Suzanne Vega - The Queen And The Soldier (Live At Montreux 2004) 

One of The Great Tunes and poems of all time, on the level of Dylan and Joni Mitchell.

If all I had ever done was write this song, that would be enough.

I bought the album back in 1985 when I was 15 and spent 6 months stoned listening to this!

Susanne Vega's voice on this song is flawless.

There aren't many songs whose opening chords can send me a shiver. This is one of those beautiful exceptions. Beautiful, haunting, yearning lyrics. Pure poetry x

This is the song that made me want to learn how to play guitar. It only took me 30; years to learn it. I busk in Georgetown Texas. Come listen sometime.

36 years after we first heard this lovely, haunting song on the 1st album- WE are here listening to it again in 2021! This live version is beautiful. x

As a folkie, a bassist, and a lover of poetry, I absolutely adore this.

Vanaf het eerste moment tot vandaag ,bij het horen van haar stem en het verhaal dat zij brengt ❤. Een van de beste muzikant van de laatste 50 jaar🎉

There is only one other person on this planet who could have matched her lyrically and that is Sting. He could have written this song. Suzanne will always be One of the true musical greats!

One of her best songs, if not the best. A fable about Innocence vs Might. Like some here, i still cry when hearing.

I adore this wonderful Lady! What a story teller!

I still remember seeing this at the time. Montreux and an almost endless line of crap-artists and then - a shy-looking NYC lady with a guitar that looked bigger than herself and... I've never looked back. First encounter with the music of the great Suzanne Vega.

So in love with her as teenager wanted to marry her. That first album was awesome but this song destroys me every time especially having served in military for 18 years - such a beautiful voice - love her still ❤

Definitely my favourite Suzanne Vega song, I used this song more than 30 years ago as English comprehension and discussion with foreign students, I loved it so much. I hope the students appreciated the genius behind the song.

A haunting story, telling much more than the words say. That, my friends, is poetry.

The soldier came knocking upon the queen's door He said, "I am not fighting for you any more" The queen knew she'd seen his face someplace before And slowly she let him inside. He said, "I've watched your palace up here on the hill And I've wondered who's the woman for whom we all kill But I am leaving tomorrow and you can do what you will Only first I am asking you why." Down in the long narrow hall he was led Into her rooms with her tapestries red And she never once took the crown from her head She asked him there to sit down. He said, "I see you now, and you are so very young But I've seen more battles lost than I have battles won And I've got this intuition, says it's all for your fun And now will you tell me why?" Well the young queen, she fixed him with an arrogant eye She said, "You won't understand, and you may as well not try" But her face was a child's, and he thought she would cry But she closed herself up like a fan. And she said, "I have swallowed a secret burning thread It cuts me inside, and often I've bled" He laid his hand then on top of her head And he bowed her down to the ground. "Tell me how hungry are you? How weak you must feel As you are living here alone, and you are never revealed But I won't march again on your battlefield" And he took her to the window to see. And the sun, it was gold, though the sky, it was gray And she wanted more than she ever could say But she knew how it frightened her, and she turned away And would not look at his face again. And he said, "I want to live as an honest man To get all I deserve and to give all I can And to love a young woman who I don't understand Your highness, your ways are very strange." But the crown, it had fallen, and she thought she would break And she stood there, ashamed of the way her heart ached She took him to the doorstep and she asked him to wait She would only be a moment inside. Out in the distance her order was heard And the soldier was killed, still waiting for her word And while the queen went on strangling in the solitude she preferred The battle continued on.

As an old punk who is really not into folk I adore Suzanne Vega! She is her own genre

First new song I’ve heard since the 80’s. And she never fails.

Suzanne Vega is obviously an old soul, that refuses to quit and move on and just leave this earth to its limited devices. I would be lost without her like. Thank you honey, for your soft whisper of wind in an otherwise unrelenting environment that is our existence here. I'll work to repay your kindness always.

I keep coming back to this song. 2024. Flawless performance.

When she played at La Cigale in Paris, the audience recognized the song and cheered at the very first note played on the guitar. One of my very favourite.

