F
Suzanne Vega / Tom's Diner Lyrics


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99.9 Fahrenheit degrees
Stable now, with rising possibilities
It could be normal but it isn't quite
Could make you want to stay awake at night

You seem to me
Like a man
0n the verge of burning
99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Pale as a candle
And your face is hot
And if I touch you
I might get what you've got

You seem to me
Like a man
On the verge of running
99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Something cool
Against the skin
Is what you could be
Something cool
Against the skin
Is what you
Could be needing

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

You seem to me
Like a man
On the verge of burning
99.9 Fahrenheit degrees

Something cool
Against the skin
Is what you could be
Something cool
Against your skin
Is what you
Could be needing





99.9 Fahrenheit degrees [X2]

Overall Meaning

In this song, Suzanne Vega paints the picture of a man who is unwell and running a fever of 99.9 Fahrenheit degrees. The lyrics suggest that although his temperature is not alarmingly high, there is something about his demeanor and appearance that indicates he may be on the verge of becoming very ill. Vega characterizes the man as being "pale as a candle" and having a face that is hot to the touch. She expresses concern that she too may become sick if she were to touch him.


The verse "'Something cool against the skin is what you could be needing'" suggests that the man might find relief from his fever by cooling his skin. Vega repeats the line "99.9 Fahrenheit degrees" throughout the song, which serves to underline the man's condition and emphasize its severity. Overall, the song presents a snapshot of a moment in time, where someone is sick, and it's not entirely clear where things will go from there.


Line by Line Meaning

99.9 Fahrenheit degrees
Your temperature is reading at 99.9°F, indicating a fever.


Stable now, with rising possibilities
Your fever is consistent at the moment but there is a chance it may worsen.


It could be normal but it isn't quite
Although a temperature of 99.9°F is close to the normal range, it is still technically considered a fever.


Could make you want to stay awake at night
Having a fever can cause restlessness and make it difficult to sleep at night.


You seem to me Like a man On the verge of burning 99.9 Fahrenheit degrees
Observing your condition, it appears as though you are about to break out in a high fever at 99.9°F.


Pale as a candle And your face is hot And if I touch you I might get what you've got
Your face is pale with heat that radiates from it, and I could potentially catch whatever sickness you have if I come in contact with your skin.


Something cool Against the skin Is what you could be Something cool Against the skin Is what you Could be needing
Putting something cold on your skin may help to reduce your fever and bring comfort.


99.9 Fahrenheit degrees
Your temperature remains at 99.9°F.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@bunni795

Lyrics:
I am sitting
In the morning
At the diner
On the corner

I am waiting
At the counter
For the man
To pour the coffee

And he fills it
Only halfway
And before
I even argue

He is looking
Out the window
At somebody
Coming in

"It is always
Nice to see you"
Says the man
Behind the counter

To the woman
Who has come in
She is shaking
Her umbrella

And I look
The other way
As they are kissing
Their hellos

And I'm pretending
Not to see them
And instead
I pour the milk

I open
Up the paper
There's a story
Of an actor

Who had died
While he was drinking
It was no one
I had heard of

And I'm turning
To the horoscope
And looking
For the funnies

When I'm feeling
Someone watching me
And so
I raise my head

There's a woman
On the outside
Looking inside
Does she see me?

No she does not
Really see me
'Cause she sees
Her own reflection

And I'm trying
Not to notice
That she's hitching
Up her skirt

And while she's
Straightening her stockings
Her hair
Has gotten wet

Oh this rain
It will continue
Through the morning
As I'm listening

To the bells
Of the cathedral
I am thinking
Of your voice



@Taru1blm

@@JePe-on4ff Not sure what you're into exactly, of the artists I mentioned, most of their discography is solid, but check these out for starters.
The Marias = ABQ, No One Noticed, Exit Music For A Film
Cannons = Golden, Lightning, Goodbye
Chromatics = Lady, Shadow, Cherry
Still Corners = Strange Pleasures, Midnight Drive, Fireflies
Michelle G = Feel More, To Be With Others
Men I Trust = Show Me How, Tailwhip
Faye Webster = Overslept
Puma Blue= Falling Down, Velvet Leaves, Want Me
Jonathan Bree = In The Sunshine
Joji = Will He, Slow Dancing In The Dark
Billie Eilish = Hotline Bling, Billie Bossa Nova
D4vd = Romantic Homicide

I can list more synth based chill tunes like:
Trevor Something = Eternal Love, Ghost, Fade Away, Crash, Crush
Veronicavon = Dreamgirl
Mr Kitty = After Dark
Else = Paris
Naeleck = All My Heroes
Annie = Anthonio
Grimes = Vanessa (Remix), So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth
Pure Bathing Culture= Scotty
Mood Rings = The Line
Julee Cruise = Falling
Alicia Clara = Closing Time At The Gates
R Missing = Veronica (original and remix)
Q LAzarus = Goodbye Horses
Beach House = Levitation, Space Song
Porches = Underwater
Flight Facilities = Clair De Lune
Kat Von D = Fear You
Claude = Screen
Correatown = What Is Love



@leta5930

Lyrics:

I am sitting
In the morning
At the diner
On the corner
I am waiting
At the counter
For the man
To pour the coffee
And he fills it
Only halfway
And before
I even argue
He is looking
Out the window
At somebody
Coming in
It is always
Nice to see you
Says the man
Behind the counter
To the woman
Who has come in
She is shaking
Her umbrella
And I look
The other way
As they are kissing
Their hellos
I'm pretending
Not to see them
Instead
I pour the milk
I open
Up the paper
There's a story
Of an actor
Who had died
While he was drinking
It was no one
I had heard of
And I'm turning
To the horoscope
And looking
For the funnies
When I'm feeling
Someone watching me
And so
I raise my head
There's a woman
On the outside
Looking inside
Does she see me?
No she does not
Really see me
Cause she sees
Her own reflection
And I'm trying
Not to notice
That she's hitching
Up her skirt
And while she's
Straightening her stockings
Her hair
Has gotten wet
Oh, this rain
It will continue
Through the morning
As I'm listening
To the bells
Of the cathedral
I am thinking
Of your voice...
And of the midnight picnic
Once upon a time
Before the rain began...
I finish up my coffee
It's time to catch the train



All comments from YouTube:

@jonathonbrown8522

Fun fact, The very first song to become an MP3 was Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner." A German engineer played the song over and over again as he tried to squeeze the song into a smaller size without changing its sound too much. The rhythm helped the encoding of the file.

@Lopal12

i thought he was just a fan lol

@khwarizmatic437

No way …gohhhh!!!!🤣🤣🤣

@jjsan27

It's always a German lol.

@rockbarcellos

if I'm not mistaken, the version that was used to make the first MP3 was the acapella one, since it was just her voice singing it was much easier to do it

@FlyingBeast009

Source?

168 More Replies...

@Ginger_Sweet

When I was a kid I had this stuck in my head and I didn’t know who sang it or what it was called .So my aunt called a radio station - kiss 95fm and I sang it for them , they told me the artist and the song name and then my aunt took me to Sam the record man to buy the CD. I fell in love with every song on the album, I still have all my old CDs from my childhood . I have a disorder that has been eating away at my long term memory for years just hearing the song again brought that memory flooding back I’m happy she recently uploaded it on here ❤️.

@pilar9247

Your aunt rules

@Ginger_Sweet

@@pilar9247 she really does took me for my birthday dinner yesterday 💜💜💜

@ssm5708

This is so wholesome

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