In Liverpool
Vega Suzanne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Sunday
No traffic
On the avenue
The light is pale and thin
Like you
No sound, down
In this part of town
He's crazy, he's throwing himself
Down from the top of the tower
Like a hunchback in heaven
He's ringing the bells in the church
For the last half an hour
He sounds like he's missing something
Or someone that he knows he can't
Have now and if he isn't
I certainly am
Homesick for a clock
That told the same time
Sometimes you made no sense to me
If you lie on the ground
In somebody's arms
You'll probably swallow some of their history
And the boy in the belfry
He's crazy, he's throwing himself
Down from the top of the tower
Like a hunchback in heaven
He's ringing the bells in the church
For the last half an hour
He sounds like he's missing something
Or someone that he knows he can't
Have now and if he isn't
I certainly am
I'll be the girl who sings for my supper
You'll be the monk whose forehead is high
He'll be the man who's already working
Spreading a memory all through the sky
In Liverpool
On Sunday
No reason to even remember you now
Except for the boy in the belfry
He's crazy, he's throwing himself
Down from the top of the tower
Like a hunchback in heaven
He's ringing the bells in the church
For the last half an hour
He sounds like he's missing something
Or someone that he knows he can't
Have now and if he isn't
I certainly am
In Liverpool
In Liverpool
The song "In Liverpool" by Suzanne Vega tells the story of the singer's visit to the city on a quiet Sunday when there is no traffic on the avenue. The light is pale and thin which reminds her of someone she used to know, someone who isn't with her anymore. She walks through the town and comes across a boy in the belfry of the church who is crazily throwing himself down from the top of the tower. He has been ringing the bells in the church for the last half an hour, and his actions make it seem like he is missing something, or someone whom he can't have. Through the boy, the singer relates to the feeling of homesickness and missing someone who was once a significant part of her life.
The second verse of the song talks about how sometimes the person she used to know made no sense to her, and being with someone means swallowing part of their history. She then goes on to describe how the boy in the belfry could represent the working man, and she could be the girl singing for her supper, and together they could spread memories all over the sky. In the end, she realizes that there's no reason to remember that person anymore, except for the boy in the belfry.
Line by Line Meaning
In Liverpool
The setting of the story.
On Sunday
The specific day the singer is in Liverpool.
No traffic
There is no vehicular activity on the avenue.
On the avenue
The location of the main character.
The light is pale and thin
The sunlight on this day is not strong enough.
Like you
The light is similar to the singer's mood.
No sound, down
There is minimal noise in this part of town.
In this part of town
The specific area of Liverpool the singer is in.
Except for the boy in the belfry
There is one exception to the quietness in the area.
He's crazy, he's throwing himself down from the top of the tower
The boy in the belfry is acting insane, recklessly jumping from the top of the tower.
Like a hunchback in heaven
Alluding to the famous novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' the boy's actions are similar to that of someone in heaven.
He's ringing the bells in the church for the last half an hour
The boy has continuously rung the bells for thirty minutes now.
He sounds like he's missing something
The boy seems to be longing for something.
Or someone that he knows he can't have now
The boy is probably thinking of someone he can't be with anymore.
And if he isn't I certainly am
The singer herself is longing for someone she cannot be with now.
Homesick for a clock that told the same time
The artist longs for a time when she and her loved one were in sync.
Sometimes you made no sense to me
The artist struggled to understand her loved one at times.
If you lie on the ground in somebody's arms
When in someone's embrace, their past affects you.
You'll probably swallow some of their history
Their past experiences become a part of your present self.
I'll be the girl who sings for my supper
The artist will work hard for sustenance.
You'll be the monk whose forehead is high
Her loved one is a wise and honorable man.
He'll be the man who's already working
Another man is someone who is already working and spreading his influence.
Spreading a memory all through the sky
The man's memory will become a part of everything in life.
No reason to even remember you now
The artist has moved on from her old life and love.
In Liverpool
Reassertion of the setting.
In Liverpool
Closing repetition of the setting.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roiy Benkel
In Liverpool
On Sunday
No traffic
On the avenue
The light is pale and thin
Like you
No sound, down
In this part of town
Except for the boy in the belfry
He's crazy, he's throwing himself
Down from the top of the tower
Like a hunchback in heaven
He's ringing the bells in the church
For the last half an hour
He sounds like he's missing something
Or someone that he knows he can't
Have now and if he isn't
I certainly am
Homesick for a clock
That told the same time
sometimes you made no sense to me
if you lie on the ground
in somebody's arms
you'll probably swallow some of their history
And the boy in the belfry
He's crazy, he's throwing himself
Down from the top of the tower
Like a hunchback in heaven
He's ringing the bells in the church
For the last half an hour
He sounds like he's missing something
Or someone that he knows he can't
Have now and if he isn't
I certainly am
I'll be the girl who sings for my supper
You'll be the monk whose forehead is high
He'll be the man who's already working
Spreading a memory all through the sky
In Liverpool
On Sunday
No reason to even remember you now
Except for the boy in the belfry
He's crazy, he's throwing himself
Down from the top of the tower
Like a hunchback in heaven
He's ringing the bells in the church
For the last half an hour
He sounds like he's missing something
Or someone that he knows he can't
Have now and if he isn't
I certainly am
In Liverpool [X2]
ceejay960
One of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've ever heard. What a gift to us. Thank you Suzanne.
Michael Press
Yes, and thank you for using the word “hauntingly, “ perfect description!!
Waleed Ahmed Ghazali
Truly underrated gem of an artist. Still listening in 2023
bluebuggo
23.
seizedkeyboard
+1
Bijan Kardouni
This song becomes more beautiful by the passage of time, just like a magnificent wine.
marco brenni
+Bijan Kardouni You're right indeed. Such a high quality is rare nowadays !
Only the English DIDO is on her high level: they are quite similar in real class and style
Feelin' Like Job
+Bijan Kardouni Totally agree. Something about the video accentuates the beauty of the song...makes it mesmerizing for me.
Arne Rudiger
So true
Sean Roddick
Very true. This song grows on you.