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BYOS Lyrics

I met Mata Hari
She was in no hurry
The firing squad had their guns in the air
My invitation said, “Bring your own shovel.”
I brought my own shovel
B. Y. O. S.
Bring your own shovel
And shovel up the mess

Oh, lately all my friends clip their teeth with nail clippers
They want them much straighter,
Much nicer, more even.
Well I though I’d do something nasty as well
I brought my own shovel and dug up this here well
Then I shuffled my feet and I sniffed at the smells
Then I dropped in some horses and dropped in some sheep
Then I cuddled up a grandma put her in there to sleep.
Then I licked up an envelope in it I sent
All the bones
And the bones
And the brains from my head.

Oh, oh, and darling I’m all shook up now
Oh, oh, baby I’m all shook up now
Oh, oh, darling I’m all shook up

Bring your own shovel [x3]

B. Y. O. S.
Bring your own shovel [x3]
B. Y. O. S. [x3]
B. Y. O. -
B. Y. O. -
B. Y. O. S.
Song Info
Submitted by
errky39 On Mar 11, 2005
15 Meanings

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Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

I thought it might be one of Regina's Holocaust songs.

The singer doesn't agree with the Nazis, but they're forced into it. They go along with what they're told to do, because they feel they have no other option. They meet Mata Hari, and they sympathize with her situation. They carry out orders mindlessly, burying bodies, digging up wells, cutting hair and bones and hating every minute of it, but unable to escape.

The lines, "well I thought I'd do something nasty as well," and "my invitation said bring your own shovel" has the same tune as the line "brown paper packages tied up with strings," from the song "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music." I thought the reference might be there for a bit of sarcasm, as though to say that the singer is NOT doing their favorite thing, and they detest their own word. Then there's the sarcastic Elvis reference with "Darling I'm all shook up now," inferring that the singer is indeed "shook up," but not because of any love for their job. Quite the opposite.

Perhaps I'm being too morbid though.

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

Is it just me or when she sings "Well I though I’d do something nasty as well" it sounds exaclty like the line "Brown paper packages tied up with string" from the song "My Favourite Things"? Could it be a reference? Oh and also, How come no one mentioned the little Elvis thing she does there with the whole "Darling I’m all shook up now" thing?

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

I'm not too sure if the first line is right. ^^;;

It's right =^.^= It seems to me the song means we're worried about a lot of b.s. Hence BYOS. We've buried ourselves in things that don't matter. I think that's the sarcasm coming out in the first verse.

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

I think you are right errky39. I'm pretty sure its "Mata Hari" not "my darling". If you google Mata Hari-->you can learn how she was accused of being a spy during WWI. Makes sense that Regina would use here in the song.

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

looks like someone changed the first line. i love this. i love her.

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

Its Mata Hari. She was a spy in WWI, later a dancer. It makes sense with the whole firing squad thing.

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

I believe its "Cuddled up my grandma and put ther in there to sleep"

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

Is it just me or when she sings "Well I though I’d do something nasty as well" it sounds exaclty like the line "Brown paper packages tied up with string" from the song "My Favourite Things"? Could it be a reference? Oh and also, How come no one mentioned the little Elvis thing she does there with the whole "Darling I’m all shook up now" thing?

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

this is right tom..... completly correct good job you win! lol this to me i just a crazy random song. but a good one.

Cover art for BYOS lyrics by Regina Spektor

I believe its "cuddled" as well nice job Tom you are very um damn i forget the word but you notice things. I love this song!!

 
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