Suzanne Vega — Marlene on The Wall
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Length: 3:37
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Even if I am in love with you
All this to say, what's it to you?
Observe the blood, the rose tattoo
Of the fingerprints on me from you
Other evidence has shown
That you and I are still alone
We skirt around the danger zone
And don't talk about it later
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As she records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
Well, I walk to your house in the afternoon
By the butcher's shot with the sawdust strewn
Don't give away the goods too soon'
Is what she might have told me
And I tried so hard to resist
When you held me in your handsome fist
And reminded me of the night we kissed
And of why I should be leaving
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As the records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As the records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
And even if I am in love with you
All this to say, what's it to you?
Observe the blood, the rose tattoo
Of the fingerprints on me from you
Other evidence has shown
That you and I are still alone
We skirt around the danger zone
And don't talk about it later
And I tried so hard to resist
When you held me in your handsome fist
And reminded me of the night we kissed
And of why I should be leaving
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As she records the rise and fall
Of every man who's been here
But the only one here now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Changing, changing, changing, changing
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As the records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
All this to say, what's it to you?
Observe the blood, the rose tattoo
Of the fingerprints on me from you
Other evidence has shown
That you and I are still alone
We skirt around the danger zone
And don't talk about it later
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As she records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
Well, I walk to your house in the afternoon
By the butcher's shot with the sawdust strewn
Don't give away the goods too soon'
Is what she might have told me
And I tried so hard to resist
When you held me in your handsome fist
And reminded me of the night we kissed
And of why I should be leaving
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As the records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As the records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
And even if I am in love with you
All this to say, what's it to you?
Observe the blood, the rose tattoo
Of the fingerprints on me from you
Other evidence has shown
That you and I are still alone
We skirt around the danger zone
And don't talk about it later
And I tried so hard to resist
When you held me in your handsome fist
And reminded me of the night we kissed
And of why I should be leaving
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As she records the rise and fall
Of every man who's been here
But the only one here now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Changing, changing, changing, changing
Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As the records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing
Marlene on the wall
Comments (95)add comment
I litteral love her!
Her first album was awesome - kind of had a crush on her from that point on...
Her first album (circa 1985) was one of the best of the decade.
It killed.
Reminded me of Leonard Cohen. Something about rain coats and Marlene and songs about Love and Hate.
It killed.
Reminded me of Leonard Cohen. Something about rain coats and Marlene and songs about Love and Hate.
10 - plus XXX
Netto wrote:
Leonard Cohen with Suzanne Vega, after the Carnegie Hall (NYC) concert on July 6 1988
joshrg wrote:
OhmyGAWD! Davis Skweah-ah!
"You're retah-ded." You're re-tahded."
I used to live nearish there--Teele Square. Good to see the Somerville Theater renovated and in use. It was teetering on the edge when I lived up there. Amazing the way Davis Square has slooowly morphed from Slummerville sketchiness to Hipsterville. My brother used to live right next door to Redbones Barbecue, in the crappy lime green house with a godawful piece of amateur sculpture, rusting in low disgrace on the front lawn.
Was this version of "Marlene" the original or a recent re-do?
Let's go BoSox!
Just saw Suzanne at the Somerville Theater near Boston. Excellent concert!
OhmyGAWD! Davis Skweah-ah!
"You're retah-ded." You're re-tahded."
I used to live nearish there--Teele Square. Good to see the Somerville Theater renovated and in use. It was teetering on the edge when I lived up there. Amazing the way Davis Square has slooowly morphed from Slummerville sketchiness to Hipsterville. My brother used to live right next door to Redbones Barbecue, in the crappy lime green house with a godawful piece of amateur sculpture, rusting in low disgrace on the front lawn.
Was this version of "Marlene" the original or a recent re-do?
Let's go BoSox!
How about repetitive and derivative?
Great song from a great time....
It has hardly any production at all, and doesn't need it because it has such a great tune.
