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.
Birth-Day
Suzanne Vega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
one thing I know
this pain will go
step through all that's left to feel
I wait to meet my love made real
don't move don't touch
don't talk so much
strip and find the place to kneel
I wait to meet my love made real
one thing I know
this day will go
don't touch don't talk crawl the wall
she's the ticket to the future don't listen down the hall
you can say your prayer to the head of this bed
when it begins at your knees and goes right to your head
birth-day
strap me down from wrist to heel
I wait to meet my love made real
one thing I know
this day will go
shake all over like an old sick dog
there's a needle here needle there tremble in the fog
it's a tight squeeze vice grip ice and fire
she's a hot little treasure and the wave goes higher
birth-day
birth-day
Copyright © 1996 WB Music Corp.(ASCAP)/Waifersongs, Ltd. (ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved/Used By Permission
Suzanne Vega - vocals, riff guitar
Bruce Thomas - bass
Jerry Marotta, Pete Thomas - drums, percussion
Steve Donnelly - electric guitars
Mitchell Froom - keyboards
The song “Birth-Day” by Suzanne Vega is about the fear and pain of giving birth. The singer is aware that the pain will eventually go away, but for now, she has to go through it. The first verse talks about how she has to step through all the emotions she is feeling and wait to meet her love, which is the baby. The second verse has instructions for those around her, such as not to touch, talk, or move too much, and to strip down and kneel. The third verse describes the physical sensations of giving birth, like shaking and feeling like a sick dog, due to the needles that are being used. She also talks about feeling pain and tightness, which is symbolized by ice and fire. The singer is ultimately looking forward to meeting her baby, whom she calls her love made real.
Line by Line Meaning
one thing I know
The singer is confident of this particular fact
this pain will go
The pain being experienced by the singer is temporary
step through all that's left to feel
The singer is ready or willing to experience whatever is left
I wait to meet my love made real
The artist is waiting to meet their loved one who has become real
don't move don't touch
The artist tells someone not to move or touch
don't talk so much
The singer asks someone to stop talking so much
strip and find the place to kneel
The singer instructs someone to take off their clothes and kneel down
one thing I know
The artist is certain of this one particular fact
this day will go
The day being experienced by the artist is temporary and will pass
don't touch don't talk crawl the wall
The artist tells someone not to touch or talk and to crawl on the wall
she's the ticket to the future don't listen down the hall
The singer believes that 'she' is the way to the future and not to be swayed by listening to others
you can say your prayer to the head of this bed
The artist suggests that one can pray to the head of the bed
when it begins at your knees and goes right to your head
The experience being referred to starts at the singer's knees and then goes up to their head
birth-day
The song's title, 'Birth day'
strap me down from wrist to heel
The singer is telling someone to strap them down from wrist to heel
I wait to meet my love made real
The artist is waiting to meet their loved one who has become real
shake all over like an old sick dog
The artist is shaking all over like an old sick dog
there's a needle here needle there tremble in the fog
The singer is feeling the effects of needles or medical procedures causing a tremble when in a foggy mental state
it's a tight squeeze vice grip ice and fire
The experience being referred to is extreme, like being in a tight squeeze with a vice grip while feeling both ice and fire
she's a hot little treasure and the wave goes higher
The artist refers to 'she' as a valuable thing and as one experiences it, the wave of emotion heightens
birth-day
The song's title, 'Birth day'
birth-day
The song's title, 'Birth day'
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind