Regina Spektor
Far (2009)
1. The Calculation
2. Eet
3. Blue Lips
4. Folding Chair
5. Machine
6. Laughing with
7. Human of the Year
8. Two Birds
9. Dance Anthem of the 80s
10. Genius Next Door
11. Wallet
12. One More Time with Feeling
13. Man of a Thousand Faces
14. Time is all around (bonus)
15. The Sword & the Pen (bonus)
The Calculation
(Regina Spektor)
You went into the kitchen cupboard
got yourself another hour
and you gave half of it to me
We sat there looking at the faces
of the strangers in the pages
till we knew the mathematically
They were in our minds until forever
but we didn't mind
we didn't know better
So we made our own computer out of macaroni pieces
and it did our thinking while we lived our lives
It counted upp our feelings
and divided them upp even
and it called that calculation perfect love
Didn't even know that love was bigger
Didn't even know that love so, so
hey, hey, hey
hey this fire, it's burning us up
So we made the hard decision
and we each made an incision
past our muscles and our bones
saw our hearts were little stones...
Pulled them out, they weren't beating
and we weren't even bleeding
as we lay them on the granite countertop
and we beat 'em up, against each other
we struck them hard against each other
we struck them so hard, so hard, until they sparked
hey this fire, it's burning, burning us up
Eet
(Regina Spektor)
It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song
you can't believe it
you were always singing along
it was so easy and the words so sweet
you can't remember, you try to feel the beat
eeeeeeeeeeee eet eet eet
eeeeeeeeeeee eet eet eet
you spent half of your life
trying to fall behind
you're ears in your headphones, to drown out your mind
it was so easy and the words so sweet
you can't remember
you try to move your feet
eeeeeeeeeeee eet eet eet
eeeeeeeeeeee eet eet eet
someone's deciding, wether or not to steal
he opens a window
just to feel the chill
he hears that outside a small boy just started to cry
cause it's his turn, but his brother won't let him try
It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song
you can't believe it
you were always singing along
it was so easy and the words so sweet
you can't remember, you try to move your feet
it was so easy and the words so sweet
you can't remember, you try to feel the beat
Blue Lips
(Regina Spektor)
He stumbled into faith and thought,
God, this is all there is
The pictures in his mind arose
And began to breathe
And all the gods in all the worlds
Began colliding on a backdrop of blue
blue lips
blue veins
He took a step but then felt tired
He said, I'll rest a little while
but when he tried to walk again
he wasn't a child
and all the people hurried past
real fast and no one ever smiled
blue lips
blue veins
blue
the color of the planet from far, far away
He stumbled into faith and thought,
god, this is all there is
The pictures in his mind arose
and began to breathe
And no one saw and no one heard
they just followed lead
The pictures in his mind awoke
and began to breed
They started off beneath the knowledge tree
then they chopped it down to make white picket fences
and marching along the railroad tracks
the smiled real wide for the camera lenses
they made it past the enemy lines
just to become enslaved in the assembly lines
blue lips
blue veins
blue, the color of the planet from far, far away
blue...the most human color...
blue lips
blue veins
blue, the color of the planet from far, far away
Folding Chair
(Regina Spektor)
Come and open up your folding chair next to me
My feet are buried in the sand and there’s a breeze
There’s a shadow, you can’t see my eyes
And the sea is just a wetter version of the skies
Let’s get a silver bullet trailer and have a baby boy
I’ll safety-pin his clothes all cool and you’ll grafitti up his toys
I’ve got a perfect body, though sometimes I forget
I’ve got a perfect body, cause my eyelashes catch my sweat
Yes, they do, they do
Now I’ve been sitting on this abandoned beach for years
Waiting for the salty water to cover up my ears
But every time the tide come in to take me home
I get scared, and I’m sitting here alone
dreaming of the dolphin song
Maybe one day you will understand
I don’t want nothing from you but to sweetly hold your hand
till that day just please don’t be so down
don’t make frowns, you silly clown
Just come and open up your folding chair next to me
My feet are buried in the sand and there’s a breeze
there’s a shadow, you can’t see my eyes
and the sea is just a wetter version of the skies
There’s a shadow, you can’t see my eyes
Machine
(Regina Spektor)
my eyes are bifocal
my hands are sept-jointed
I live in the future
in my prewar apartment
and I count all my blessings
I have friends in high places
and I'm upgraded daily
all my wires without traces
Hooked into machine
I'm hooked into machine
I collect my moments
into a correspondence
with a mightier power
who just lacks my perspectives
and who lacks my organics
and who covets my defects
and I'm downloaded daily
I am part of a composite
Hooked into machine
I'm hooked into machine
Everything's provided
consummate consumer
part of worldly taking
apart from worldly troubles
living in your prewar apartment
soon to be your post war apartment
and you live in the future
and the future
it's here, it's bright
it's now
Laughing with
(Regina Spektor)
no one laughs at god in a hospital
no one laughs at god in a war
no one's laughing at god when they're starving
or freezing, or so very poor
no one laughs at god when the doctor calls
after some routines tests
no one's laughing att god when it's gotten real late
and teir kid's not back from that party yet
no one laughs at god when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
no one's laughing at god when they see the one they love
hand in hand with someone else
and they hope that they're mistaken
no one laughs at god when the cops knock on their door
and they say "We got some bad news, sir."
