Suzanne

Album: Raised on Radio (1986)
Charted: 17
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by lead singer Steve Perry and keyboard player Jonathan Cain, "Suzanne" tells the story of a guy whose ex-girlfriend is now a huge star. He can't let her go, and is tormented every time he sees her on the screen.
  • Asked in an online Q&A if this song was based on a real person, Steve Perry replied: "It was a fantasy encounter with a film star who also had a vocal artist career. Just a secret person that's in the song to live forever in that song. Real or not, she's real in the track."

Comments: 1

  • Suzanne M from OhioI've always lived this song bc we share the same name. Nit many has heard it until me. I still play it till this day.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine Band

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.

Joan Armatrading

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."