Astrology holds Aquarius to be one of the most paradoxical signs of the zodiac. Symbolized by a water bearer, it is actually an "air" sign; though known as a "masculine" sign, its symbol includes a chalice, a symbol for femininity. Attributes traditionally given to Aquarians are just as convoluted: social and outgoing but cold and unemotional, revolutionary and rebellious but stubborn and obstinate (suggesting a desire for the status quo), humanitarian and charitable but arrogant and self-centered. Aquarius is the romanized version of Ganymede, a young man Zeus fell in love with and made him the official water bearer of the gods.
It is fitting that a song about the most self-contradicting astrological sign is filled with juxtapositions. The most poignant and powerful of these comes in the first line of the last stanza (presumably the chorus), "Born of a sign that carries water/ but in a month that brings just ice." This culminating line opens the chorus differently from three previous choruses. The first time, it's less metaphorical; the sign carries vessels not actually water and the month is cold as ice. The second time the line appears, the month is not just cold as ice, it physically brings JUST ice, but the water bearer still bears only vessels. The third time is the most metaphorical and personal, as we see that the sign carries water in a month that brings just ice.
This progression is a bit meaningless without seeing the rest of the devices Spektor employs. The "Dear Someone" progresses from someone she only talks to in the first stanza, a one way relationship where the "DS" is merely "listening" from the shadows. The second time "DS" is invoked, he/she is now watching from the shadows, not just listening. Spektor's imagery now becomes more visual than auditory, going from talking or asking for help in riddles to "clenching water in fists" and "drops slip[ing] away from my fingers." The third time DS makes an appearance, we now know he/she is actively watching, as Spektor says,"you've seen me lose all the water from my hands."
Spektor begins the song by being convoluted, and despite her assurances that "it is clearer in my mind," her use of similes and limited imagery reinforce the abstract. By the end of the song, she's more literal. She can't carry water. She doesn't question her love. Her syntax becomes much more direct, going from “the drops, they slipped right through my fingers” to admitting that “I'm not a skillful water carrier.”
"Aquarius" is obviously a love song written to a "Dear Someone" who's identity is entirely unknown, as observe the speaker from "the shadows” and yet she knows when he/she's listening, watching, and they've seen before.
What could this all mean? This is my take: this is a very intimate portrait of someone admitting the tragic flaw of not being able to accept DS' love. The speaker (Spektor, perhaps?) can love, that much she can admit. But remember, water bearers don't carry their own water, it's someone else's. The water is in fact a symbol for love, but for someone else, and her Aquarian attributes of being cold and unemotional mean she can only bear ice. This also explains why we know what the DS sees or hears, yet he's pushed to the fringes as an impersonal unknown.
Thoughts? Sorry for the wall of text, But as an Aquarian, should I subscribe to the zodiac, it makes sense for me to maybe overanalyze. haha
Your post is exactly what I always come to this site looking for, but I usually don't find it. Thank you for a well-researched, well-argued, thoughtful analysis of this song. My only quibble is the that is is "obviously a love song written to DS". I don't think it counts as obvious or even certain since no one else came up with that point of view. My initial impression of DS is a God/imaginary friend/voice in your head. Whatever excuse you need to talk out loud "in riddles" with the end result that it's "clearer in your mind".
One thing I...
Your post is exactly what I always come to this site looking for, but I usually don't find it. Thank you for a well-researched, well-argued, thoughtful analysis of this song. My only quibble is the that is is "obviously a love song written to DS". I don't think it counts as obvious or even certain since no one else came up with that point of view. My initial impression of DS is a God/imaginary friend/voice in your head. Whatever excuse you need to talk out loud "in riddles" with the end result that it's "clearer in your mind".
One thing I haven't seen addressed here is the possible double meaning of "vessels". Your info on the zodiac sign makes me less sure, but a vessel can be either a receptacle for water or a boat that floats on water. I like the boat idea because it seems to fit a common theme of nautical/wanderlusty lyrics that make it into Regina's songs (e.g. "Music box", "Sailor Song", and "A Canon"). I now realize that's probably wrong, but I liked my misconception :)
Astrology holds Aquarius to be one of the most paradoxical signs of the zodiac. Symbolized by a water bearer, it is actually an "air" sign; though known as a "masculine" sign, its symbol includes a chalice, a symbol for femininity. Attributes traditionally given to Aquarians are just as convoluted: social and outgoing but cold and unemotional, revolutionary and rebellious but stubborn and obstinate (suggesting a desire for the status quo), humanitarian and charitable but arrogant and self-centered. Aquarius is the romanized version of Ganymede, a young man Zeus fell in love with and made him the official water bearer of the gods.
It is fitting that a song about the most self-contradicting astrological sign is filled with juxtapositions. The most poignant and powerful of these comes in the first line of the last stanza (presumably the chorus), "Born of a sign that carries water/ but in a month that brings just ice." This culminating line opens the chorus differently from three previous choruses. The first time, it's less metaphorical; the sign carries vessels not actually water and the month is cold as ice. The second time the line appears, the month is not just cold as ice, it physically brings JUST ice, but the water bearer still bears only vessels. The third time is the most metaphorical and personal, as we see that the sign carries water in a month that brings just ice.
This progression is a bit meaningless without seeing the rest of the devices Spektor employs. The "Dear Someone" progresses from someone she only talks to in the first stanza, a one way relationship where the "DS" is merely "listening" from the shadows. The second time "DS" is invoked, he/she is now watching from the shadows, not just listening. Spektor's imagery now becomes more visual than auditory, going from talking or asking for help in riddles to "clenching water in fists" and "drops slip[ing] away from my fingers." The third time DS makes an appearance, we now know he/she is actively watching, as Spektor says,"you've seen me lose all the water from my hands."
Spektor begins the song by being convoluted, and despite her assurances that "it is clearer in my mind," her use of similes and limited imagery reinforce the abstract. By the end of the song, she's more literal. She can't carry water. She doesn't question her love. Her syntax becomes much more direct, going from “the drops, they slipped right through my fingers” to admitting that “I'm not a skillful water carrier.” "Aquarius" is obviously a love song written to a "Dear Someone" who's identity is entirely unknown, as observe the speaker from "the shadows” and yet she knows when he/she's listening, watching, and they've seen before.
What could this all mean? This is my take: this is a very intimate portrait of someone admitting the tragic flaw of not being able to accept DS' love. The speaker (Spektor, perhaps?) can love, that much she can admit. But remember, water bearers don't carry their own water, it's someone else's. The water is in fact a symbol for love, but for someone else, and her Aquarian attributes of being cold and unemotional mean she can only bear ice. This also explains why we know what the DS sees or hears, yet he's pushed to the fringes as an impersonal unknown.
Thoughts? Sorry for the wall of text, But as an Aquarian, should I subscribe to the zodiac, it makes sense for me to maybe overanalyze. haha
Your post is exactly what I always come to this site looking for, but I usually don't find it. Thank you for a well-researched, well-argued, thoughtful analysis of this song. My only quibble is the that is is "obviously a love song written to DS". I don't think it counts as obvious or even certain since no one else came up with that point of view. My initial impression of DS is a God/imaginary friend/voice in your head. Whatever excuse you need to talk out loud "in riddles" with the end result that it's "clearer in your mind". One thing I...
Your post is exactly what I always come to this site looking for, but I usually don't find it. Thank you for a well-researched, well-argued, thoughtful analysis of this song. My only quibble is the that is is "obviously a love song written to DS". I don't think it counts as obvious or even certain since no one else came up with that point of view. My initial impression of DS is a God/imaginary friend/voice in your head. Whatever excuse you need to talk out loud "in riddles" with the end result that it's "clearer in your mind". One thing I haven't seen addressed here is the possible double meaning of "vessels". Your info on the zodiac sign makes me less sure, but a vessel can be either a receptacle for water or a boat that floats on water. I like the boat idea because it seems to fit a common theme of nautical/wanderlusty lyrics that make it into Regina's songs (e.g. "Music box", "Sailor Song", and "A Canon"). I now realize that's probably wrong, but I liked my misconception :)