First Encounter

As I sit at my fabulous new brown kitchen table, I decided that I need to start getting my thoughts out into the open. Not just basic thoughts about life, but thoughts about particular topics or events. I've thought long and hard about the first post on my blog, and decided to start with a song. (Go figure, right?)




Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" (Lyrics below) is a literal depiction of what happens to me on a daily basis. I'm humming along just fine with my normal routine, and BAM! some sound reminds me of a past life/moment/person. This is a really great song to start this blog with because of it's significance to observation. I hope to relay some thought-provoking observations in future blogs. :)


I love this song for both it's lyrical and instrumental qualities. The instrumental aspect actually wasn't originally part of the song. It started out as an a capella piece, with both the a capella and intrumental versions featured on her album Solitude Standing.
The lyrics were made after Suzanne had listened to a friend's comment about seeing his life through a window pane. As if he was looking at all the events in his life rather than living them. I can relate to this aspect, but more in the way that I live life, but spend a lot of time later in a metaphorical coffeehouse viewing things as they happened. Recalling minute details, replaying what individuals said or did, and then just as suddenly as I slipped into that coffeehouse, I slip back out--it's time to board the train of life again.

Of course I can't end this without giving some love to the part about it raining outside in the song. Since I absolutely love the rain, its inclusion makes the song 100 times better, quickly shooting it to the top of my very long list of favorite songs.

-Rett
Lyrics:


"Tom's Diner"

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