no one's laughing at god when there's a famine, fitre, or a flood
But god could be funny
at a cocktail party, while listening to a good god-themed joke
or when the crazies say they hate us and they get so red in the head
you'd think they're abpout to choke
god could be funny
when told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
and when presented like a Genie, who does magic like Houdini
or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
god can be so hilarious
Ha- ha
Ha- ha
no one laughs at god in a hospital
no one laughs at god in a war
no one's laughing at god when they've lost all they got
and they don't know what for
no one laughs at god
on a day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
no one's laughing at god when they're saying their goodbyes
But god could be funny
at a cocktail party, while listening to a good god-themed joke
or when the crazies say they hate us and they get so red in the head
you'd think they're abpout to choke
god could be funny
when told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
and when presented like a Genie, who does magic like Houdini
or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
god can be so hilarious
no one laughs at god in a hospital
no one laughs at god in a war
no one laughs at god in a hospital
no one laughs at god in a war
no one's laughing at god in a hospital
no one's laughing at god in a war
no one's laughing at god when they're starving
or freezing, or so very poor
no one's laughing at god
no one's laughing at god
no one's laughing at god
we're all laughing with god
Human of the Year
(Regina Spektor)
hello? hello?
calling a Karl Projektorinski
to the front of the cathedral
you have won, dear sir
may I congratulate you first?
oh, what an honor
human, human of the year and you've won
human, human of the year and you've won
why are you so scared
you stand there shaking in your pew
the icons are whispering to you
they're just old men
like on the benches in the park
except their balding spots
are glistening with gold
human, human of the year and you've won
human, human of the year and you've won
hallelujah, hallelujah
outsidie the cars are beeping
out a song just in your honor
and though they do not know it
all mankind are now your brothers
and thus the cathedral had spoken
wishing well to all us sinners
and with a sigh grew silent
till next year's big human winner
hallelujah, hallelujah
hello? hello?
calling a Karl Projektorinski
to the front of the cathedral
you have won...
Two Birds
(Regina Spektor)
Two birds on a wire
One tries to fly away and the other
Watches him close frpm that wire
He says he wants to as well
but he is a liar
I'll believe it all
there's nothing I won't understand
I'l believe it all
I won't let go of your hand
Two birds on a wire
one says come on
and the other says I'm tired
the sky's overcast
and I'm sorry
one more or one less
no body's worried
I'll believe it all
there's nothing I won't understand
I'l believe it all
I won't let go of your hand
Two birds of a feather
say that they're always gonna stay together
But one's never going to let go of that wire
he says that he will but he's just a liar
Two birds on a wire
one tries to fly away and the other
Watches him close from that wire
he says he wants to as well
but he is a liar
two birds on a wire
one tries to fly away and the other
Dance Anthem of the 80s
(Regina Spektor)
You are so sweet
dancing to that beat
there's a meat market down the street
the boys and the girls watch each other eat
You are so sweet, so sweet
dancing and moving to that beat, that beat
there's a meat market down the street
the boys and girls watch each other eat
the boys and the girls watch each other eat
when they really just wanna watch each other
sleep
they want to watch, to watch each other
sleep, sleep, sleep
you are so sweet
(once more)
you are so sweet
(Solo)
I went walking through this city
like a drunk, but not
with my slip showing a little
like a drunk, but not
and I am one of your people
but the cars don't stop
and I am one of your people
but the cars don't stop
It's been a long time since before I've been touched
now I'm getting touched all the time
and it's only a matter of whom
and it's only a matter of when
an addiction to hands and feet-
there's a meat market down the street
the boys and girls watch each other eat
when they really just want to watch each other sleep
an addiction to hands and feet-
there's a meat market down the street
the boys and girls watch each other eat
when they really just want to watch each other
sleep
they want to watch, to watch each other
sleep, sleep, sleep...
