Though born in California, Vega has lived most of her life in New York City. There, she attended the High School of the Performing Arts (the school seen in the feature film musical Fame), where she studied modern dance. Vega realized that her talent in dance was not sufficient to make her living. While pursuing a degree in English at Columbia University, she penned many songs, and performed in college and community coffeehouses inside and outside the New York City area.
She was discovered in 1984, releasing her eponymous debut the following year. However, it was not until her 1987 sophomore effort, Solitude Standing, that Vega entered the U.S. mainstream with the lyrically unlikely hit Luka. Three years later, a remix of the album's opening track "Tom's Diner" became an American and European hit for "DNA Featuring Suzanne Vega."
Having continuously built and maintained a loyal fanbase since her fame's peak, Vega has a prolific catalogue, and in 2003 she released a retrospective collection. Beauty & Crime, her seventh album, was released in 2007. Inspired by the city where Vega grew up and still currently resides, Beauty & Crime revolves around her experiences in New York.
Vega has a daughter, Ruby Froom, with her ex-husband Mitchell Froom. In early 2006, Vega remarried to a man named Paul Mills.
For additional information, including photographs, visit Suzanne Vega's official website, www.SuzanneVega.com.
In My Movie
Suzanne Vega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd have you as the doctor
Small black bag
And a big black coat
I'd have you make a house call
To the woman
You could lay your
Upon her belly and her throat
If you were in my movie
You could be the detective
You could sit behind the desk
With a question on your lip
Examine her for motive
Investigate the scene
In the ever present danger
Keep the holster at your hip
If you were in my movie
If you were in my movie
If you were in my movie
If you were in my movie
You could be the priest
Long black frock
White collar at the neck
You could come to the confession
You could give a girl a thrill
You could save her from her passion
Keep her body in check
If you were in my movie
If you were in my movie
If you were in my movie
If you were in my movie
You could be the gangster
Double-breasted pinstriped
Man with the cigarette
Go running down the alley
With a double-crossing blond
Explaining to the jury
That you hadn't done anything yet
If you were in my movie
The lyrics of Suzanne Vega's song "In My Movie" describe how the singer envisions different characters and scenarios for a film. In each of the four stanzas, the singer assigns a role to the person addressed in the song, imagining them as a doctor, detective, priest, and gangster respectively. The song is essentially an exercise in creative visualization, as the singer constructs a cinematic world and populates it with characters.
The song also touches on themes of power and control, as the singer's imagined figures exert their authority over others. The doctor has the power to diagnose and heal, the detective to investigate and punish, and the priest to absolve and constrain. Meanwhile, the gangster is depicted as someone who is falsely accused, but still has the power to command the respect of the jury.
Overall, "In My Movie" is a fascinating exploration of the creative process, as well as an examination of the relationship between author and character. By imagining different iterations of a person, the singer is essentially engaging in self-reflection, projecting their own desires and fantasies onto others.
Line by Line Meaning
If you were in my movie
If you were a character in a movie I'm imagining
I'd have you as the doctor
You would play the role of a doctor in the movie
Small black bag
Carrying a small black bag, as most doctors do in movies
And a big black coat
Dressed in a big black coat, as most doctors do in movies
I'd have you make a house call
You would visit a patient at their home
To the woman
The patient would be a woman
You could lay your
You would use
Diagnostic hand
Your expertise as a doctor
Upon her belly and her throat
To examine her belly and throat
If you were in my movie
If you were a character in a movie I'm imagining
You could be the detective
You could play the role of a detective in the movie
You could sit behind the desk
You would sit at a desk, investigating clues and making deductions
With a question on your lip
Always asking questions, trying to solve the case
Examine her for motive
Investigate her actions, trying to figure out why she did what she did
Investigate the scene
Go to the place where the crime occurred and gather evidence
In the ever present danger
Despite the risks involved in your line of work
Keep the holster at your hip
Carry a gun, ready to defend yourself if necessary
If you were in my movie
If you were a character in a movie I'm imagining
You could be the priest
You could play the role of a priest in the movie
Long black frock
Wearing a long black robe, as most priests do in movies
White collar at the neck
With the white collar at the neck, as most priests do in movies
You could come to the confession
You would visit someone who wants to confess their sins
You could give a girl a thrill
You could make her feel excited or happy, using your wise words
You could save her from her passion
You could convince her to resist temptation or desire
Keep her body in check
Make sure she behaves according to the rules and laws of the church
If you were in my movie
If you were a character in a movie I'm imagining
You could be the gangster
You could play the role of a gangster in the movie
Double-breasted pinstriped
Wearing a suit with double-breasted and pinstripes, as most gangsters do in movies
Man with the cigarette
Smoking a cigarette, as most gangsters do in movies
Go running down the alley
Run away from the police or other criminals in a narrow street
With a double-crossing blond
With a woman who deceived you, making you lose money or power
Explaining to the jury
Giving your version of the story in court
That you hadn't done anything yet
Or convincing them that you're innocent, despite your sinister appearance and reputation
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind