Her first break in the music world was at the age of sixteen when her parents (with mixed feelings) entered her for a singing contest in Sydney. It was organized by TVB with the winner to be offered a recording contract with one of the big music companies in Hong Kong. She won the competition and was sent back to Hong Kong and met with the TVB producers who wanted her to sign with one of the music labels. After much deliberation she finally decided that it wasn’t right for her at that time and instead returned to Australia to study at University. She pretty much just settled back into life at Uni and put aside any dreams of a music career.
After graduating from University she returned to Hong Kong in 1997 to help run her family’s accounting business and gained CPA certification. Despite her relatively settled career Susan was thinking, “is that all there is in life”. One of the students who she was teaching piano was working for a Hong Kong independent label, and she asked the boss if they wanted a singer. Susan says “I really wanted to record the English songs that I loved. We agreed to make an album and I just went into the studio feeling really relaxed with no stress or pressure and had a fun time recording my ‘Close To You’ album.” When the album came out it in 2002 it was widely acclaimed and quickly became a favourite of music stores to play and the album was soon climbing up the sales charts in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. The four album release’s since, ‘Close To You’ have also enjoyed wide critical and commercial success establishing Susan as probably the No.1 selling English language female singer of her genre throughout S.E.Asia.
In early 2007 Susan Wong signed a new recording agreement with Hong Kong based Evolution Limited and pre-production is currently underway for her new album that will be recorded in the USA in May. As Susan explains her motivation behind the new album, “Musically I wanted a new challenge and new musical chemistry to give me a different lift and to move on to another stage. Not everyone has opportunity to work with such high calibre musicians and producers like those I’m working with on the new album”.
Someone Like You (2007)
In early 2007, Susan Wong signed a new recording agreement with Hong Kong based Evolution Limited and released her first album under Evolution in August 2007.
The first release under this agreement, Someone Like You, was recorded in Nashville, USA and was quick to win critical and commercial success throughout S. E. Asia. The success of the SACD version in particular bore testament to the fine production, vocal performance and mastering by Grammy award winning engineer Doug Sax. The album was domestically released in Japan in September 2008.
511 (2008)
In Summer 2008 a newly invigorated Susan, began working on fresh ideas for her follow-up album. In September 2008 Susan travelled to Geneva, Switzerland to work on demos with producer Adrien Z. As Susan explained “He brought my music ideas to life. He was able to transform the songs I want to sing into the styling which I dare tried.” The album recording was completed in February/March 2009.
In her blog Susan said of the album; “I guess I took a "more hands on" approach with this album, more than any of the previous ones, as I felt the need to voice out my persona, be more individualistic and independent for my work.” Susan’s bossa nova inspired version of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean received a lot of attention and radio play and the album sold widely across the region.
Step Into My Dreams (2009)
Inspired by the positive feedback to 511, Susan was anxious to start working on her next album and within months of the release of 511 she was forming ideas for new recordings, choosing to again work with producer Adrien Zerbini and arranger Ignacio Lamas. With songs for the albums mostly coming from the late 1960’s/early 1970’s Susan and her band worked on a relaxed, natural acoustic pop feel lead by Ignacio’s skilled guitar style. With some fine performances and some radically rearranged interpretations of well known classics the new album, Step Into My Dreams soon became Susan Wong’s bestselling title and a fan’s favorite.
‘Best Recording Yet’: My LIVE Stories (2013)
After 5 years, Susan Wong returned to Nashville in June 2012 to record her next masterpiece. This masterpiece called My LIVE Stories was recorded live over two days in the world famous Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, USA which Susan described was her ‘best recording yet’. With an ensemble of top notch session musicians and a first class recording environment inside a 100 year old converted church Susan performed a selection of her favourite songs from her previous albums along with new songs.
Highlights include the bossa nova influenced Billie Jean, the blues tinged Cry Me A River, an up tempo Perfect and a spine tingling performance of Desperado. The studio recording was filmed in full HD and released in DVD and Blu-ray formats in December 2012.
Tribute to Female Vocal: Woman In Love (2014) & SusanWongVEVO
From the time when My LIVE Stories was being recorded, the idea for Woman In Love was already in conception. 2 ½ years in the making, recorded over 8 studios in 3 continents – Woman In Love was released worldwide December 1st, 2014. Woman In Love is Susan’s tribute to great women singers before her who made their fame with sensuous and endearing love songs. The album features romantic love songs old and new from Olivia Newton-John’s I Honestly Love You, Barbra Streisand’s classic Woman in Love to Rihanna’s hit Stay and Adele’s Make You Feel My Love.
For Woman In Love, Susan crafted a rare original song Can’t You See (I’m Falling In Love) to be included in the album.
Susan took her rendition of Mary Macgregor’s Torn Between Two Lovers to the big screen where the music video was released in full HD live on SusanWongVEVO. Susan Wong’s VEVO channel now holds a dear collection of Susan Wong’s best and most popular music.
Desperado
Susan Wong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Desperado
Why don't you come to your senses
You been out ridin' fences
For so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But I know that you've got your reasons
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
The queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon the table
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado
Oh you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger
They're drive you home
Freedom, ah freedom
That's just some people talkin'
You're prisoners walkin'
Through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away
Desperado
Why don't you come to your senses
Come down from your fineces
Open the gate
It may be rainin'
But there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you
You better let somebody love you
Before it's too late
The song "Desperado" by Carpenters is a ballad about a person who is a loner in life and is struggling with their choices. The singer appears to be addressing the titular character, urging them to be more content with their life and to find love before it's too late. The title itself suggests the idea of a cowboy or a gunslinger, who is hardened by the roughness of life and the many hardships that they have faced. The song has a powerful message that suggests that freedom and independence are not always what they seem to be, and that one should be careful in choosing what they want in life.
The lyrics tell a story of a person who has been riding fences for too long, someone who is detached and seemingly unemotional. The singer implores the person to make better choices, urging them to be more introspective about their choices and to try and find happiness. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, reminds the listener that time is running out and that they should make changes before it's too late. The song is a somber and poignant reminder of the choices that we make in life and the consequences that come with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Desperado
Addressing the person who has lost their way and become desperate
Why don't you come to your senses
Asking why they can't see what they're doing wrong and change their ways
You been out ridin' fences
Referring to their aimless wandering and lack of direction
For so long now
Implying that they've been lost and alone for a significant amount of time
Oh, you're a hard one
Acknowledging that the person is tough and resistant to change
But I know that you've got your reasons
Understanding that they have their own justification for their behavior
These things that are pleasin' you
The things that they're doing that give them temporary pleasure
Can hurt you somehow
Warns that these actions may lead to their own downfall
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
Advises them not to pursue someone or something that is dangerous
She'll beat you if she's able
She will take advantage of you or cause you harm
The queen of hearts is always your best bet
Suggests that they should aim for someone or something that will bring them happiness
Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon the table
There are opportunities or good things available to them
But you only want the ones that you can't get
They are seeking something unattainable, ignoring what is within their reach
Desperado
Reiterating the message to the desperate person
Oh you ain't gettin' no younger
They're wasting their time and need to act fast
Your pain and your hunger
The things driving them to act recklessly
They're driving you home
Their desperation is leading them to a hopeless end
Freedom, ah freedom
Commenting on how some people view freedom
That's just some people talkin'
Reinforcing that freedom may not be what they think it is
You're prisoners walkin'
The person is trapped by their own actions, unable to escape their desperation
Through this world all alone
They are alone in their struggles, despite being surrounded by others
Don't your feet get cold in the wintertime
Asking if they feel the weight of their situation during the tough times
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
Describing the world as being unkind and unforgiving
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
Suggesting that the person is lost and doesn't know which way to turn
You're losin' all your highs and lows
The things that make them happy aren't satisfying anymore, and the lows are becoming worse
Ain't it funny how the feelin' goes away
Noting how temporary happiness is, and how quickly it fades
Desperado
Reiterating the message to the desperate person
Why don't you come to your senses
Urging them again to see the error of their ways
Come down from your fences
Encouraging them to abandon their aimless wandering
Open the gate
Inviting them to explore new opportunities, and to move beyond their desperation
It may be rainin'
Even though life may be tough at times
But there's a rainbow above you
There are good things to come if they make the effort to seek them out
You better let somebody love you
They need to be open to love, and to let others love them in order to find happiness
You better let somebody love you
Re-emphasizing the importance of love and human connection
Before it's too late
Mentioning that there is an urgency to the situation, and that time is running out
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@freebird127
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet
Now, it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you (let somebody love you)
You better let somebody love you
Before it's too late
@doetilaso6023
Desperado
Eagles
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet
Now, it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table,
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows;
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences; open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late
Songwriters: Glenn Lewis Frey / Don Hugh Henley
@ginerbaby
Beautiful voice! Never get tired of listening to her.
@ginerbaby
What a nice song! What a magnificent singer!
@bearron
That was stunning. A talented songwriter is smiling in Heaven.
@freebird127
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet
Now, it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you (let somebody love you)
You better let somebody love you
Before it's too late
@doetilaso6023
Desperado
Eagles
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet
Now, it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table,
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows;
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences; open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late
Songwriters: Glenn Lewis Frey / Don Hugh Henley
@johngraham9878
Great piano work!
@Black_and_soft
wow i love this song!
@teesnamtong
❤nice.
@edwindelacruz9850
Beautiful song with an Angel voice, Susan, much better than The Eagles version.. Muuuuuahhh
@baytalk
I was a teacher in Austin Texas, and I talked Willie Nelson's daughter when she was in my speech class. I also knew Susan Walker who was Jerry Jeff Walker's wife. He wrote mr. Bojangles.