Genius Next Door
(Regina Spektor)
some said the local lake had been enchanted
others said it must have been the weather
the neighbors were trying to keep it quiet
but I swear that I could hear the laughter
so they jokingly nicknamed it the porridge
cause overnight that lake had turned as thick as butter
bur the local kids would still go swimming, drinking
saying that to them it doesn't matter
if you just hold in your breath till you come back up in full
hold in your breath, till you thought it through, you fool
the genius next door was bussing tables
wiping clean the ketchup bottles labels
getting high and mumbling German fables
didn't care as long as he was able
to strip his clothes off by the dumpster
at night while everyone was sleeping
and wade midway into that porridge
just him and the secret he was keeping
if you just hold in your breath till you come back up in full
hold in your breath, till you thought it through, you foolish child
in the morning, the fim crew start arriving
with donuts, coffee and reporters
the kids were waking up hung-over
the neighbors were starting up their cars
the garbage men were emptying the dumpsters
atheists were praying full of sarcasm
and the genius next door was sleeping
dreaming that the antidote is orgasm
if you just hold in your breath till you come back up in full
hold in your breath, till you thought it through you foolish child
Wallet
(Regina Spektor)
I found a wallet
I found a wallet
inside were pictures of your small family
you were so young
your hair dark brown
you had been born in nineteen fifty-three
Your winter birthday
was stamped on the plastic
of a license, so recently expired
I was so tired as I walked trough my door
I laid all the contents of your wallet on the floor
And like a holy relic
Or a mystery novel
I thumbed them in the dim light
searching for a clue
A blockbuster card
An old stick of juicy fruit
A crumpled receipt
from a pair of leather boots
I have no wallet
I have no wallet
I keep my cards together with a blue rubber band
and with a free hand
I search in my pockets
for pieces of pieces of paper and change
I'll take your wallet
to my local blockbuster
they'll find your number
in their computer
you'll never know me
I'll never know you
but you'll be so happy
when they call you up
One More Time with Feeling
(Regina Spektor)
your stitches are all out
but your scars are healing wrong
and the helium balloon inside your room has come undone
and it's pushing up at the ceiling
and the flickering lights
it cannot get beyond
oh, everyone takes turns
now it's yours to play the part
and they're sitting all around you
holding copies of your chart
and the misery inside their eyes is
synchroneized and reflecting it to yours
Hold on
One more time with feeling
Try it again
Breathing's just a rhythm
Say it in your mind until you know that the words are right
This is why we fight
you thought by now you'd be
so much better than you are
you thought by now they'd see
that you have come so far
and the pride inside their eyes
would synchronize into a love you've never known
so much more than you've been shown
Hold on
One more time with feeling
Try it again
Breathing's just a rhythm
Say it in your mind until you know that the words are right
This is why we fight
Man of a Thousand Faces
(Regina Spektor)
The man of a thousand faces
sits down at the table
eats a small lump of sugar
and smiles at the moon like he knows her
And begins his quiet ascension
without anyone's sturdy instruction
to a place that no religion
has found a path to, or a likeness
His words are quiet like stains are
on a tablecloth washed in the river
Stains that are trying to cover
for each other
or at least blend in with the pattern
Good is better than perfect
scrub till your fingers are bleeding
and I'm crying for things that
I tell others to do without crying
He used to go to his favorite bookstores
and rip out his favorite pages
and stuff 'em into his breast pockets
and the moon, to him, was a stranger
Now he sits down at the table
right next to the window
and begins his quiet ascension
without anyone's sturdy instruction
to a place that no religion
has found a path to or a likeness
and he eats a small lump of sugar
and smiles at the moon like he knows her...
Time is all around
(Regina Spektor)
Time is all around
except inside my clock
everybody's waiting
for their lover to unlock
You step on all my parts
and then you walk right out the door
And I know that your love
ain't ever coming back no more
Leaves become most beautiful
when they're about to die
when they're about to fall from trees
when they're about to dry up
Time is all around
time is all around
I hallucinate
a cat between my feet
I'm stepping lightly so as not to hurt it
Everybody's wants to say that you have changed
of course you've changed, you've changed
You've changed, your minds rearranged
Leaves become most beautiful
when they're about to die
when they're about to fall from trees
when they're about to dry up
Time is all around
time is all around
Why am I supposed to love
if I don't want to love
Why am I supposed to
I'm so tired
Why am I supposed to love
if I don't want to love
I don't want
I don't want to
I don't want
Leaves become most beautiful
when they're about to die
when they're about to fall from trees
when they're about to dry up
The Sword & the Pen
(Regina Spektor)
Don't let me out of this kiss
don't let me say what I say
The things that scare us today
what if they happen someday
Don't let me out of your arms
for now
What if the sword kills the pen
What if the god kills the man
And if he does it with love
well then it's death from above
and death from above is still a death
I don't want to live without you
For those who still can recall
the desperate colors of fall
The sweet caresses of May
only in poems remain
no one recites them these days
for the shame
So what if nothing is safe
so what if no one is saved
no matter how sweet
no matter how brave
What if each to his own lonely grave
I don't want to live without you