Tom's Diner

Words & Music:

Suzanne Vega

 

[scat melody on "Doo" syllables to start a capella version of the song]

 

Em                                 C

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.

       G                           Dm6

And he fills it only halfway and before I even argue,

      Em                            B7

He is looking out the window at somebody coming in.

 

[scat  "Doo" melody again]

 

"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.

And I'm pretending not to see them and instead I pour the milk.

 

[scat  "Doo" melody again]

 

I open up the paper, there's a story of an actor.

Who had died while he was drinking, it 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.

 

[scat  "Doo" melody again]

 

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 has gotten wet.

 

[scat  "Doo" melody again]

 

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...

 

[scat  "Doo" melody again]