Proclivities wrote:
"Tuneless"? You may want to look that word up in a dictionary, becuase this song is certainly not "lacking in melody" or "silent".
Proclivities wrote:
"Tuneless"? You may want to look that word up in a dictionary, becuase this song is certainly not "lacking in melody" or "silent".
sfListener wrote:
"Tuneless"? You may want to look that word up in a dictionary, because this song is certainly not "lacking in melody" or "silent".
One of her best but still practically tuneless.
"Tuneless"? You may want to look that word up in a dictionary, because this song is certainly not "lacking in melody" or "silent".
Lightly dancing from syllable to syllable, great enuciation, one can actually understand the lyrics. Easy to listen to. 
I have to bump this to a 10. Every time I hear something from Suzanne Vega, I re-discover her and realize that I don't have enough of her music in my library.
"I love very much this song, I love her voice, the way she play her guitar, the sound of her melancoly with a big box of fragility and sweetness. I will never forget my first days with her first songs on my walkmans, walking lonely in my town streets, dreaming about a woman that I still have not meet. Thank you very much." etresanchez
cooch wrote:
Spot on - timeless
It's kind of amazing that 24 years later this song still sounds fairly contemporary
Spot on - timeless
MusicAddict wrote:
This song was from her first album, a few years before Luka. I have and enjoy all her albums, but I think the first was the best.
When I said she's come a long way from "Luka," I wasn't referring to this song, since, yes, it did come long before "Luka." The reference was only to point out that the song that put Suzanne Vega on the map with the general public was "Luka." This song is just one example of the talent she possesses, in case anyone had doubts based on "Luka." I agree - her first work is still her best, although there have been a couple of things that come close to that perfection...
This song was from her first album, a few years before Luka. I have and enjoy all her albums, but I think the first was the best.
When I said she's come a long way from "Luka," I wasn't referring to this song, since, yes, it did come long before "Luka." The reference was only to point out that the song that put Suzanne Vega on the map with the general public was "Luka." This song is just one example of the talent she possesses, in case anyone had doubts based on "Luka." I agree - her first work is still her best, although there have been a couple of things that come close to that perfection...
Cynaera wrote:
This song was from her first album, a few years before Luka. I have and enjoy all her albums, but I think the first was the best.
I've suggested this song as a follow-up to several other RP songs, but it stands on its own. Suzanne Vega has come a long way since "Luka" (although I heard an interview with her on a Portland, Oregon radio station, wherein she explained about who "Luka" was. Not quite what the song portrayed, but it didn't change my mind about her talent.) She's got this laser-sharp perception of things, cross-currented with a quirk or twist that takes the listener just a leedle beet off the beaten track.
I really love Suzanne Vega's music. She writes the way I always wished I could write.
I really love Suzanne Vega's music. She writes the way I always wished I could write.
This song was from her first album, a few years before Luka. I have and enjoy all her albums, but I think the first was the best.
I've suggested this song as a follow-up to several other RP songs, but it stands on its own. Suzanne Vega has come a long way since "Luka" (although I heard an interview with her on a Portland, Oregon radio station, wherein she explained about who "Luka" was. Not quite what the song portrayed, but it didn't change my mind about her talent.) She's got this laser-sharp perception of things, cross-currented with a quirk or twist that takes the listener just a leedle beet off the beaten track.
I really love Suzanne Vega's music. She writes the way I always wished I could write.
I really love Suzanne Vega's music. She writes the way I always wished I could write.
I think this is my favorite SV song....good stuff 
I've loved this for years
out_to_lunch wrote:
Brilliant song writing for sure!
Even if I am in love with you
who's to say what's good to you
Observe the blood on the
rose tattoo
and the finger prints
on me from you Other evidence has shown
that
You and I are still alone
we
skirt around the danger zone
and don't talk about it
later.... and I tried so hard
to resist you
as you held me in your handsome fist
reminded me of the night we'd kissed
and of why I should be leaving... those are my favorite lines from that song...
who's to say what's good to you
Observe the blood on the
rose tattoo
and the finger prints
on me from you Other evidence has shown
that
You and I are still alone
we
skirt around the danger zone
and don't talk about it
later.... and I tried so hard
to resist you
as you held me in your handsome fist
reminded me of the night we'd kissed
and of why I should be leaving... those are my favorite lines from that song...
