(I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May Lyrics

1. I’ll never be your Maggie May
the one you loved and left behind
the face you see in light of day
and then you cast away
that isn't me in that bed you'll find

2. I'd rather take myself away
be like those ladies in Japan
rather paint myself a face
conjure up some grace
or be the eyes behind a fan

And so you go
no girl could say no
to you

3. there's the way we may appear
but that will change from day to night
would you ever see within?
underneath the skin?
could I believe you had that sight?

4. instrumental

And so you go
no girl could say no
to you

5. I'll never be your Maggie May
the one you loved and then forgot
I'll love you first and let you go
because it must be so
and you'll forgive or you will not

6. and so a woman leaves a man
and so a world turns on it's end
so I'll see your face in dreams
where nothing's what it seems
you still appear some kind of friend

And so you go
no girl could say no
to you
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Cover art for (I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May lyrics by Suzanne Vega

Yet another song re a guy from Liverpool Suzanne met whilst in summer camp. the original song "Maggie May" is an old Liverpool sea shanty about a prostitute who robbed a sailor. it is at least 150 years old, and is one of Liverpool's Anthems. So possibly was used as a term of endearment towards Miss Vega. The Other two songs in this trilogy of a Lost Scouse (Liverpudlian) Lover are: "In Liverpool" and "Gipsy", and all song appear on the 2003 Retrospective album.

Cover art for (I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May lyrics by Suzanne Vega

She sees him for what he is - just a guy who wants an attractive women to sleep with but has no intentions for a serious relationship.

The second part about ladies in Japan seems like she is saying that she doesn't want to open herself to this guy because he'll make a fool of her. Put on a mask to protect yourself and keep her dignity from an exploitative man.

She seems somewhat tempted by this guy. But then she says Would you ever see within? Underneath the skin? Could I believe you had that sight? She thinks he is just looking at her looks and body but doesn't see her person.

When I hear this song, I wonder if she is poking fun at Rod Stewart's song Maggie Mae where he portrays Maggie as an older woman who is taking advantage of the younger mail narrator and keeping him from getting on with his life. In Vega's song, she's not going to wait around for that treatment.

@jelaplan Tonight at her show in Haifa (Israel), she explicitly said that the song was written as response to Rod Stewart's Maggie May

Cover art for (I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May lyrics by Suzanne Vega

Great track. Check out also Dar Williams: 'I Won't Be Your Yoko Ono'!

Cover art for (I'll Never Be) Your Maggie May lyrics by Suzanne Vega

I reckon she's saying she'll never live up to his idealised woman, perhaps a past lover he'll never get over... She will love him and leave him because she can never have him fully, as she will never be the woman he truly wants/had.