I'll Never Be Your Maggie May

While the Rod Stewart standard "Maggie May" is familiar to millions, it's Suzanne Vega's wonderfully cunning reply to that immortal song of obsession that's a better proposition. Reversing the original's narrative of a younger man's infatuation with an older woman, and telling the story from the woman's viewpoint instead, "I'll Never Be Your Maggie May" is an amazing story song, a coolly accessible number that is an undoubtedly more thought-provoking composition than the overhyped Stewart rendition. Check out Vega's terrific live performance here, which is preceded by a concise, expository explanation.