Brilliant song writing for sure!
It's more like reading than singing.
It's kind of amazing that 24 years later this song still sounds fairly contemporary
This one brings back memories (good ones) 
Nice song.
"Marlena on the wall"... a lot of years since I listen it last time. Remembering now, when I begun to learn my poor english i translated the lyrics of this song . Still have the paper with translation into the album cover.
Certainly, great song, great voice.
Aimee Mann, Suzanne Vega...do I hear Jill Sobule for next?
cafortier wrote:
ughhhhhh. horrible!!!!!! 
Hey, go easy on yourself!
Her first album changed my world. This isn't even close to the best song on it.
is there a "rose tattoo" theme here?
Love it. Outstanding!
One of her best but still practically tuneless.
Aimee Mann and Suzanne Vega back to back. Two singer-songwriters I could listen to all day. Now if Imogene Heap is next...
She is such a good writer
Similar to Joni Mitchell. She reads more than sings.
Masterpiece!
Two of my favorites, Aimee Mann and Suzanne Vega, back to back. Thanks, Bill!
cafortier wrote:
What did you have for breakfast to get you neurons to sparkle like that?
ughhhhhh. horrible!!!!!! 
What did you have for breakfast to get you neurons to sparkle like that?
ughhhhhh. horrible!!!!!!
I saw Suzanne 2 weeks ago here. Such a small private wonderful show. She was sassy, fun, smart and the singing was flawless.
out_to_lunch wrote:
Other evidence has shown
that
You and I are still alone
we
skirt around the danger zone
and don't talk about it
later....
Damn.
Deadwing wrote:
amazing song 
Totally cool tune........
Just saw Suzanne at the Somerville Theater near Boston. Excellent concert!
amazing song
vandal wrote:
"Marlene watches from the wall
Her mocking smile says it all
As she records the rise and fall
Of every soldier passing
But the only soldier now is me
I'm fighting things I cannot see
I think it's called my destiny
That I am changing"
brilliant
Even if I am in love with you
who's to say what's good to you
Observe the blood on the
rose tattoo
and the finger prints
on me from you
Other evidence has shown
that
You and I are still alone
we
skirt around the danger zone
and don't talk about it
later....
and I tried so hard
to resist you
as you held me in your handsome fist
reminded me of the night we'd kissed
and of why I should be leaving...
those are my favorite lines from that song...
I love this artist. She is hot.
nigelr wrote:
What a fantastic version of this wonderful intelligent song, typically SV.
yep, you are completely right!
good afternoon to Australia.
What a fantastic version of this wonderful intelligent song, typically SV.
First time I (really) listened to any of Suzanne's wonderful songs was in a small and smoky club deep inside the old part of Lisboa (Lisbon)...
Since then I've aways loved her voice and the emotional way she tells her story... *sigh*
lmic wrote:
Anyone who thinks the 80s didn't produce any good music has forgotten about Suzanne.
Right on!
Anyone who thinks the 80s didn't produce any good music has forgotten about Suzanne.
drjimmy wrote:
Great to follow Aimee with Suzanne. Would be nice to follow this with Jane Siberry's "Mimi on the Beach."
AAHH! NOOO!
I bought the tapes new and listened to them too much! Then I out grew these tunes! I musn't listen!!! Nooo....
... I can feel myself regressing.... my hair is growing back... it's 1986 again.... my wardrobe contains only black..... AAAAHHHHH!!!!
So, Bill, can you play "Mimi" for us? I'm ready now.
Ando wrote:
Hey Smackhead,
Don't do that.
