Music Monday

Music Monday: Angel (Lust) by Joe Jackson feat. Suzanne Vega and Dawn Upshaw

Music Monday is a meme that was created by Drew from The Tattooed Book Geek. Bjørn and I will pick a song alternatively on each Monday and share our thoughts about them. Bjørn’s pick this week is Angel (Lust) by Joe Jackson feat. Suzanne Vega and Dawn Upshaw.

Thoughts and Ramblings

Joe Jackson’s album Joe Jackson and Friends was why I obtained a DVD reader in the 2020s. It’s not available on any streaming services, because his friends happen to be signed to more than one record label, and this is why you can’t really expect music you love to remain available where you expect to find it. From neo-classical to prog rock, the seven songs cover the seven deadly sins, and listening to Suzanne Vega playing the role of a very assertive sex worker together with Dawn Upshaw adding opera to Vega’s cool, detached voice is one of my favourite pastimes. ‘Tom’s Diner’ this is not. It’s a masterpiece.

We don’t do a ‘quote of the song’ – as far as I know – but ‘You wanna go out with me?/Yeah, I know, we’re out, it’s, like, a figure of speech’ ranks very high among my favourite lyrics by anyone ever.

Song Lyrics

Here’s a young one
Hey Rufus
How’s the rain on the rhubarb?
You wanna go out with me?
Yeah, I know, we’re out
It’s, like, a figure of speech
All you need is a real girl guide
Give it up and come inside
Slip the leash, shake it loose
Bite the peach, suck the juice

What did you call me?
Angel
What was that again?
Angel

Ave gloriosa virginum regina
Vitis generosa, vite medicina
Clemencie resina
Ave copiosa gracie piscina
Carnis maculosa mund’ illum sentina
Mundicie cortina

Hey, chicken
Is that your girl?
Bet she lays like a lump
What’s your poison—lemonade?
Velveteen or a razor blade?
You wanna walk in the dark with me
To a place where no one sees?
Kiss the glove
Pretty please
You wanna pray?
On your knees

What did you call me?
Angel
Say it again
Angel

Claritate radiosa, stella matutina
Brevitate legis glossa, perte lex divina
Irradiat doctrina
Venustate vernans rosa, sine culpe sina
Caritate viscerosa, aurem buc inclina
Serves ill’a ruina

Hey, sailor
How’s the steam in the stovepipe?

If you don’t want to miss any of our posts, please consider signing up to our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media: