Tom's Diner

Suzanne Vega

About Tom's Diner

"Tom's Diner" is a song written in 1982 by American singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine. When first featured on one of her own studio albums, it appeared as the first track of her 1987 album Solitude Standing. It was later used as the basis for a remix by the British group DNA in 1990, which reached number 1 in Austria, Germany, Greece and Switzerland. The 1991 compilation Tom's Album includes the DNA version as well as cover versions by such artists as After One, Nikki D and Bingo Hand Job (R. E. M. and Billy Bragg). It was also used as the background soundtrack for the opening scene of the 1993 film Untamed Heart. 


Year:
2007
2,298 
#3

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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
And Instead
I pour the milk

I open
Up the paper
There's a story
Of an actor

Who had died
While he was drinking
He 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
Is getting 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

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Suzanne Vega

Suzanne Nadine Vega (born July 11, 1959) is an American songwriter and singer known for her eclectic folk-inspired music. more »

5 fans

Written by: Suzanne Vega

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Original
"Tom's Diner" is an a cappella song by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega.
Release Date
It was originally released as a track on Vega's second studio album "Solitude Standing" in 1987.
Genre
The song is often considered as a milestone in the folk-rock genre.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by the real "Tom's Restaurant" in New York City, where Suzanne Vega used to go for coffee. The same diner also appears in sitcom "Seinfeld" as a regular hangout of the main characters.
Track Description
"Tom's Diner" tells a seemingly mundane story of Vega's morning experience at the diner. Its narrative falls under the category of a "story song" - pieces that relay a cogent narrative through their lyrics.
MP3 Development Contribution
The song is famous for its role in the refinement of the MP3. It was used by German scientist Karlheinz Brandenburg to fine-tune the compression algorithm he had developed, allowing digital media to be efficiently streamed or downloaded without losing correlative audio quality.
Remix Version
In 1990, British dance producers DNA released a remix of "Tom's Diner" without Vega's permission. However, she later permitted this version, which led to it becoming a top 5 hit in multiple countries.
Variations
It has since been covered by many artists in various styles and has also been subject to numerous different remixes and samples.
Soundtrack Presence
The song features in the soundtrack of popular 90s films including "Untamed Heart" and "The Truth About Cats and Dogs".
Test Disc
The acapella version of "Tom's Diner" ended up on the test disc for Telarc International Corporation - a well-respected audiophile recording and distribution company.

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    Tom's Diner

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1991

    Billboard #5


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