| Regina Spektor – Happy Hooker Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
This song is wonderful. I love everything about it, but these lines are particularly funny: "I don't give a fuck / cause it pays the rent" because she has sex to pay her rent, so, while she may not give a figurative fuck about doing it, she gives literal fucks to pay her rent. Great word play. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Patron Saint Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
Did Sybil have a romantic interest? I haven't read the book or seen the movie, so I know nothing about the character (I know it's based on a real person, but the book/movie aren't case studies). I ask because the song isn't addressed to the "she." It seems like it's addressed to someone who is on the verge of falling in love with her, warning him that nothing good will come of it because she isn't capable of having a relationship (which is sadly true - people with DID have trouble maintaining relationships because each "alter" has his/her own feelings and relationships). At first, I didn't make any connection between DID and this song, but after reading crod's comment, it makes sense. So, since I know nothing about Sybil specifically, I'm having trouble making sense of the song. And I recommend First Person Plural to anyone who's interested in reading a beautifully written, accurate account of DID. It's an amazing book written by someone who actually experienced DID. Not for the faint of heart because it's tragic and violent in places, but extremely good. I felt the need to tack this on because he is constantly asked, "Like Sybil?" when he explains his condition to people. |
|
| Regina Spektor – A Cooler Version of Yourself Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| Oh, I like Arafelis's idea better, so I take that part of my comment back :) | |
| Regina Spektor – December Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I think it's about divorce, also. I think the very first lines are someone talking to one of the people involved in the divorce, trying to cheer him/her up, but the song is in the voice of that person beginning with "rumors." The lines about the rumors interrupt the previous ones, like the person can't even think about being happier with all these rumors about his/her ex-spouse being in love again. I think saying that they are completely unsubstantiated is more hopeful than certain. In the next verse, the person wants his/her ex to be sorry for all the pain this divorce has caused, making it sound like he/she was the one who wanted a divorce and not the narrator. The narrator is still in love and wants, at the very least, acknowledgement from his/her ex that mistakes were made. I agree with fitzgerald that the house is metaphorical, but I think it's metaphorical to the narrator. I think he/she doesn't want to give up the house that he/she lived in with his/her (I really wish English had a gender-neutral pronoun. I know it's technically 'he,' but it really doesn't work.) spouse because it represents the life they shared. When he/she says that he/she doesn't believe in "you and your wrecking crew," I think it's a desperate, stubborn denial of what is happening. I think the wrecking crew is a metaphor for the lawyers, maybe, or other people involved in the divorce. He/she does not want to accept that what they had is done, but there's not really much he/she can do besides cling to the house, trying to pretend that everything will just go away. And I also have no idea why she suddenly uses an accent in the final verse, but I don't think I'd like her half as well if I understood all the whys in her songs. Anyway, it's that accent that makes the final verse my favorite. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Love Affair Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I thought it was simple, but I guess it's not because people seem to have so many interpretations. I guess I'll add mine on :) I think this song is told through two people gossiping. We hear one voice, but there’s obviously someone else there (“or have you heard?”). So this one person is talking about the love affair between these people, who lived in the building. He was an engineer and a good-looking, “natural” man. I think it was a happy relationship because it’s one that every respectable building would want as a legend. I think the comment about the mother is not quite literal. I don’t think the mother actually disapproved of him. It was more a general observation that mothers prefer lawyers and doctors. So the man made up for this by being “natural” and “healthy.” The babies aren’t actual babies, but used to describe his hair. So that’s what I think. Also, I think it’s: “Slowly festering through an innocent- by the way, or have you heard?” The person is going to say that he was an engineer, but wants to know if the person already knows. |
|
| Regina Spektor – All the Rowboats Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I am so sad that the only version I have doesn't have the "I do not agree." Anyway, I love this song. It's beautiful. The images, the music, everything. |
|
| Regina Spektor – AB Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
"cause my head rolls so quickly and with such precision I can't help but making a big round incision left near the bookshelf by that book on division" I love that part. I think this song is really adorable. It's so upbeat and weird that I can't help loving it. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Left Hand Song Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I like this song. It's creepy and weird, but I love it. I guess it's about trying to survive and protect yourself. At the beginning, she talks about how people crawl into holes to protect themselves and then spend the rest of their time trying to get back out again because life inside a hole isn't much of a life. The birds then fight over this one little crumb that ends up not satisfying them, which I guess relates to the beginning. The life of safety isn't satisfying and isn't worth the work it took to get. The part about the office is about how people hide from imaginary fears. There is no reason to fear snakes in the carpet of an office because they simply won't be there. It's a waste of time to worry about them. The meatball, then, is rotten and gross, which shows that a life of being preserved amounts to nothing worthwhile. Thoughts? |
|
| Regina Spektor – A Cooler Version of Yourself Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
