I must go on standing
You can't break that which isn't yours
I must go on standing
I'm not my own, it's not my choice

Be afraid of the lame, they'll inherit your legs
Be afraid of the old, they'll inherit your souls
Be afraid of the cold, they'll inherit your blood
Après moi, le déluge
After me comes the flood

I must go on standing
You can't break that which isn't, isn't yours, yours
I must go on standing
I'm not my own, it's not my choice

Be afraid of the lame, they'll inherit your legs
Be afraid of the old, they'll inherit your souls
Be afraid of the cold, they'll inherit your blood
Après moi, le déluge
After me comes the flood
Be afraid of the lame, they'll inherit your legs
Be afraid of the old, they'll inherit your souls
Be afraid of the cold, they'll inherit your blood
Après moi, le déluge
After me, flood

Февраль. Достать чернил и плакать
Писать о феврале навзрыд
Пока грохочущая слякоть
Весною черною горит
Февраль. Достать чернил и плакать
Писать о феврале навзрыд
Пока грохочущая слякоть
Весною черною горит

Be afraid of the lame, they'll inherit your legs
Be afraid of the old, they'll inherit your souls
Be afraid of the cold, they'll inherit your blood
Après moi, le déluge
After me comes the flood

I must go on standing
You can't break that which isn't yours
I must go on standing
I'm not my own, it's not my choice

I, I must go on stan-stan-ding-dong
You can't, can't break that, that
Which isn't, isn't yours, yours
I, I must go on stan-stan-ding-dong
I'm not, not my own, own
It's not, not my choice


Lyrics submitted by kiwifruit, edited by artkol

Après Moi Lyrics as written by Regina Spektor

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Après Moi song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    As far as "I must go on standing/ you can't break that which isn't yours/ I must go on standing/ I'm not my own its not my choice" to me, as a Jew from the same sort of background as Regina, it sounds like a common feeling we have. Our past is our ancestors, and while we're free to make our own choices, we tend to feel near overwhelming guilt over not carrying on traditions that we maybe feel are outdated. We are taught that our lives are not our own. That we live to honor those before us. We live to tell the stories of those who died, and those who survived. To me this song is a very Jewish song. It mirrors my own feelings of ancestory, responsiblity, guilt, expressed individuality, and history. My life is not my own, as it was passed down the line by my mother, who was given it by my grandmother, who was given it by my greatgrandmother, who was given my life through the mercy of G-d who saw it fit that she sould surrvive the camps, the walk from the camps to find home, and any shred of family or neighbor she could. I am to live my life to honor hers. To never take her struggle for granted. Its not my own to live well or live poorly as I please. Living a ruined life is a thankless life. I hear that struggle in Reginas words.

    QuinnaDarlingon August 13, 2009   Link

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