What a classy singer/ writer, beautiful song, beautiful woman

Unbelievable. So good. My favourite. Classic storytelling

This is musical pure art in it's highest form. For me it's the favourite from a wonderful catalogue of greatness! It's sound, depth and message are unforgettable. A friend introduced me to the debut album. I bought it the very next day. Awesome. 👍🏻

This is an even more subtle, nuanced, lovely version of this song than the studio version I'm familiar with. This song is so much unlike, yet so much like, another of Suzanne's great songs, "Luka": Understated, creepy, powerful. This is a work of genius.

🎼such an overhelming masterpeace of beautiful, dramatic lyrics, Suzannes phenomenal soft voice and absolutely touching music. She is an authentic, outstanding sympathic artist and woman❤️

Always loved this song, this lady and musician and her music. Simply beautiful. Profound as the stars and deeper than the sea.

The most beautiful rendition of one her most beautiful songs, thank you Suzanne, I love you x

This is one of those songs where you can recall the exact place you first heard it. I was part of the team painting the interior of the Auckland, NZ first gay night club, this was in 1987. The radio was tuned into 'bfm' the Auckland uni station and thinking back now, it may even have been on a sunday because the station had great stuff broadcast on Sundays. I was probably working on my own, having a break from painting in the stairwell when this came on. Stopped me in an instant and started my love affair with Suzanne. I can still recall being mesmerised by the lyrics and voice and the vibration continues to this day...

I wish the message gets old.Classic still relevant message.So gentle the voice so brutal the meaning...

I've loved her from the first time I heard her first album.

Army buddy from California gave me this cassette in korea1988..love every song..still today..

i new the lirics to this song at the age of 7 loved it then and love it now..... stil gived me goosebumps... 💖

My first time hearing this amazing song, the story telling of Suzanne brings it to life and I was in the room watching the interaction between the Queen and the Soldier and how sad it was at the end, if not predictable.

Just a great song and a great voice. Brings me back to when I bought the CD new.

her guitar sound is interesting, kind of medieval bouzouki or mandola...and the bass guitar is perfect. The voice is that of a mother voice singing to our baby's ears, that sweet and lighten voice of ever.

gawwwwwd hearing this now reminds me of a college boyfriend who sang this for me and played the guitar all so amazingly all these years later finally realized he didnt break my heart.. broke my own damn heart

I love the controlled emotion in her voice. Repressed but rippling through every note - Susan Vega, Florence Welch, Birdy... it's all about the control.

Her music is getting more subtle I like this better than earlier versions. That is rare ofter older musicians are sad shadows of there younger selves.

I heard this song first exactly 30 years ago :) Smoke gets in my eyes...

used to listen to this returning from leave on my walkman in the 80s

singing this for myself it always feels pretty short. But the song has so much more to offer.

Couldn’t be better still makes me cry any more I’d be out of tears for sure xx

M'n grootste wens is dat mensen gaan beseffen waar dit systeem om draait , en dat de muziek in hun ogen simpelweg een dekmantel is ,

Music at its very best. Suzanne Vega is just amazing. ♩♩♩

Obvs she was more gorgeous than I could ever say ❤

Yeah, one morning freshman year of high school upon learning a massive English project was due that day (not the next week as I had thought), I totally just wrote this song down and handed it in. The worst part was the teacher trying to get my permission to publish it in the school paper... that was awkward. Did I learn anything? Not really...

So true, ❤

As moved hearing it now as I was a kid.Brilliant.

Einer ihrer schönsten Lieder..da kommen sehr schöne Gedanken wieder hoch..Love this Song

Brilliant poem, and melody, and delivery, and message, and singer.

i so wish i could have played that with you, i spent over a week going over it on a 12 string, still love the song

Simply beautiful…….a voice of pure gold….

I learned about a folk singer and song writer named Connie Converse today in a NY Times article and I listened to several songs, and in particular when I heard The Witch and the Wizard I immediately thought of this song, which I haven't listened to for a few years but first heard when Suzanne's debut album (produced by Lenny Kaye, guitarist for the Patti Smith Group) came out and Suzanne played in NY, and I was lucky enough to see her play and sing this song, but hearing it today I have to say I am startled by the Game of Thrones flavor of the story, or maybe I should say Throne of Dragons, and coincidentally I just watched it on DVD from the public library, I had to wait months for it on the waiting list, if you've seen it you know that a murderous Queen and a soldier figure prominently in the story

I love this song and Suzanne Vega.

