I visited the diner last week : ) Needless to say, I took my headphones, sat at the counter to eat and listened to the track about 10 times. Such a cool experience : )

This song is a musical masterpiece as well as a work of art In its own right. She tapped into something very powerful, as many of us loners can easily identify with the diner goer. If you're reading this and are a loner, even if you aren't, my heart goes out to you ❤️

How do you listen to this and not feel that she's someone you'd like to have a coffee with?

I love that the lyrics are grounded in so much reality. Kinda reminds you that everyday life can be a piece of music/art if you look at it right.

I like how there are so many real moments. The newspaper really exist, the restaurant, the cathedral. How captivating!

This is a legendary song. Not only because of the melody/lyrics, but also this song was used by the Fraunhofer institute in Germany when they developed the MP3 audio compression algorithm, that meant the breakthrough of digital online music!

I feel like her beauty added onto the song and how she clearly described every moment as if the words came right out of her heart. This is without a doubt, a masterpiece.

fun fact: This song was used for the fine tuning of the MP3 psychoacoustic model encoding during its development, someone named it "Mother of MP3" accordingly. Several years ago, as a student I was tasked to restore the - well worn out and cracked - DAT tape of this song used by Karl Heinz Brandenburg and Thomas Sporer.

How not a single word in this song rhymes with the other, and yet it's a groundbreaking, timeless, epic masterpiece I listen to every day?!!! Wow!

the cadence of her voice is hypnotic it just draws you in

Wow I’m crying at how tragic it is for her to make a song about someone she obviously loved and for it to be one of her biggest successes, and for the person whom the song is about to basically say that it wasn’t real art because it’s success commercially. And for her most famous song to be a constant reminder of that pain must have been so hard for her.

I must have heard DNA’s version at some point as a kid.. never knew the lyrics nor the artist… but for decades the “daada da daa da” lived in my head rent free. I would randomly start singing that part… sometimes I would try and ask friends what’s the song and never got an answer. Till recently when I saw two guys doing their version of it! The damn relief I felt from finally knowing this song… Now learning the true story behind it just completes it! Thank you Suzanne Vega for creating this masterpiece and telling us this story!

It's a nice thing to see the environment in which a song is created. It's a great thing when the artist is the guide and narrator, while giving the back story to their song!

Love the dna version I just wish that they would’ve left the... “& of the midnight picnic once upon a time before the rain began... & I finish up my coffee & it’s time to catch the train.” That’s literally one of if not my favorite part of the song starting with “I am thinking of your voice...” I always sing the full ending no matter what lol. My favorite song of the 90s!! 💜

Her name misspelled on the menu is definite pay back ( I assume "Susanne")....too funny. Thanks for sharing Suzanne.

It's a great song. Truly. It was a great song before DNA (Dean'n'Andy) but they gave it a modern injection at just the right time to send it worldwide. There is something enigmatic about Suzanne Vega that makes her so appealing, along with some really terrific songwriting. Kind of reminds me a bit of Carol King...

I love the stories behind the songs. This one is one of my faves!

Wow, she is so well spoken. Nice post.

This song has always resonated with me. I knew it was about a person who felt disconnected from everyone and everything around them. I often felt that throughout my life. That's why it spoke to me so much. Also the musicality of the song is genius and Suzanne Vega does and amazing job of singing and getting that emotion across. It remains one of my favorite songs from the first time I heard it until today.

I've always seen this song as a slice of life about someone having their typical coffee on a rainy day and that's why I love it so much. It's all about noticing the normal.

Saw Suzanne Vega live at Beautiful Days festival in 2018ish.. crazy how well she got on with the crowd and still had an amazing energy live!

It was wonderful learning more about what influenced this song and how it came about. And what a treat to hear it explained by Ms. Vega herself! I completely agree with her that just because some artists become commercial successes does not devalue their work or artistry! The idea of the "starving artist" being the only "genuine" creator of "true" art is a bunch of bunk. (I'm not shocked her friend who held this opinion came from a financially wealthy family.) Imagine how much more art could be created if an artist could focus on their creative processes instead of putting their energy into working to put food on the table. I do find it amusing that her name isn't correct on Tom's Restaurant menu given that their restaurant name isn't correct in the title of her song. I'm sure it's only a typo, but it's funny to think it maybe been intentional.

2:53 "A song about nothing". Appropriate seeing as Tom's Restaurant was used as the outside shot of Monk's Café in 'Seinfeld'- the show about nothing.