Go purchase her first 2 albums. They're different from the rest (and excellent too). Then decide if you want the rest. Don't miss the smaller pieces by grabbing a greatest hits.
I would definitely recommend picking up her first album first - personally I saw Solitude Standing as a holding pattern and not a terribly interesting one. Later SV is hit or miss. I loved 99.9F, but lots of people jumped the ship with that one.
Great to follow Aimee with Suzanne. Would be nice to follow this with Jane Siberry's "Mimi on the Beach."
madaxeman wrote: all ways Suzanne, all ways RP! 
What a pleasure to hear it again.
All ways a pleasure to hear Marlene on the Wall all ways Suzanne, all ways RP!
Yay! Old Suzanne! 10. This whole first disc of hers is magnificent. Sadly, for me, she's one of an insane number of artists whose early work (in her case, just the first two discs) just makes me so so happy, and whose later work has me runnin' for the exits.
I saw her at Radio City when she toured for solitudestanding, and it was magnificent. She's kinda locked in my memory at that point.
What a pleasure to hear it again.
Any Suzanne is good Suzanne
A well crafted song.
Possibly the best song of Suzanne!
A 10!! Then, now and always!
Stingray!
Shesdifferent wrote:
Stupid, $%^& don't you know this is a song about a painting above her bed?
it's about a marlena deitrich poster.
Shesdifferent wrote:
Stupid, $%^& don't you know this is a song about a painting above her bed?
More specifically, it's a painting/photo of Marlene Dietrich.
The first Suzanne Vega album came out (or I became aware of it anyway) as I was graduating from HS in 1986, it was the first "new" folk album I'd heard. . and it just took me away.
This is such a great song,
reminded me of the night we kissed and of why I should be leaving
This song reminds me of someone I don't like to be reminded of 
ho hum
ho humThistle wrote:
Stupid $%^& name for a song.
...neat song tho...
Stupid, $%^& don't you know this is a song about a painting above her bed?
Stupid $%^& name for a song.
...neat song tho...
she has a lovely voice, yet she rarely SINGS with it. fractional storytelling...and it just doesn't reach me.
Always nice to hear SV
This must be the waifish singer set.
Her first album is one of my all-time favorites (and this is actually one of the weaker songs on it). I wish she had stuck with this style instead of marrying Mitchell Froom and adopting his. After divorcing him, she's returned to her roots somewhat and produced her best work in decades.
smackhead70 wrote:
Thank you RP for introducing me to Suzanne Vega!
This is such a great song. I am definetly going to purchase her best of.
Hey Smackhead,
Don't do that.
Go purchase her first 2 albums. They're different from the rest (and excellent too). Then decide if you want the rest. Don't miss the smaller pieces by grabbing a greatest hits.
Thank you RP for introducing me to Suzanne Vega!
This is such a great song. I am definetly going to purchase her best of.
Suzanne Vega didn't stay as easy-breezy as her earlier works would make you think. The album 99.9F (released in 1992) garnered this synopsis - 
Suzanne Vega's Nine Objects of Desire (released in 1996) is, apparently, where this artist hits her peak. Here is an interesting review -
Machine-driven music was not Suzanne Vega's most enticing musical direction, though the experimentation certainly yielded some pronounced successes and destroyed the notion that Vega was just a guitar-strumming folkie.
Fortunately she didn't stick with that musical direction....
Nine Objects of Desire
Suzanne Vega's Nine Objects of Desire (released in 1996) is, apparently, where this artist hits her peak. Here is an interesting review -
Spotlight Reviews
Amazon.com
Off Center Songs That Fly Softly Through The Ears
September 3, 2004
Reviewer: Nicholas Croft (New York)
Suzanne Vega has been releasing recordings of a compelling emotional vulnerability, for a dedicated and enthusiastic public, during much of the past twenty years. Recently, she has completed the work of hosting a public radio series, "American Mavericks" with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. The series is comprised of some 13 one-hour long programs, featuring the histories and performances of amazing, iconoclastic, tradition-breaking classical composers of the 20th century.