envirohodges, by "does it" do you mean has sex? I couldn't really tell from the comment if you meant sex or getting drunk. If you do, then I agree. She's gone to this party, gotten drunk, had sex, and now regrets it because it's nothing like she imagined it would be. When she says that she "pull[s] away while you're inside," she starts to remove herself from the situation and, also, I think, resents the guy. She distances herself from him. I love the line when she says that she didn't know it would be so boring. And the snoring is fantastic. I think the crueler version her dad is a hint at the consequences she faces when she comes home from this party, but that's not really as important to her, I think, than the fact that this "cooler version of herself" didn't live up to her expectations. The whole thing was just a big disappointment for her. |
|
| Regina Spektor – The Virgin Queen Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I listened to a reversed version and heard the "family come home." Creepiest thing, really. Also, I have a few corrections to the lyrics: Both times "in the pen" should be "in the end." "I can hear the voices rising," not of Rosalind. And "In the end / It's just a bed" "jump on us" is actually just "troubles" again And I agree that it's about Elizabeth I. The headless mother and heartless father, Shakespeare, the fact that she's the virgin queen... More specifically, I think it's about how lonely this life would have been. In order to keep her power, Elizabeth didn't marry, but this also deprived her of this relationship. It wasn't exactly ok to have sexual relationships outside of marriage, so any that she had would have to be very quiet. Robert Dudley, I think, was someone she loved or, at least, liked quite a lot, but was unable to marry because of her status. So to keep her power, she had to essentially marry England, as Regina says. Also, the parts about the voices rising would be those trying to take power from her. Even before she became queen, there were plots against her. Also, she was Protestant, so the Catholics weren't exactly pleased with her and wanted Mary, Queen of Scots to be England's queen. So I think the voices Regina sings about are those of people plotting against Elizabeth. The song talks about her loneliness and, I think, hints at dissatisfaction at the end with the cold crown and the things that are fading. Also, "family come home," could refer to the fact that Elizabeth never had much of a family, what with her father killing his wives and she and her siblings all vying for power against each other. Elizabeth even had to sentence her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, to death. At least I think she was her cousin, but I’m not quite sure. I also find it interesting that Regina chose that particular quote of Shakespeare's to use. I don't think she's implying suicidal thoughts with it, but maybe uses it to mirror Elizabeth’s internal debate about whether she should give up the idea of a family in favor of being Queen or whether it would be better to trade in her crown for a family. A question of which is worth more. I love Regina for using that one, though, because I have an unhealthy love for Hamlet ;) I think the vocalizing continues this debate because she has two “voices” in it. There’s one that’s deeper and more manly and one that’s feminine. The feminine one seems to plead for something and masculine one is calmer. I think there’s some quote from Elizabeth that talks about her masculinity vs. femininity, so I think that’s what this is. She has this typically masculine power, but also this typically feminine desire for a family and she has to deal with them both, causing this inner conflict. Anyway, this is a fantastic song that I will now shut up about :) |
|
| Regina Spektor – Mockingbird Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I don't think it's about abuse. I think it's just a father who realizes the reality of his situation. He can't afford all the nice things he'd like to give his daughter. At first, he tries to pretend that he can, but gets fed up with it and gets bitter and "crude." He then regains his hope and can comfort his daughter with promises of a better future full of the luxuries he wants for her. But that's just another opinion. In other news, I could not possibly love Regina more than I do right now. I listened to this song for the first time five minutes ago and have come to the conclusion that it is ridiculous how amazing she is. And the contrast between her beautiful voice and the harsh reality of the song is amazing. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Just Like the Movies Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| nemequittepas, I think that line is playing with the way we hear it. The first time I listened to it, I went back because I could have sworn I heard "bite," but when she adds "Over the Williamsburg Bridge on a bike," it made me wonder if it had actually been "bike." At least, that's what I think. She does a lot with playing around with words and sounds, so I think it makes sense. | |
| Regina Spektor – Rockland County Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
The American way of thinking isn't necessarily anti-immigrant. Just saying. I adore this song. Besides the beautiful, personal details she has such a talent for giving, there is so much to love about it. I like how she repeats herself at the end with the swimming pool and dog because she seems like an excited kid taking in a new place. I also find the beginning fascinating. "Condescending down the stairs" is so fantastic that I can't even think of anything to say about it. I'm a little confused about the two verses about knowing that they/I have something coming if they/I have anything coming at all. Obviously, if you have something coming, then you have something coming, but I'm not sure what she could being refering to with the "something." Opportunities? Changes? But then there's also the phrase: "got something coming to you," though I have no idea how that would work. Also, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" makes me cry (the poor little shoe - I was inconsolable the first time I saw it) :) |
|
| Regina Spektor – The Soup Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
