Suzanne
Judy Collins · Other Songs - Judy Collins
Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she's half crazy that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you want to tell her that you have no love to give her
She gets you on her wavelength and lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll may be trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind
And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water
And He spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower
And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him
He said, "All men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them"
But He Himself was broken long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with Him
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll maybe trust Him
For He's touched your perfect body with his mind
Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by you can spend the night forever
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you trust her
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she's half crazy that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you want to tell her that you have no love to give her
She gets you on her wavelength and lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll may be trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind
And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water
And He spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower
And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him
He said, "All men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them"
But He Himself was broken long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with Him
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll maybe trust Him
For He's touched your perfect body with his mind
Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by you can spend the night forever
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you trust her
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind
Suzanne
Judy Collins' 1966 recording of 'Suzanne' stands as a defining moment in folk-rock history, originally written by Carole King and Glyn Johns. Collins' ethereal vocal delivery and the song's haunting melody transformed it from a standard pop composition into a timeless classic. The track became a staple of the folk revival, influencing countless artists across rock, jazz, and pop genres. Its enduring appeal lies in its atmospheric quality and the way it bridges the gap between intimate storytelling and expansive musicality. Over decades, the song has been covered by major acts, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone that exemplifies the era's artistic freedom and emotional depth.