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.
Recognition
Susie Suh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Crawling through this micro alley
But I am hungry for your love
And I am starving for a better time
But that's all we got here
That's all we know
That's all we've become
Our recognition
In a line with our right foot first
Yes, we're waiting for some material heaven
That will, that will quench our, quench the thirst
But that's all we got here
That's all we know
That's all we've become
Our recognition
And I don't know what to do about holding my head high
I am struggling to breathe through all these in between times
And I am wondering why
I am wondering why
Oh, Oh, Oh
And I was born into this place that filters who we are by what we have done
Yes I know I am a product of this institution
That's all I got, yeah
That's all I know
That's all I've become
My recognition
And I don't know what to do about holding my head high
I am struggling to breathe through all these in between times
And I am wondering why
I am wondering why
The song "Recognition" by Susie Suh is a contemplative track that reflects on the struggles faced by individuals trying to find purpose in life. The lyrics express a sense of frustration and helplessness in the face of a society that looks at people based on their achievements or possessions. The opening lines "We are just shadows/Crawling through this micro alley" suggest a feeling of insignificance and a lack of direction or purpose. The singer, however, desires love and a better life but is hindered by the limited opportunities presented by their environment. The line "That's all we've become/Our recognition" illustrates how societal recognition has become the ultimate goal for many, rather than personal fulfillment or happiness.
The second verse refers to conformity and how individuals are expected to follow the norm, represented by the line "In a line with our right foot first". The reference to "material heaven" highlights how society has conditioned people to believe that happiness can only come from the acquisition of material possessions. The struggle for personal identity is further explored in the lines "And I don't know what to do about holding my head high/I am struggling to breathe through all these in-between times/And I am wondering why". The singer is trying to maintain a sense of dignity and self-worth in a world that constantly undermines their efforts and leaves them feeling lost and unfulfilled.
Overall, "Recognition" is a poignant and introspective song that highlights the difficulties of finding personal fulfillment in a society that values material success above all else.
Line by Line Meaning
We are just shadows
We feel insignificant and unnoticed as we move through life
Crawling through this micro alley
We are making our way through a difficult and narrow path
But I am hungry for your love
I crave emotional connection and affection
And I am starving for a better time
I desperately want an improvement in my circumstances or situation
But that's all we got here
We are limited in what we have access to or what we can achieve
That's all we know
We have a narrow perspective on life and lack knowledge or experience
That's all we've become
Our identities and personalities have been shaped by our surroundings and experiences
Our recognition
Our sense of self is rooted in our environment and experiences
Yeah, well we be walking in some kind of direction
We are moving forward, but without clarity or purpose
In a line with our right foot first
We are following a prescribed path without deviation
Yes, we're waiting for some material heaven
We are hoping for a better life through the acquisition of wealth and possessions
That will, that will quench our, quench the thirst
We believe that material possessions will satisfy our deepest desires and longings
And I don't know what to do about holding my head high
I don't know how to maintain my self-respect and dignity
I am struggling to breathe through all these in between times
I am finding it difficult to cope with uncertainty and change
And I am wondering why
I am feeling confused and uncertain about my life
And I was born into this place that filters who we are by what we have done
Our worth and value are measured by our achievements and successes
Yes I know I am a product of this institution
Our environment and upbringing have shaped us into the people we are today
That's all I got, yeah
I am aware that my opportunities and possibilities are limited
That's all I know
My perspective on life is narrow and limited
That's all I've become
My identity and personality have been shaped by my environment and experiences
My recognition
My sense of self is rooted in my surroundings and experiences
And I don't know what to do about holding my head high
I don't know how to maintain my self-respect and dignity
I am struggling to breathe through all these in between times
I am finding it difficult to cope with uncertainty and change
And I am wondering why
I am feeling confused and uncertain about my life
Contributed by Colin L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Key Marie
I am huge fan of Susie Suh- true lyricist.
Cierra-Nichole Lundy
Love this song...sooo deep!
James Husentoff
Never gets old
Beth M
Honesty always strikes deep. It's amazing how she does this easily.
Malin Hauge
Loved this instantly<3
Johanna K.
does anyone have the chords to this song?? it's amazing, but I can't find it anywhere on the internet... :(
S G
Nice song. Thanks for sharing.
lengyel Gergő
Nagyon szeretem. Hungaryan i love mit.
BOGDAN MANOFU
<3 <3 <3
BitGridTV
songs they would never air on radio here anyway get blocked on YT for me.
thats hilarious