Calypso
Suzanne Vega Lyrics
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And I have lived alone
I live on an island
And I waken to the dawn
A long time ago
I watched him struggle with the sea
I knew that he was drowning
And I brought him into me
Come morning light
He sails away
After one last night
I let him go.
My name is Calypso
My garden overflows
Thick and wild and hidden
Is the sweetness there that grows
My hair it blows long
As I sing into the wind
My name is Calypso
And I have lived alone
I live on an island
I tell of nights
Where I could taste the salt on his skin
Salt of the waves
And of tears
And though he,pulled away
I kept him here for years
I let him go
My name is Calypso
I have let him go
In the dawn he sails away
To be gone forever more
And the waves will take him in again
But he'll know their ways now
I will stand upon the shore
With a clean heart
And my song in the wind
The sand will sting my feet
And the sky will burn
It's a lonely time ahead
I do not ask him to return
I let him go
I let him go
Calypso is a song by Suzanne Vega that tells the story of a woman who lives alone on an island. Calypso sings about an experience she had a long time ago, when she saved a man from drowning in the sea. She knew he was struggling to survive and offered him a home on her island. They spent time together and experienced a deep connection but eventually, it was time for him to leave. The lyrics of the song suggest that Calypso knew it was necessary to let him go, even though it was difficult. She speaks of how his departure will leave her lonely and isolated, but she understands that this is the right thing to do. Calypso represents a powerful female figure who is capable of making difficult decisions and confronting the challenges of being alone.
The song combines literal and metaphorical elements. It tells the story of a woman who lives on an island, but it is also about the human experience of loving and losing someone. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery that transports the listener to the island, the sea, and the sky. The song is an ode to the beauty and hardship of the natural world, but it also conveys the emotional complexity of human relationships. The lyrics suggest that there is something universal about Calypso's experience, even though she is a fictional character.
Line by Line Meaning
My name is Calypso
The singer of the song is a mythical figure named Calypso.
And I have lived alone
Calypso has lived alone for quite some time.
I live on an island
Calypso lives on an isolated island.
And I waken to the dawn
Calypso greets each day as it dawns.
A long time ago
At some point in the past, Calypso had a significant experience.
I watched him struggle with the sea
Calypso saw a man fight the sea's power.
I knew that he was drowning
Calypso recognized that the man was in danger of drowning.
And I brought him into me
Calypso saved the man by bringing him to her island sanctuary.
Now today
The story now jumps forward to the present day.
Come morning light
The next morning has arrived.
He sails away
The man leaves Calypso's island.
After one last night
The man spent one final night with Calypso before his departure.
I let him go.
Calypso accepts the man's decision to leave and does not try to stop him.
My garden overflows
Calypso has a lush and abundant garden.
Thick and wild and hidden
The garden is dense and hard to navigate.
Is the sweetness there that grows
The garden is full of sweet, fragrant plants.
My hair it blows long
Calypso's hair is long and moves in the wind.
As I sing into the wind
Calypso sings to the wind.
I tell of nights
Calypso shares stories of the past with the listener.
Where I could taste the salt on his skin
Calypso reminisces about a time when she was close to the man and could taste the salt on his skin.
Salt of the waves
The salt is from the ocean.
And of tears
The salt may also be from tears shed during sad moments.
And though he,pulled away
The man ultimately decided to leave Calypso's island.
I kept him here for years
Calypso managed to convince the man to stay with her for years before he left.
I have let him go
Calypso has come to peace with the man's departure and is letting him go.
In the dawn he sails away
The man left at dawn.
To be gone forever more
The man will not return to Calypso's island.
And the waves will take him in again
The man was saved by Calypso once, but now he will return to the mercy of the sea.
But he'll know their ways now
The man has learned how to navigate the sea and handle its power.
I will stand upon the shore
Calypso will watch the man leave from her island's shore.
With a clean heart
Calypso is at peace with the man's decision to go.
And my song in the wind
Calypso's music will carry over the wind and wave noise.
The sand will sting my feet
Calypso is physically experiencing the sensation of sand.
And the sky will burn
The sun will be hot and bright.
It's a lonely time ahead
Calypso is facing a time of sadness and loneliness.
I do not ask him to return
Calypso does not expect or demand the man to come back to the island.
I let him go
The song comes full circle, repeating the idea that Calypso has accepted the man's leaving and is letting him go.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind