Headshots
Portraits of Reflection: Unveiling Shadows in Suzanne Vega's 'Headshots'
Lyrics
The sign said "Head shots"
The sign advertised "Head shots."
And that was all,
There was nothing else, just the sign.
A picture of a boy
A picture of a boy was displayed on the sign.
And a number you could call,
It included a phone number for contact.
Two eyes in the shade
The boy's eyes were in the shade.
A mouth so sad and small,
The boy's mouth looked sad and small.
It's strange the way a shadow
The shadow cast by the sign on the wall is noted as strange.
Can fall across the wall,
A shadow can influence perception.
And make the difference
The shadow makes a difference in what is seen.
In what you see
Reflecting on the impact of shadows on perception.
Ah...
Expression of contemplation or realization.
He's just a poster, but
Although just a poster, the boy's image is widespread.
He's everywhere,
The boy's face appears under a street lamp, torn and hanging.
A face under a street lamp
Observing the persistent presence of the image when turning corners.
Ripped and hanging in the air,
The boy's image remains in the air.
Turn the corner
Continuity of observation as people pass by, unaware.
And he's still there,
Questioning if there is a judgment in what the boy sees.
Watching all the people
Pondering the boy's perspective on the passing people.
Who are passing unaware,
Contemplation on whether the boy's observations carry judgment.
Is there a judgment
Continued reflection on the boy's perceptions.
In what he sees?
Rhetorical question about judgment in the boy's observations.
Ah...
Expression of contemplation or realization.
On a day
Setting the scene on a cold and gray day.
As cold
Describing the day as cold.
And gray
Emphasizing the grayness of the day.
As today...
Repetition of the bleak description of the day.
The sign says "Head shots"
The sign about "Head shots" dominates the surroundings.
It's all I see,
Expressing a fixation on the concept of "Head shots."
A boy becomes a picture
The boy in the picture is associated with guilt and sympathy.
Of guilt and sympathy,
Reflecting on the transformation of the boy into a symbol.
And so I think of you
Thinking of a person in memory.
In memory
Recalling the time spent together.
Of the days we were together,
Reflecting on mutual love in the past.
And I knew that you loved me
Emphasizing the emotional connection in the past.
That was the difference
The emotional connection made a difference in perception.
In what we see,
Reiterating the impact of history on perception.
But that's history...
Acknowledging that it is now part of history.
Ah...
Expression of contemplation or realization.
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