My Gen X Playlist: Tom’s Diner – Suzanne Vega

Which is the best restaurant in your city?

My wife always asks me where I want to eat on my birthday. She’s always shocked when I suggest some greasy spoon or hole in the wall joint. Why? She asks. I tell her because I’ve basically cut these out of my life as regular options to choose from. Eating unhealthy greasy food has become a treat.

But really, though. I have no interest in celebrating my birthday and that’s the other part of the reason. Not because each additional year brings on trauma. They don’t in the least. I just don’t care for the fuss or attention. I did have to make an exception when I turned 50. My wife put her foot down and organized a nice dinner with friends and family. I didn’t have a choice. And she’s been hinting that there will be another one at the next upcoming milestone birthday. I have no idea which one she’s pointing at. I just put on my blinders and ear buds and pretend I didn’t see or hear anything. Out of sight, out of mind.

I looked up restaurant songs and was pleasantly surprised to find Tom’s Diner on the list. I hadn’t heard this one in a long time.

Suzanne Vega wrote this song while eating breakfast at Tom’s Restaurant on the corner of Broadway and 112th Street in New York City. Tom’s has another famous place in pop culture as well: it was Jerry Seinfeld’s hangout in his hit sitcom Seinfeld. On the show, where it was called “Monk’s Cafe,” the “Tom’s” was cropped out so the exterior sign just said “Restaurant,” and the interior shots were done with TV magic on a sound stage.

Songfacts

It turns out this was originally an acapella song until DNA sampled it into a dance track in 1990. Such a different vibe from the original. Vega was amused by the version, agreed to release it but thought it would only find a small audience. It turns out, it sold over 3 million copies.

I thought it was cool that she was open to a completely different interpretation of her song. Embracing a different version and letting others celebrate another take on it isn’t easy for everyone. And it feels like there’s a lesson in there for me. Maybe I need to rethink my low key attitude towards my birthday. Instead of my quiet acapella version, I should throw in a few dance beats, spice it up a bit and embrace the celebration. It’s difficult for me to completely flip the switch on things. I prefer a gradual approach. I think step one is choosing with nicer restaurants. The ones with cloth napkins, nice cocktails and cool ambiance. Why not? It only comes around once a year. I should enjoy it.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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
And he fills it only halfway
And before I even argue
He is looking out the window
At somebody coming in

"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

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

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

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
And of the midnight picnic once upon a time
Before the rain began...
And I finish up my coffee
And it's time to catch the train

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da
Da-da-da, da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da