lyrics project

Hit
Artist: Suzanne Vega
Song: Luka
Album: Solitude Standing
Model: ‘Artemis Fauna’
Location: Worcestershire UK


Notes:-
I started to come out of my obsession with rock by 1987, about when Suzanne Vega released this song. It coincided with my first move away from my hometown. I was happy, had a new job, a lovely girlfriend and we were now living together and settling down. I remember playing this song on my new JVC stereo (with CD player dontcha know!) at full volume, singing my head off and dancing around the living room. What our neighbours must have put up with in the surrounding flats I can’t imagine. The song, contrarily, is a hideous account of domestic abuse. Why then do I associate it with happy, carefree times? No idea but I know I loved the effect the lyrics had on me. Domestic violence was still a taboo subject, rarely talked about or dealt with effectively (is it now?). Vega helped to make it a mainstream topic amongst ordinary young adults like me. The line about walking into doors was almost comical because we’d all heard of someone who’d used it!

Relationships are very complicated things and not all bruises are visible. Mental torture takes many different forms. I had a relationship once that when I look back, was abusive. She didn’t deliberately hurt me, she was just so selfish she never stopped to think the effects her actions had on me. So consumed with her own insecurities that the resulting reactions ground me down over time. Confused and lonely, my only way of defending myself from the hurt was to fight back. Regretfully, I fell into some of the same methods as I so hated receiving from her. The jealousy, the undying commitment requirements, after all, what was good for the goose was surely also good for the gander? It ultimately made me question everything about myself. My worth as a person, who I truly was and my moral ethics. It was a toxic relationship and while brief, left me deeply scarred for many reasons.

The image was created at a friend’s house and was one of a few shots we tried. It isn’t subtle but then nor is domestic abuse. The line is timeless and still haunts me. I hate all thought of any violence but this line (as always with good ones, wonderfully succinct and simple) comes from someone who seemingly, sadly knows and understands the problem. I wanted Sarah, the model, to look blank, emotionless and yet maintain a hint of life. I think she managed it perfectly. I hope one day everyone can live without the threat of violence in their lives.

Hit
Artist: Suzanne Vega
Song: Luka
Album: Solitude Standing
Model: ‘Artemis Fauna’
Location: Worcestershire UK


Notes:-
I started to come out of my obsession with rock by 1987, about when Suzanne Vega released this song. It coincided with my first move away from my hometown. I was happy, had a new job, a lovely girlfriend and we were now living together and settling down. I remember playing this song on my new JVC stereo (with CD player dontcha know!) at full volume, singing my head off and dancing around the living room. What our neighbours must have put up with in the surrounding flats I can’t imagine. The song, contrarily, is a hideous account of domestic abuse. Why then do I associate it with happy, carefree times? No idea but I know I loved the effect the lyrics had on me. Domestic violence was still a taboo subject, rarely talked about or dealt with effectively (is it now?). Vega helped to make it a mainstream topic amongst ordinary young adults like me. The line about walking into doors was almost comical because we’d all heard of someone who’d used it!

Relationships are very complicated things and not all bruises are visible. Mental torture takes many different forms. I had a relationship once that when I look back, was abusive. She didn’t deliberately hurt me, she was just so selfish she never stopped to think the effects her actions had on me. So consumed with her own insecurities that the resulting reactions ground me down over time. Confused and lonely, my only way of defending myself from the hurt was to fight back. Regretfully, I fell into some of the same methods as I so hated receiving from her. The jealousy, the undying commitment requirements, after all, what was good for the goose was surely also good for the gander? It ultimately made me question everything about myself. My worth as a person, who I truly was and my moral ethics. It was a toxic relationship and while brief, left me deeply scarred for many reasons.

The image was created at a friend’s house and was one of a few shots we tried. It isn’t subtle but then nor is domestic abuse. The line is timeless and still haunts me. I hate all thought of any violence but this line (as always with good ones, wonderfully succinct and simple) comes from someone who seemingly, sadly knows and understands the problem. I wanted Sarah, the model, to look blank, emotionless and yet maintain a hint of life. I think she managed it perfectly. I hope one day everyone can live without the threat of violence in their lives.