Frank & Ava
Vega Suzanne Lyrics
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It didn't mean she wasn't queen of the tinderbox that was his heart
Her fire, his desire meant that everything must come undone
And, so, now we know that it's not enough to be in love
(Not enough to be in love, not enough to be in love)
He's so true, she is, too; she says "I love you Frank," and then they drank all night
What a fight! He says "it isn't me you're thinking of"
Upon the ground; she says "it's not enough to be in love"
(It's not enough, it's not enough, it's not enough to be in love)
Not enough to be in love
(It's not enough, it's not enough, it's not enough to be in love)
They woke up, but they broke up; they were so volatile, and all the while life passed
And it went fast; and yet they never could forget their chemistry
Like you and me, it proved to keep them both apart for life
And so, now we know that it's not enough to be in love
(Not enough to be in love)
(Not enough to be in love)
Not enough to be in love
The song "Frank & Ava" by Suzanne Vega is a melancholic ballad about the tempestuous and doomed love affair between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. The opening lines, "On the way to the bidet is when the trouble used to start. It didn't mean she wasn't queen of the tinderbox that was his heart" refers to the couple's passionate and tumultuous relationship. The bidet symbolizes their luxurious lifestyle and the excess of their love, but it also represents the start of their fights, which were intense as they were passionate.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "not enough to be in love" as a reminder that love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship. Throughout the verses, Vega hints at the reasons why their relationship did not work out - Frank's infidelity, Ava's coolness that made him cruel, and their inability to forget their chemistry despite the difficulties. The final lines, "And so, now we know that it's not enough to be in love" are a bittersweet conclusion that acknowledges the power of love, but also its limitations.
Overall, "Frank & Ava" is a poignant and insightful exploration of a famous love affair that ended in heartbreak. Suzanne Vega's haunting voice and spare arrangement perfectly capture the emotions at play.
Line by Line Meaning
On the way to the bidet is when the trouble used to start
Their relationship had a lot of problems, and it often started when they were getting ready for bed.
It didn't mean she wasn't queen of the tinderbox that was his heart
Despite the issues they had, he was still deeply in love with her.
Her fire, his desire meant that everything must come undone
The intensity of their passion was ultimately destructive.
And, so, now we know that it's not enough to be in love
Love alone is not enough to make a relationship work.
He's so true, she is, too; she says "I love you Frank," and then they drank all night
They professed their love for each other and drank heavily, but their relationship was still turbulent.
What a fight! He says "it isn't me you're thinking of"
During a fight, he accused her of still being in love with someone else.
She's cool; it makes him cruel, and they needle till the jewels go raining down
Her coolness and detachment made him lash out and say hurtful things to her.
Upon the ground; she says "it's not enough to be in love"
She realizes that their love is not enough to sustain their relationship.
They woke up, but they broke up; they were so volatile, and all the while life passed
Despite many attempts to make their relationship work, they eventually broke up due to their constant fighting.
And it went fast; and yet they never could forget their chemistry
Their love and passion for each other was unforgettable, despite all the problems they had.
Like you and me, it proved to keep them both apart for life
Their love was so destructive that it kept them apart forever.
Not enough to be in love
The central theme of the song is that love alone is not enough to sustain a relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MAAT RE
On the way to the bidet is when the trouble used to start
It didn't mean she wasn't queen of the tinderbox that was his heart
Her fire, his desire meant that everything must come undone
And, so, now we know that it's not enough to be in love
(Not enough to be in love, not enough to be in love)
He's so true, she is, too; she says "I love you Frank, " and then they drank all night
What a fight! He says "it isn't me you're thinking of"
She's cool; it makes him cruel, and they needle till the jewels go raining down
Upon the ground; she says "it's not enough to be in love"
Not enough to be in love
(It's not enough, it's not enough, it's not enough to be in love)
They woke up, but they broke up; they were so volatile, and all the while life passed
And it went fast; and yet they never could forget their chemistry
Like you and me, it proved to keep them both apart for life
And so, now we know that it's not enough to be in love
Not enough to be in love
philipatoz
Suzanne Vega is as smart a songwriter as she is beautiful. It is so rare that one finds one of such exquisite taste in selecting songs. Her lyrics, always so visual are just perfectly juxtapositioned against wonderful arrangements and her always distinctive voice. She has a consistent style, and yet she has always taken chances - her music is very diverse. But, as with all great artists, I think she is much more into making quality music than topping charts - thankfully!
David Barr
Such a woefully underrated artist. Love Love her work and diversity. Highly skilled, imaginative, and creatively courageous. Total package.
cjp371
This woman just keeps getting better. It's a shame she's only known for Luka and Tom's Diner. Her stuff over the last 10 years blows those songs out of the water.
Gary Dunn
Yeah, I had this conversation with one of my Brothers just last week, and when
I mentioned she was touring the UK this February, he could not recount one song
she had made. I told him what about "Luka" which is a song, we, as a family, can
relate to, about "Domestic Violence" and that shut him up. But when I told him
the 2 concerts that I have seen, were fully supported, which suggests that she
has a "Big Following" More so, than the "Rubbish" on the music scene of today.
Big Val Vader
Beauty and Crime is such an underrated album. I love how Suzanne Vega's music has evolved but still stays true to her amazing first album.
Gary Dunn
This is a great song from her "Beauty & Crime" album, and cleverly crafted song
about the tempestuous relationship between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. I
saw Suzanne play this Live in 2010 and she was absolutely fantastic. The whole
album revolved around New York City, where she lives. The songs are all about
life experiences, both personal and otherwise.
大東
you are alive
Gary Dunn
@大東 Yeah, but only just. My life is in turmoil at present,
My Mother on her Death Bed, my Father long since gone, and two of my
Brothers on my case, to sell up and ship out. It could be a precursor for
another song for Suzanne, If she was living my life. And I know that she
has had more of her share of "Life's Problems" in her own personal life.
Russ Haywood
It's a fantastic album for sure
philipatoz
This should have been a pop hit on alternative radio. But, thing is, the subject matter is probably lost upon the demographic that buys music in vast numbers. Suzanne is quite capable of creating music that becomes widely popular - and has done so quite a bit. But she's unwilling to sell her soul to put out pure calculated crap just to gain additional popularity or make a few more bucks. She has integrity and has demonstrated it throughout her career.