A few years ago, around 1992, she teamed with producer Mitchell Froom on an album which poetically described the slightly elevated temperature of her quietly yearning human fire, 99.9F. That album's sound yielded for her music such hybrid classifications as "industrial folk" and "techno folk". The relationship between the two musicians flourished and Vega married Froom in 1993. By 1994, their first daughter Ruby was born.
Marriage agreed with the couple and smiled on their next collaboration together, 1996's "Nine Objects of Desire". Here we can see Suzanne Vega and Mitchell Froom producing an astonishing body of work, at the peak of both their artistic careers and their personal lives. This recording consists of songs which intertwine the sensitive vocal poetry and intricate guitar work of Suzanne Vega with Mitchell's Froom's intensely hip and sweetly sensual production methodology.
The music invites us on a journey which is thoroughly tender, yet carefully aggressive, warmly sexual yet sometimes dissonant. A journey which is both traditional and avant-garde all at the same time. Suzanne's voice is slightly off-center and because of that, it blends into a range of different soundscapes, revealing what a listener might not otherwise expect.
"Nine Objects of Desire" is a collection of twelve extended sonic moments of attentive communion. It is the ripe fruit of a music born through the spirit of a deep love, coupled with an easy trust. All fans of Suzanne's music should own this recording, it's one of her best.
From Amazon.com
physicsgenius wrote:
Music: Pretty good
Singing: Adequate
Lyrics: OK
Number of repetitions: UNACCEPTABLE
once again, who really cares about what you think?
Music: Pretty good
Singing: Adequate
Lyrics: OK
Number of repetitions: UNACCEPTABLE
jblue wrote:
Superb album. ("Small Blue Thing" is one of my all-time faves.) More Suzanne Vega any time. Thanks. This was a treat.
Me, too, I like Small Blue Thing. Takes me back to those wretched teenage years ...
i luv this whole cd, the debut, not the retrospective, amazing for an artist's first 
Shesdifferent wrote:
Nice to hear this. I just love the lyrics on all of her introspective songs. Any Suzanne Vega...Anytime EXCEPT NO TOM's DINER thank you!
I'm really pleased to have got to hear more from Suzanne Vega, for a long time I only knew her for the Tom's Diner song. Thank you RP.
An infectiously good tune from Ms. Vega - now someone needs to upload 'Straight Lines' from the same album that's even better.
jagdriver wrote:
Along with Chantal, this must be the sucko chickie-babe singer set.
Suzanne Vega could kick your ass.
:P
Along with Chantal, this must be the sucko chickie-babe singer set. Not sure how Aimee got mixed up with these other two, though.
Nice to hear this. I just love the lyrics on all of her introspective songs. Any Suzanne Vega...Anytime EXCEPT NO TOM's DINER thank you!
One of my faves from Suzanne. Thanks!
I like alot of her music, but sometimes this is a bit earnest.
I saw her at Jimmy's Nightclub in New Orleans when she was promoting this album. It was me and about 20 other people at the small club. It was somewhat intimate except for the drum machine... She is one of those artists that sounds even better live than on vinyl, er plastic, er hard drive. She told a few stories between songs about her inspiration for each - of course I don't remember a single one now. A memorable experience aside from not remembering much about it.
Glad Marlena is on regular rotation now! Thanks for adding it.
Superb album. (\"Small Blue Thing\" is one of my all-time faves.) More Suzanne Vega any time. Thanks. This was a treat.
Really, this is one of my alltime favorites. There is something to that silky, smokey voice that captivates me everytime.
Pleasant! This plus Left of Center, and I'll have to go out and get an album or two.
-lr :)
Great to hear Suzanne\'s debut song played on RP. Was living in London in 1986 when this song came out and loved it. Knew I was listening to a gifted and insightful singer. When the follow-up single Left of Center came out, I knew I\'d forever be a fan.