"The pictures had clear resolution in their minds" I think that's the lyric, not "the pictures as clear as an illusion." The bank robbery is pretty obvious. What interests me is the soup. I mean, she starts and ends with the soup, but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out its relationship to the rest of the song. Anyway, I love the way that she describes Buster as running until he's it. She takes this serious moment and relates it to playing tag. It's amazing. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Making Records Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| To add to my poor, lonely comment, I always laugh when she says that the wires sing it back better than she can because I infinitely prefer her live performances. I'm not sure what it is, but there are songs that I don't listen to if it's not the live version. So, basically, I find that line ironic. | |
| Regina Spektor – Making Records Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I love the piano in this song. Anyway, I think the meaning is pretty obvious, but she does it so beautifully. The part about jelly and jam is fantastic. I mean, she takes something simple, like the effect of making a record on an artist, but makes it something wonderful with little details and the absolutely perfect words for expressing it. | |
| Regina Spektor – 8th Floor Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I love, love, love the part about the rain being January snow in denial. She is fantastic. And I love listening to the Russian part, despite not understanding a word. |
|
| Regina Spektor – The Bronx Lyrics | 19 years ago |
| I love the way she makes the piano sound like she's buzzing her friend, especially when she gets impatient. | |
| Regina Spektor – Soho Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
"as if one day they will crave us" Fantastic. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Belt Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
It's makes me feel guilty for liking it so much :) I especially like what she does with the light to explain why she stays. Oh, and the voice she puts on when making excuses (haha, I fell down the stairs) |
|
| Regina Spektor – Dog and Pony Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
At the beginning, it's empty file cabinet, not empty our cabinet. Anyway, I only recently heard this song, so I’m not quite sure what it's about, but it's beautiful and deserves some comments, so here's one. What sticks out to me is the idea of not being about to start over in the true sense of the phrase. She says that there’s no clean slate and you never come back the same each time you up in flames (like a phoenix). You can start over from youth, like the phoenix, but the affects of your past will never be erased. So the next line about blaming led me to think that the song is about the end of a relationship. The catalyst seems to have been a fight because of the line about blame. The narrator (I’ll say it’s a girl for simplicity) is leaving, having realized that things are over and that they can’t begin again because things just aren’t that simple. They’ve had a relationship and can’t simply rewind time to meet all over and do things right. The verse about the dancing and the one about falling in love are probably memories from when the relationship began, but since it has gone sour now, they're separating. Still, I see something hopeful in the song because she tells the other person to not cry. Maybe because they had a bit of true love and should be grateful for that. And the fact that it will never be erased may prevent them from starting all over, but it also means that they won’t ever forget what they’ve had. Anyway, it’s a gorgeous song. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Better Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
My first reaction to the song was that it was about someone trying to help someone else, but having absolutely no idea just how hurt the person is. I agree with kiwifruit about it sounding like a child because it's so naive. The person just has no idea of the extent of damage done to the person he/she is trying to help and it's really pretty heartbreaking. However, that doesn't include the second verse of the song because I always got so caught up in the rest. It's an interesting verse because the first half seems to say that they are very close, but the second is about keeping secrets. I guess the blood ties being only blood could mean that, though they were born like sisters, it didn't mean anything because it was only blood, which would work with the idea of not understanding/knowing in the rest of the song. The final two lines of that verse seem to suggest that the person is keeping his/her problems to him/herself. Maybe it does have something to do with depression or another disorder because there are lots of stigmas associated with disorders, so the person may be trying to keep it a secret so no one will "call [him/her] by it," but the problem with that is that he/she then can't be helped because no one knows what's wrong. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Folding Chair Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
"I'll saftey pin his clothes all cool and you'll graffiti up his toys" With the way she says toys/ties, it could really be either, but I think that, since the baby is still a baby at this point, toys makes more sense. Just my two cents... no pun intended. "I get scared NOW I'm sitting here alone" Just a missing word. Ok, so now onto the song itself. I'm not sure that this song is sad. There are sad moments, but it seems hopeful, overall. She's been sitting on the beach, waiting, but now what she's been waiting for has come, so there's some hope there. And, while he doesn't yet realize that all she wants is to hold his hand (just be in love), she's not worrying about it, just telling him to sit down with her now. Being happy with what you have is definitely important in this song. She doesn't worry that things aren't perfect or about what will happen in the future because he can sit with her right now. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Bobbing for Apples Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
"I'm dating Jack Daniels and Caleb's with Miss Nikki Tine Nachos with cocoa -- hey, to each his own" adamanteve is right, in my opinion. Jack Daniels is alcohol, so Miss Nikki Tine is most logical. And, to be grammatically picky, there should be no apostrophe in nachos because they aren't possessing anything. |
|
| Regina Spektor – Mermaid Lyrics | 19 years ago |
|
I think the above people have covered the meaning pretty well. She's gotten rid of what made her unique so that she could fit in, but fitting in isn't all it's cracked up to be. Also, where the lyrics say "no matter how clean," I think she says "no matter how I plead" or, at least, that's what she says in the version I've heard. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.