Prince actually wrote a heartfelt letter to Suzanna Vega saying this song was one of the realist songs he had ever heard and it personally touched him

You weren't ready for this song. None of us were ready for it when it dropped in the 80's. Decades later, I still get chills when I hear it. 😢

This was one of the songs from the 80s that got people talking about 'forbidden' topics.  It didn't matter if they liked the song or not, it got them talking and let victims know they weren't alone.

This and Pat Benatars Hell is for Children are the first songs to bring awareness to child abuse. This went to number three and earned Suzanne two Grammy nominations. Hell is for Children came out a few yrs before this

This song hits hard. I come from an abusive childhood. Mom and me were beaten terribly by my dad. Songs like this leaves me in tears, but those are good tears.

Luckily mom managed to bring us both out of this hell.

I knew the lyrics got to you when the head stopped bobbing! 😇
Sadly, Wikipedia reports that in 2021, Vega revealed that "I am actually Luka".

An aspect of the song is about rationalising the abuse and taking on the blame. It’s sad but real.

This is actually about Suzanne's own experience of abuse from her stepfather when she was growing up, the name Luka came from a boy she had noticed in a group of children she'd been watching, she said he seemed a bit different to all the other kids, she used Luka as a protection, so nobody would realise it was her, as sad as it is, it's an amazing song 🇬🇧

Suzanne wrote it, and she later revealed in interviews it was based on her own childhood, but she used a kid she had seen around called Luka to cover the fact it was her.

She later wrote "Song of the Stoic" which is about "Luka" later in life reflecting on his life and childhood.

If there is good news in story's like this, in Song of the Stoic "I faced my father down / Inside the hallway of our home / 18 years of pain / Upon my body to the bone"

In interviews, Vega has revealed that the song also reflects her own experiences with abuse. She explained that she chose to write from Luka's perspective to protect her privacy and to speak out about the issue without directly revealing her personal history.

Her song "Tom's" Diner" was used to develop the MP3 algorythm.

I'm 52 and remember this song coming out. still brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it

Suzanne Vega is probably best known for her song Tom’s Diner (which actually got most of its attention from the remix by the group DNA before being recognized in its own right) — you may be familiar with that one. Fall Out Boy sampled it in their song “Centuries”. If you’re looking for more Suzanne Vega, that’s the next one to go to.

Oh the conversation this stirred up when this was a top 10 hit! And then Prince wrote her a letter praising her for bringing forth this song. It was a thing

I loved this song back when it came out, but I didn't realise for years that it was about a child, because I had never seen the video. Back then, I felt this song was about me, and about abuse within a relationship, not from a child.  If you listen to the lyrics, it could easily be about a grown woman in an abusive relationship. "They only hit until you cry" "Walked into the door again". Once upon a time, 4 decades ago, that was me, crying out for help to the woman who lived downstairs from me. It's a matter of Perspective. I think this this song helped me so much back then and gave me the strength to carry on. I hope it has helped others, and will continue to do so for decades to come.

This song was so big in Europe back then. Relatable to so many and still is ❤
Corporal punishment of children is illegal in many countries.

what i love about that line "yes i think you've seen me before... " is that she takes the listener out of the role of talking abstractly about the subject of abuse and puts it to them as look around at your neighbors. your community. you've seen this... you've seen me.  she brought child abuse out from behind closed doors that happens to strangers. she made the listener - the observer - acknowledge the lack of action on their part.

my favorite Suzanne Vega song is not a popular one. it wasn't radio friendly because it is long a story telling - the queen and the soldier. still makes me cry every time.  pure poetry and beautiful.
second fav is gypsy.

At the time, people still didn't talk about this stuff. Your neighbors minded their own business no matter what was going on, and even the police looked the other way

Yea.  Thing is. She is Luka.  This is her story and experiences

I always cried when I heard this song😢 My heart is for the children and pets.  Leave them alone😢