intimate connection with you emotionally and spiritually
Now Suzanne takes your hand
The song returns to Suzanne holding your hand and leading you
And she leads you to the river
Suzanne guides you to the river's edge
She is wearing rags and feathers
Suzanne's clothing is a mixture of worn and embellished garments
From Salvation Army counters
Her outfit was possibly purchased from a thrift store
And the sun pours down like honey
The sunlight is warm and comforting
On our lady of the harbor
The sun shines on Suzanne, who's now compared to a symbol of hope - the Statue of Liberty
And she shows you where to look
Suzanne points out where to focus your attention
Among the garbage and the flowers
There is beauty and value to be found in the midst of the ugly and unpleasant
There are heroes in the seaweed
Even unlikely things can hold worth and value, such as seaweed
There are children in the morning
The innocence and beauty of children can be seen in the new day
They are leaning out for love
Children are naturally open and reaching out for love and connection
And they will lean that way forever
This quality of seeking love will remain with them for life
While Suzanne holds the mirror
Suzanne, the guide, holds up the mirror to show these hidden treasures
And you want to travel with her
You still yearn to go on journeys with Suzanne
And you want to travel blind
Your willingness to trust and follow Suzanne remains
And you know that you can trust her
You have certainty in your faith and trust of Suzanne
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.
You have made an emotional and spiritual connection with Suzanne that feels intimate and personal
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind