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.
Cracking
Suzanne Vega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It just happens
A lot
Walk with me
And we will see
What we have got
Ah
Like water dripping from a tree
Walking a harline
And stepping very carefully
Ah
My heart is broken
It is worn out at the knees
Hearing muffled
Seeing blind
Soon it will hit the Deep Freeze
And something is cracking
I don't know where
Ice on the sidewalk
Brittle braches
In the air
The sun
Is blinding
Dizzy golden, dancing green
Through the park in the afternoon
Wondering where the hell
I have been
Ah
These lyrics are from Suzanne Vega's song "Cracking," which deals with the theme of uncertain relationships and the fragility of human emotions. The opening line "It's a one-time thing, it just happens a lot" suggests that the relationship has a sort of fleeting and temporary nature. The singer then invites the other person to join them on a walk, commenting "Walk with me, and we will see what we have got." This indicates that the relationship is still in its early stages and the singer is unsure of where it may lead.
The next few lines refer to the singer's inner turmoil, with their footsteps ticking like water dripping from a tree, demonstrating their nervousness and anxiety. They walk on a hairline, stepping carefully, suggesting their caution in the relationship. The line "My heart is broken, it is worn out at the knees," may indicate that the singer has been hurt in previous relationships, causing emotional damage that makes them wary of opening up fully to someone else.
The chorus of the song is especially poignant, with Vega singing, "Something is cracking, I don't know where, ice on the sidewalk, brittle branches in the air." This imagery of cracking and breaking suggests that the singer is aware that the relationship is fragile and may not survive. The lines "Hearing muffled, seeing blind, soon it will hit the Deep Freeze" further imply that the relationship is nearing an end, with communication breaking down and emotions becoming numb.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a one time thing
This moment, this experience is unique and will only ever happen once.
It just happens
Things occur without any prior warning or planning, by chance or coincidence.
A lot
This may happen frequently or repetitively.
Walk with me
Join me, let us traverse forward together.
And we will see
Together, we will observe and discover whatever lies ahead.
What we have got
We'll find out what possessions, circumstances and emotions we currently possess.
My footsteps are ticking
The sound of my steps is like the ticking of a clock.
Like water dripping from a tree
Similar to the sound of water lightly dripping from branches in a tree.
Walking a harline
My walk is cautious and deliberate, like on a tightrope.
And stepping very carefully
I'm being mindful of each step and not taking anything for granted.
My heart is broken
My emotional well-being is shattered, and I am in distress.
It is worn out at the knees
The state of my heart is depleted and weakened.
Hearing muffled
I don't hear clearly or distinctly, as if sounds are muted or obscured.
Seeing blind
I am unable to see things clearly, as if vision is partially or fully impaired.
Soon it will hit the Deep Freeze
My emotional state will become numb and unresponsive, like being frozen solid.
And something is cracking
Something is breaking apart or failing, but I'm not sure what it is.
I don't know where
I'm uncertain about the location or source of the cracking.
Ice on the sidewalk
The pavement is frozen with ice, making it slippery and treacherous.
Brittle braches
Tree limbs are fragile and prone to snapping or breaking easily.
In the air
These brittle branches are suspended aloft, moving and swaying with the wind.
The sun
The brilliance of the sun.
Is blinding
The brightness of the sun is uncomfortable, maybe even painful to look at.
Dizzy golden, dancing green
The sunlight casts mesmerizing colors and patterns on the verdant surroundings, causing a sense of dizziness and entrancement.
Through the park in the afternoon
While passing through the park, immersed in the dazzling display of light and colors.
Wondering where the hell
Thinking and pondering deeply.
I have been
Trying to figure out where I went wrong, what events led me to this point.
Ah
An exclamation of personal realization or comprehension.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MARCELOBCS
It's a one time thing
It just happens
A lot
Walk with me
And we will see
What we have got
Ah...
My footsteps are ticking
Like water dripping from a tree
Walking a harline
And stepping very carefully
Ah...
My heart is broken
It is worn out at the knees
Hearing muffled
Seeing blind
Soon it will hit the Deep Freeze
And something is cracking
I don't know where
Ice on the sidewalk
Brittle braches
In the air
The sun
Is blinding
Dizzy golden, dancing green
Through the park in the afternoon
Wondering where the hell
I have been
Ah...
@MARCELOBCS
It's a one time thing
It just happens
A lot
Walk with me
And we will see
What we have got
Ah...
My footsteps are ticking
Like water dripping from a tree
Walking a harline
And stepping very carefully
Ah...
My heart is broken
It is worn out at the knees
Hearing muffled
Seeing blind
Soon it will hit the Deep Freeze
And something is cracking
I don't know where
Ice on the sidewalk
Brittle braches
In the air
The sun
Is blinding
Dizzy golden, dancing green
Through the park in the afternoon
Wondering where the hell
I have been
Ah...
@seedhillbruisermusic7939
me aged 17 in 1985, left home for the first time, quietly going mad with schizophrenia in a Scottish autumn/winter. Yep, this song really spoke to me!
@mrtimtremmel8465
scottish winters are tough. i dont miss them. Similar memories of this so
ng but happier than yours i think.
@simonmcnamee619
Strangely enough, I have schizophrenia and many years ago I used to listen to this song on repeat during a rough time for comfort.
@stephenroche5107
Hope you are OK now dude 💚
@seedhillbruisermusic7939
@stephen roche I'm fine now mate.
@AlanCanon2222
@Seedhill Bruiser Music Don't know if I have schizophrenia or not, but your experience in the Scotland that's on my bucket list mirrors mine, same year, on the banks of the mighty Ohio River (Louisville). To this day, I cannot get enough of her music. I'm typesetting this song using open source MuseScore for no reason. God, I love her music.
@merseydave1
I got this in 87 as a 22 year old I thought to myself then, its not your usual pop song ...
Having suffered from mental health issues in my latter years, this song is so profound!.
@graylingwild
“My heart is broken, it’s worn out at the knees, hearing muffled, seeing blind, soon it will hit the deep freeze” — so many lines here that resonate, then and now. Brilliantly honest and brave album about human experience that holds true today. ❤
@sopwithcamelus
I have been intrigued by Suzanne Vega from the moment I heard this song over 30 years ago. It still gives me chills.