I know I say I'll go away
but then I don't, I come right back
and walk right smack into your lips and turn all black and blue
and though I've seen the light so many times before
I've also figured out the light is just a switch
that I can turn on, I can turn off
please, oh please
when it's off, you cannot see, you cannot hear
even in your ear, saying

yo girl, don't make me take off my belt
don't make me take off my belt and smack you upside the head
yo girl, don't make me take off my belt
don't make me take off my belt and smack you right side up

upside down a frown becomes a smile
and so he thinks I take it with a smile
double upside down a frown remains a frown
too bad he never checks the double upside down
when I'm doubled up on the floor and I see a double him
giving me a double wham bam

yo girl, don't make me take off my belt
don't make me take off my belt and smack you upside the head
yo girl, don't make me take off my belt
don't make me take off my belt(x2)
Smack(x8)

chicken soup, mashed potatoes, gravy, orange juice, milk shakes, pudding,
oatmeal, soft served ice cream
ain't it good that there's soft food cause I couldn't eat very much else right now
they ask me how well, haha, I bumped into a door
yeah, haha, I fell down some stairs
oh, I'm such a clutz
I say that very same thing to myself all the time
I say yo girl, can't you watch where you are?
you don't watch where the hell you're going, you're going to get yourself killed
you know, hey girl, can't you watch where you are?
you're going to get yourself killed(x2)
you're going to get yourself

I know I say I'll go away
but then I don't, I come right back
and walk right smack into your lips and turn all black and blue
and though I've seen the light so many times before
I've also figured out the light is just a switch
that I can turn on, I can turn off
please, oh please
when it's off, you cannot see shit, you cannot hear shit
even in your ear, saying
yo girl, don't make me take off my belt
don't make me take off my belt and smack you upside the head
yo girl, don't make me take off my belt
don't make me take off my belt(x2)
Smack(x15)


Lyrics submitted by Risika

Belt song meanings
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18 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Upside down: sometimes we're happy someone is suffering, in the distance that separate us from her we appear in a better light. Poorer countries, dictatorial regimes, poor people on the street, prisoners in jails, mandmen in madhouses, all the lost and injured, the ones who got lost from civilization, all these people help us feel more comfortable, happier, in our lifestyle. In a world where everyone would be better off than we are, we would feel miserable, the worst of the world. But a King in the XVII century might not have plumbing, computers, vaccines, running water, tv... but a King is always a King because everyone else is worse.

    Upside down, yes, I'm the king and you're the creepy who comes back for more. I'll be bigger by comparison, bigger the smaller you are. Look how gigantic.

    "too bad he never checks the double upside down"

    That's called compassion, a freak who wants to be big, but has compassion will want to be big by helping others instead of stepping on them. His self-regard will grow by identification instead of compassion.

    "I say yo girl, can't you watch where you are?"

    Wow! can't you watch where you are?

    Where's the switch for the light?

    You know? I feel a bit like this girl, I don't really know where I am, I mean, I know it's inside a galaxy, somewhere, but where's the galaxy any way, where are time and space tuck away? In some God's imagination? I don't really know, but I can't say I don't care.

    Freaky? Perhaps it is better not even to think about, perhaps darkness is better, switching off the light, and it will then seem so simple, so "out of mystery", no questions asked...

    just those lips, smacking against mine, once again and again... until they turn blue, until I really can't see anything really...

    and all is so simple,

    simple, simple, simple...

    I can't see shit really...

    LuarAzulon October 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    has a pleasant happy tune and an amazing story. I guess it doesn't require any figuring out, as both the words and melody reflect the shallow superificial appearance the woman must keep up in order to survive the abuse her love puts her through. this one is fun to sing

    tinylittlewordson September 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is absolutely amazing, i can't stop listening to it :D

    Willy.Wonkaon January 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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)

    newsies234on February 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Its about domestic abuse. How lovely! this song is awesome!

    King of Some Islandon February 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the transitions are amazing!!

    blah...on March 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've never heard the song, but these lyrics are absolutely amazing. Regina Spektor is magical! If anyone can tell me how to get the song I'll be thankful.

    ItsmeLisetteon May 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    once again she proves music is story telling and this is storytelling at its best, the way she says "if u dont watch where u goin" gets me evry time

    warrenaikmenon June 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yo girl!

    hahaha! love it!

    crow_hearton September 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is the happiest song I've ever heard about something so depressing. i love it.

    melasaurason December 30, 2007   Link

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