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.
New York Is a Woman
Suzanne Vega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With her bangles and her spangles and her stars
You were impressed with a city so undressed
You had to go out cruising all the bars
Your business trip extended through the weekend
Suburban boy here for your first time
From the twenty-seventh floor above the midtown roar
And she's every girl you've seen in every movie
Every dame you've ever known on late night TV
In her steam and steel is the passion you feel
Endlessly
New York is a woman, she'll make you cry
And to her you're just another guy
Look down and see her ruined places
Smoke and ash still rising to the sky
She's happy that you're here, but when you disappear
She won't know that you're gone to say goodbye
New York is a woman, she'll make you cry
And to her you're just another guy
And she's every girl you've seen in every movie
Every dame you've ever known on late night TV
In her steam and steel is the passion you feel
Desperately
New York is a woman, she'll make you cry
And to her you're just another guy
Suzanne Vega's song "New York Is a Woman" is about the city of New York personified as a woman. The lyrics describe the city's flashy and glamorous appearance, which immediately leaves an impression on a suburban boy who is visiting for the first time. He is struck by the city's beauty and its dark underbelly. The city seems to contain all the archetypal women from every movie, and every dame he's seen on late night TV. The passion that drives New York is found in its steam and steel. The singer feels a sense of desperation that comes from being drawn to this addictive city.
The chorus, which repeats several times throughout the song, speaks to the heart of the matter. New York is a woman that will make you cry. To her, visitors are just another guy, easily replaceable in a city that is constantly in flux. The ruined places are visible if one looks down, beneath the veneer of glamour that is presented. Smoke and ash still rise from these locations, reminding the singer of the city's struggles.
In "New York Is a Woman," Vega captures the complex nature of New York and the emotions it can elicit. The city has many faces, and it can be glorious and cruel at the same time. It is a place that inspires passion and devotion, but it can also leave visitors feeling lost and insignificant. Through the song, Vega suggests that New York is not just a place but also a living, breathing entity with desires and moods of its own.
Line by Line Meaning
New York City spread herself before you
The city of New York put on a show for you
With her bangles and her spangles and her stars
Decorated with her lights, New York looked beautiful
You were impressed with a city so undressed
You were amazed by a city that didn't hold back
You had to go out cruising all the bars
You felt the need to explore the city's nightlife
Your business trip extended through the weekend
Your visit to New York for work became a weekend getaway
Suburban boy here for your first time
You had never been to a city as big and lively as New York before
From the twenty-seventh floor above the midtown roar
From your hotel room high above the city, you could hear the noise of midtown
You were dazzled by her beauty and her crime
You were amazed by her beauty but also aware of her darker side
And she's every girl you've seen in every movie
New York represents all the women you've ever seen in films
Every dame you've ever known on late night TV
She's also every woman you've seen on late night television
In her steam and steel is the passion you feel
The city's energy and structure inspire you
Endlessly
Without limit or interruption
New York is a woman, she'll make you cry
The city of New York is personified as a woman who can evoke strong emotions
And to her you're just another guy
To the city, you're just one of many visitors
Look down and see her ruined places
If you look closely, you can see the parts of the city that have suffered
Smoke and ash still rising to the sky
Evidence of the city's tragedies can still be seen in the air
She's happy that you're here, but when you disappear
New York welcomes visitors but is indifferent when they leave
She won't know that you're gone to say goodbye
The city will not miss you when you leave
Desperately
In a way that shows a sense of urgency or needing something
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind