Is Luka an abused child or a powerful woman standing up for feminism?

Luka is a male name. So it's not a woman or a girl, it's about an abused boy.


Spikey

Ack! I guess I learned something today.
Thanks.

Don't feel so bad. Luka isn't exactly a common name, and given that Suzanne is singing this song in the first person, it's natural to assume that she's speaking for women.

I guess we should remember; Suzanne is an English major. In many instances, her lyrics read more like bits of prose.

Remember also that names sometimes switch gender over time: Kim, Stacey, Evelyn, Joyce, etc.

Yes, but some names only SOUND female, like Nikita and Luka. Actually, they are still boys' names.

This was definitely not the song that got me heavy into listening to Suzanne Vega. Although the lyric content is definitely powerful,the song always struck me as a flat pop song. When you listen to Suzanne's other material, it can seem like this song pales in comparison.
If i were in radio in 1987 and i wanted to sell this album, I would have pushed Ironbound Fancy Poultry, Wooden Horse, Calypso, and of course the title cut.

They've just put this song on in RadioRock here in Rome.....NEVER heard it on air here!!!

Great thing...reading the undertow AND listening to Luka on the radio...

Bye!

Miki

And right after that (and completely Off Topic except it's still music, and music that I LOVE) guess who they are playing now???
R.E.M. !
That's unique..... my two favourite acts in a row on the radio!!!

Miki (wondering what's coming next.... )

"Luka" was my introduction to Suzanne Vega. What a powerful song! When I first heard it, I ran out a bought it within 30 minutes. Even still, when I hear this song, it is just as powerful as the first time I heard it.

My take on this song is that a sweet natured young boy, named Luka of course, is an abused child. This child is making excuses for the noises at home and bruises he displays.

I often wonder what inspired the writing of this song. It is sooooo realistic it is scary.

If I didn't think I would get in trouble for copyright laws, I would use this video (if I could find it)in my classrooms when I teach about child abuse.

Thanks again Suzanne for another fine masterpiece!

I think different people took away their own interpretation of that song, abuse never goes away in our society, and something like "Luka" crosses over all generations..it's timeless!

According to a Suzanne interview I watched lo these many years ago, Luka is about a real kid, a young boy who lived in the same apartment building she lived in.

That's correct. But if I'm correct the story around Luka was imagined.

The way I remember the story, Luka actually lived upstairs from Suzanne, and his last name was also Vega (a common name in New York). But he was not abused, although Suzanne has stressed that the story itself isn't fictional; lots of children (too many) are victims of abuse.

She has said that she felt guilty after the song became a hit because people would assume that the real Luka was the victim. What if she had ruined his life?

Then, years after she moved away, a now-teenage Luka knocks at her former apartment. He is accompanied by a girl and asks Suzanne's ex-roommate (Lucy Kaplansky?), "Will you please tell this girl that Suzanne Vega really lived here?"

In other words, Luka was using the song named after him to pick up women. Suzanne says she felt much better knowing that.

It's a funny story. Sorry if I messed up the details -- please feel free to correct, anyone who knows better.

Well, he knocked on that door and wanted to prove to a girl that the song was named after him.