SUCH A SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE SONG! Thank you Suzanne!

I visited Tom's Restaurant and the cathedral 3 weeks ago, what a joyful experience! Highly recommended.

Such a likable person

I grew to love her because of the remix of the song. When I first heard the track, I admit that the beat got my attention but I quickly realized that the lyrics were about loneliness. Being a loner I related to it.

Her young voice was crystal like a spring stream.

As a huge Seinfeld fan I actually ate there when I moved to NYC in 1998. I ordered the taste free turkey with brown flavorless gravy. I used a lot of salt and pepper but it was a bucket list check off.

I have loved this song from day one and didn’t even knew what it was called. I love her esoteric free spirit style.

It’s crazy I heard the melody years ago as a kid. Heard the end of the song recently and been googling dada do do da dada for hours. Not only do I love the song but it brings me solidarity I felt the lyrics when the man is more attentive to his love and she asked herself does the woman see me? I always feel like a ghost in public and I assume that’s what she meant. To see this video and know it’s parallel to my emotions makes me love the song even more.

Wow, 35 years after her debut album, and I'm still madly in love with her. :)

Also Tom’s Restaurant is the Monks dinner on Seinfeld Show.

Wow. Outstanding piece. She’s a Great.

The DNA version was big when I was a sophomore in high school. One day I was looking through my brother's CDs and he had some sort of compilation album that had this song on it, so I played it, not knowing that it was the original version. (Actually at the time I didn't even know there was more than one version.) I was quite confused to hear just Suzanne singing. Back then we didn't have this fancy "internet" you kids have today where you can learn about this stuff in seconds from anywhere. Now get off my lawn!

One the songs I never forget. MASTERPIECE.

How ironic that in the video, Suzanne talks about her name being misspelt, and when you post the video you misspell her name in the title of it AND the description... despite getting it right on screen.

The thing with being a loner is seeing the beauty around you, the mundane and ordinary, and you have no one to share it with who won't think you're nuts. Then you hear Suzzanne sing this and you're not as alone anymore!😌

I loved the open hand album. I still know every song back to back. It was etched onto my soul as a kid.

This song holds a very special place in the soundtrack of my life😊

She's still Beautiful....even at 61.

Solitude Standing is an amazing album

She really had sick flow on this. And it doesn't even rhythm...this so fire

I lived on that street for over 5 years. St. John the Devine is magical to me and helped me. My apartment was between Broadway and Riverside across from Bank Street College and next an SRO. Was young and drinking too much. When I left in 2001, many wonderful restaurants opened up but Koronet Pizza remains the best IMHO. So many memories, regrets and fascinating people lived there during my time and still do. Thank you Suzanne Vega! Your song existed 10 years before I moved into the area and continues to be a part of the Upper West Side.

The interesting thing about this song and the album 'Solitude Standing' it came about at the time of the Hifi boom in the late 80's it was used as a test record for decks such as Linn, Thoren, Rega and Dual etc at many Hifi outlets thats how I became aware of it, even back then I had aspirations of remixing it myself but didn't have the production knowledge. At the time I bought the album on 3 formats DCC, Cassette and Vinyl. Considering I was more into reggae n soul it was a divergence for me which I embraced along with Edie Brickell tracks. I didn't miss the opportunity to go to Suzanne's concert in Wolverhampton when she was on tour in the UK.

I love finding these songs I never knew.

Fucking Brilliant! I saw Suzanne Vega in the 80s In LA.at the iconic Art Deco Witern Theatre!!!!! oMg...She, they were Absolutely wonderful ❤

Long before this song hit the air waves, my step dad had mentioned something funny that had happened at a company he had worked at in the 80's. The front office had a window with window tint on it. One of the guys on his way back from lunch decided to use the office window as a mirror. He was cleaning his face from his lunch. Everyone inside the office could see what he was doing and started laughing. When he came into the office everyone laughed even more. He was like 'What?' They wouldn't tell him what they saw him doing in the window. Every time I hear this song reminds me of this.

Who knew this would turn out to not only be a big song in the hip genre. But it literally changed the game overall.

This song gives me chills to this day!!!! It is SOOOOOO FRESH!!!! I play this song at least twice a week, every week in my car!

I just turned 30 years old. This song brings me back to my youth. Thank you.

Omg I love this song. It brings back memories

Seeing Tom's Restaurant the 1st time, I remembered this song. Love the Upper West Side.

Tom's Restaurant was the setting for a song "about nothing." Why does that sound familiar? :P

One thing that nobody seemed to pick up upon with this song is that it's in what's called "Free verse" Which means that the lyrics don't rhyme.

lovely story, shows how sometimes friends can sabotage your success. She's lucky she sold albums to make a living and maybe inevitable b/c the song is just that charming and does so much for the world. Thinking about art having poor boundaries is such an illusion in that respect at least.

I grew up in that neighborhood south of Columbia University...feel extra special listening to the song.

Thank you for the amazing song we never forget you ❤️

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for sharing this song and story with us. God Bless 🙏

I am really not into mainstream music, i love suzanne. I love its simplicity but raw style. Love this song

Suzanne Vega is so cool - in the realest sense. I’m lucky enough to be seeing her this weekend. Wow

I love the story behind the song!

Took me so many years to find this song!

I have always loved her songs and her voice. She's one of the most underrated singer-songwriter of all the time. The fact that nowadays singers that don't have 1/100 of her talent are so popular demonstrates inequivocably that the mass has no taste for music.

Got her first three Albums,and I hear them on a regular base

Toms diner is as a an absolute classic no question about that

Such a beautiful voice. It is nice to hear some background about that song, It will add some depth now each time I hear it

And once again hip hop makes it better. My grandmother died in hospice across the street from that church wow

Always loved the song but I came here because I was watching a documentary about the life of William Holden and at the end it mentioned his death was included in the song and I never realized it.

Thanks for uploading this. :)

God I was so in love with Suzanne Vega!!! She is still a goddess to me

I always felt like this was describing someone who was alienated or felt alone. Glad to know I was correct.

I was a big fan of this song in the a capella version when it was first released. Honestly, I got a bit annoyed when I first heard the DNA version, because I thought it was actually Suzanne who re-released it as a dance tune and I thought that was antithetical to the purity of the a capella version (and a little selly-outy!). After all, part of the genius and appeal of the original version was the bravery of releasing a song this good in a capella format. But I have since come to understand how the DNA remix came about, and I think it is great and has its own place. I applaud Suzanne's open mind to let it fly rather than shut it down. A song this good should be opened up to more people, not remain a "deep cut." But I will always be more than happy to listen to the original a capella!

Wow, I made a lucky guess on who the actor she sings about was. William Holden was a major heartthrob who was known for taking his shirt off in many movies

Absolute masterpiece….timeless

She proves you can write a song about just anything!

If your career was a one hit wonder... way to nail it!!! I love this song, love her, wish she made more music.

Isn’t she just the best 🙏

I was so inspired by the song I even wrote a one-act mystery play based on it. 👍🏻

3:55 she has perfect pitch.

God, she is fabulous and the song gives me genuine joy when I hear it. Knowing the details just makes it more magical for me.

I found this song on tiktok and now i listen to it while baked. Congrats

This song brings me back to my childhood.

Ms Vega comes across in these 'story behind' videos as a very grounded, balanced - and very likeable person.

Untamed Heart - is my association with this. In the top tier of favorite films.

I really appreciate thank you opened up about the lyrics.

Fantastic

fun fact, first little part got sampled again by fallout boy for the beginning of their song "centuries"

Just passing thur💯this song was in every dj crate i always had two just in case i scratch one if. you don't have this in your music collection you wasn't a DJ every DJ had this song this song was popular in my neighborhood thanks Suzanne I think I still have it after all these years it still sound good you can play this in the club right now everybody on the dance floor no question this song change everything🎵🎶👍

Great content and thank you for honoring this song! #HonorArtists

That's how songs are written

She’s pretty awesome!

This song meant a lot to me then..thank you

A day in the life - mundane things can be the subject of a song - wonderful

I love this song!!!!

Wow the story AFTER the song about her ex is great!! I can still feel her “I am thinking of your voice” She’s right tho Dido still is all about the music while she maybe hit lightning in the bottle 1998 and in 2000 she’s still at it

The original version, sung acapella, is cool too as well as DNAs version 😎

Tom's diner original version is "The mother of mp3"

This is the coolest song. Props to DNA for giving it such a cool beat too.

It would have been nice if the remixers got a bit more credit. Refering to them as "two guys" seems a bit ungrateful when they contributed greatly to this song and Suzanne's success.