Lyric discussion by ItsAllIWant 

Cover art for Marlene On The Wall lyrics by Suzanne Vega

Suzanne Vega needs to be more appreciated. There are no comments on her songs! This is a great song, and although I'm not really sure what it's about, I'm pretty sure it has to do with sex. Especially in the thrid verse when she says, "I walk to your house in the afternoon By the butcher shot with the sawdust strewn "Don't give away the goods too soon" Is what she might have told me And I tried so hard to resist When you held me in your handsome fist And reminded me of the night we kissed And of why I should be leaving " She's speaking of lust. Both lovers know it's wrong but they can't help themselves. As she leaves, "Marlene watches from the wall." "Marlene" (a painting or portrait most likely) has seen all the other lovers that have been there, hence her mocking smile. The narrator reminded that this is really nothing more than just another ordinary relationship. Finally she walks away from that relationship, "I think it's called my destiny/ that I am changing." not sure if that's correct, but that is how I see it.