Still Astonishes me everytime I hear it.

The Bass is just awesome!!

I pair this song with All Along The Watchtower

Ah the metaphor for the great powers that be, the wars they fight, and the individuals who die for their greed.

Wow oh wow. This means so much to me and anyone who wonders where this fine musician went. A song that must resonate deeply within any true Vega fan...thanks so very much for shearing. May i please reccomend for fans a lady called Bjork without sounding all spammy? . Thanks..much warmth and love to all....

Wonderfully amazingly cool, cheers

This song is beautiful.

50,000th like! I am privileged! :) Such a flippin' awesome song!

wow ... beautiful .. haunting

Her best song - out of many good ones!!!!!!!!

WoW what a great song!

voice of an angel

Beautiful❤️☺️

This is wonderful. Thank you for posting.

beautiful xx

セカンドアルバムが発売された頃、名古屋で彼女のライブを観てきたのが懐かしい^ - ^

Artistas como esta cantante, No hay.

❤

Thanks for posting this video.

Ella fascinante como siempre... Las imágenes son un asco....tomas De espada, tomas de la mano, ni siquiera los dedos... Las luces etc.. Un Espectáculo aparte el director o quien Sea.... Ella Diosa como siempre....

Lovely

The soldier came knocking upon the Queen's door He said, "I am not fighting for you any more" The Queen knew she'd seen his face someplace before And slowly she let him inside He said, "I've watched your palace up here on the hill And I've wondered who's the woman for whom we all kill But I am leaving tomorrow and you can do what you will Only first I am asking you why" Down in the long narrow hall he was led Into her rooms with her tapestries red And she never once took the crown from her head She asked him there to sit down He said, "I see you now, and you are so very young But I've seen more battles lost than I have battles won And I've got this intuition, says it's all for your fun And now will you tell me why?" The young queen, she fixed him with an arrogant eye She said, "You won't understand, and you may as well not try" But her face was a child's, and he thought she would cry But she closed herself up like a fan And she said, "I've swallowed a secret burning thread It cuts me inside, and often I've bled" He laid his hand then on top of her head And he bowed her down to the ground "Tell me how hungry are you? How weak you must feel As you are living here alone, and you are never revealed But I won't march again on your battlefield" And he took her to the window to see. And the sun, it was gold, though the sky, it was gray And she wanted more than she ever could say But she knew how it frightened her, and she turned away And would not look at his face again And he said, "I want to live as an honest man To get all I deserve and to give all I can And to love a young woman who I don't understand Your highness, your ways are very strange" But the crown, it had fallen, and she thought she would break And she stood there, ashamed of the way her heart ached She took him to the doorstep and she asked him to wait She would only be a moment inside Out in the distance her order was heard And the soldier was killed, still waiting for her word And while the Queen went on strangely in the solitude she preferred The battle continued on

Beautiful sad, poignant song

Always ❤

Yes

Her pickings so good here

Her voice is so crisp its like she's singing through a filter

Perfect.

terrific

Those eyes.

she is so beatiful!

Plus je l écoute, Plus j apprécie, Plus je l aime... Et ceci depuis

Wow........

endlezz tearz❤💋💋💋💋💋❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤I Have Alwayzzz Loved Your Beautiful Soul Goddezz

Goes out tonight to whatever her name was ...wherever she is now ...

Yup!!

Great song ! Great performance ! However, whoever suggested all the purple graphics is terrible it completely pulls complete focus from the Artist, the Words, the Music and Performance! On her additional RU-vid songs if the vocals can be louder for some reason the engineering the instrumentals seem to overpower the vocals and the listeners can hardly hear the Great Words. It’s the voice!! and the words not so much the loudness of music… 💙 ✨✨✨🖋️🌞🌞🌞😁🐷🎨🖋️ 📣👀

YOU CANNOT DELETE US ALL!

Schöner Song

genius

Lovelyy !! *--* chora/

Actually, "Left of Center" wasn't on Suzanne's debut album. It wasn't on any of her studio albums. It was on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack which was released between her first two albums.

I first heard this song on Galei Tsahal - Israel Army Radio. How's that for irony?

JAY OWEN LUB