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Bad Wisdom Lyrics

Mother the doctor knows something is wrong
Cause my body has strange information
He's looked in my eyes and knows I'm not a child
But he doesn't dare ask the right question

Mother my friends are no longer my friends
And the games we once played have no meaning
I've gone serious and shy and they can't figure why
So they've left me to my own daydreaming

What price to pay
For bad wisdom
What price to pay
For bad wisdom
Too young to know
Too much too soon
Bad wisdom
Bad wisdom

Mother you've taught me the laws are so fine
If I'm good that I will be protected
I've fallen through the crack and there's no getting back
And I'll never trust whoever gets elected

Mother your eyes have gone suddenly cold
And it wasn't what I was expecting
Once I did think that I'd find comfort there
And instead you've gone hard and suspecting

What price to pay
For bad wisdom
What price to pay
For bad wisdom
Too young to know
Too much too soon
Bad wisdom
Bad wisdom

Mother I'm cut at the root like a weed
Cause there's no one to hear my small story
Just like a woman who walks in the street
I will pay for my life with my body

What price to pay
For bad wisdom
What price to pay
For bad wisdom
Too young to know
Too much too soon
Bad wisdom
Bad wisdom
4 Meanings

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Cover art for Bad Wisdom lyrics by Suzanne Vega

Suzzane Vega said: [it's about an] "unwanted sexual encounter at too young an age." A child at heart, The Montreal Mirror, January 28 to Febuary 4, 1993 Vega's muse won't let her forget, by Richard Bird

Song Meaning
Cover art for Bad Wisdom lyrics by Suzanne Vega

Very sad song. Each verse tells the story of a diferent child that messed up it's life - the first on early pregnency (mother the doctor knows something is wrong but he doesn't ask the right question), the second on drug addiction (I'm falen through the crack and there's no getting back) and the last on suiside attempt (mother I'll cut at the root like a wead - cutting the wrists). The last verse is especially chilling, with it's comparison to a prostitute (I will pay for my life with my body) - but here, it means that her body will pay for here life.

Cover art for Bad Wisdom lyrics by Suzanne Vega

No, actually the song is only one child talking. It's not about pregnancy or drugs or cutting or suicide, sorry. "fallen through the crack" and "cut like a weed" are just metaphors. The "bad wisdom" referred to is early knowledge of sex ... basically the song is about the impact of sexual abuse.

Cover art for Bad Wisdom lyrics by Suzanne Vega

i think that when she "falls through the crack", it means whoever abused her is getting away with the atrocities they committed; her case has been overlooked, she won't be getting any sort of help. she's lost her faith in the justice system because no one has done anything to help her.

 
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