In 2003, Suh signed with Epic/Sony; she ended up working with Glen Ballard, a well-known producer/songwriter/arranger.At first, Ballard only agreed to produce a few songs for Suh, but he was so impressed with her work that he ended up producing her entire debut album (a self-titled CD that Epic released in April 2005).
With the album completed, Suh reflects on the making of her debut: "My mission has always been to create music that transcends boundaries, to make music that is universal."
Although Suh has lived in the United States her entire life, both of her parents are immigrants who moved to southern California from Korea in the '60s. Suh's involvement with music began when she was only eight and joined a Korean children's choir, whose repertoire ranged from traditional Korean songs to American pop. At 13, Suh left Los Angeles for New Hampshire, where she attended a boarding school and did her share of songwriting during her adolescent years; Suh was around 17 when she recorded a six-song EP, pressed 1,000 copies onto CDs, and managed to sell about 700 of them to her schoolmates.
After reaching adulthood, Suh attended Brown University in Rhode Island (where she obtained a degree in English), but spent as much time as she could visiting New York City and performing in Lower Manhattan clubs. A career in music is not something that Suh's ambitious parents encouraged — in fact, they tried to talk her out of it and encouraged her to go into a more stable, less volatile line of work. Music, they asserted, should be nothing more than a hobby for Suh. But her parents' lack of support didn't discourage the L.A. native; if anything, it inspired her to persevere and work even harder at having a career in music. "Your Battlefield," one of Suh's songs, was inspired by her career-related disagreements with her parents.
Lucille
Susie Suh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put me behind that wheel
Lucille, you know how I feel
Put me behind that wheel
'Cause every waking day's just the same damn thing
I get up and go to work and then I sleep again
It's just my days and oh they never change
Lucille, you know how I feel
Put me behind that wheel
Lucille, you know how I feel
Put me behind that wheel
Even if I have to drive all night I don't care
I just might make my way to New Orleans
And maybe I will meet a local boy and we can drown out all the noise
And make a toast to this crazy scene
Lucille, you know how I feel
(Just gimme the keys, Lucille) Put me behind that wheel
Lucille, (I gotta get outta here, I just) you know how I feel
(Gimme the keys to the wheel) Put me behind that wheel
'Cause every waking day's just the same damn thing
I get up and go to work and then I sleep again
It's just my days and oh they never change
I was I could just run away
Lucille, you know how I feel
Put me behind that wheel
Lucille, (Just gimme the keys, Lucille, just gimme the keys) you know how I feel
(I gotta get outta here) Put me behind that wheel
I don't care about it
I don't wanna hear no more
I got no friends here
I just gotta get outta here
I don't know
I just feel it I don't belong here no more
Just gotta get away, so
(oh oh oh oh)
Lucille, you know how I feel
Put me behind that wheel
The song "Lucille" by Susie Suh is about a person who is stuck in a monotonous routine and wants to escape it. The singer expresses her feelings of wanting to run away and leave everything behind. She wants to get in a car and drive away, maybe to New Orleans, where she can find a new life and forget about the troubles of the past.
The repetition of the line "Lucille, you know how I feel, put me behind that wheel" suggests that Lucille is a symbol of escape for the singer. Lucille is someone who can help the singer leave the place where she feels trapped behind. The chorus also highlights the melancholic tone of the song. The singer feels that every day is the same and nothing ever changes. She wants to leave and start over somewhere new.
Suh's "Lucille" is a song that resonates with many people who feel stuck in their daily routine and long for something more. The lyrics are relatable and express the desire to break free from the mundane and the repetitive. The song features a catchy tune with a simple melody and memorable chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Lucille, you know how I feel
Addressing the person named Lucille, the singer acknowledges that they understand the way she feels
Put me behind that wheel
The singer is requesting Lucille to give them control of the wheel, implying a desire to escape the monotony of everyday life
'Cause every waking day's just the same damn thing
The singer expresses frustration with the daily routine that they feel stuck in
I get up and go to work and then I sleep again
The artist describes the monotony of their daily routine, which consists of work and sleep
It's just my days and oh they never change
The artist emphasizes the lack of variety in their life, suggesting a desire for change
I was I could just run away
The singer admits to wanting to escape from their current situation
Even if I have to drive all night I don't care
The singer is willing to go to great lengths to escape their current situation
I just might make my way to New Orleans
The artist considers New Orleans as a place they may want to go to escape their problems
And maybe I will meet a local boy and we can drown out all the noise
The artist anticipates the possibility of finding a distraction or escape in the form of a new relationship
And make a toast to this crazy scene
The artist envisions a scenario where they can leave their troubles behind and celebrate a new, exciting experience
(Just gimme the keys, Lucille) Put me behind that wheel
The singer reiterates their desire for control of the vehicle with emphasis, perhaps indicating an urgency to leave
(I gotta get outta here, I just) you know how I feel
The artist communicates their desperation to escape to Lucille, expressing a desire for her understanding
(Gimme the keys to the wheel) Put me behind that wheel
The singer repeats their request for control of the vehicle, emphasizing their desire to leave
I don't care about it
The singer expresses their indifference or apathy towards their current situation
I don't wanna hear no more
The singer doesn't want to hear any more discussion or argument about their desire to leave
I got no friends here
The artist feels lonely or isolated in their current environment
I just gotta get outta here
The artist urgently communicates their need to escape
I don't know
The singer is uncertain or doesn't have an answer
I just feel it I don't belong here no more
The singer describes their intuition or sense that they don't fit in, and need to leave
Just gotta get away, so
The artist reiterates their need to escape, suggesting a sense of urgency
(oh oh oh oh)
A nonsensical vocalization, perhaps indicating a strong emotional response or emphasis
Contributed by Madelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.