While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Regina Spektor Lyrics
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While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps
Weeps
While my guitar gently weeps
Still my guitar gently weeps
While my guitar gently weeps
Still my guitar gently weeps
In Regina Spektor's interpretation of the classic Beatles song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", she emphasizes the gentleness behind the powerful message of the original. The opening lines, "I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping, while my guitar gently weeps," suggest a certain amount of hope in even the bleakest moments. She is able to perceive the love that exists in the world, even as she realizes that her own contribution to it may be limited. The guitar itself becomes a symbol of her own feelings, almost as if it is weeping on her behalf.
The lines that follow explore the frustration and confusion that can arise as a result of societal expectations and the power structures that exist within them. The phrase "I don't know why nobody told you how to unfold your love" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even the most basic human emotions can be stunted by a lack of guidance and support. The idea of being bought and sold, or controlled by outside forces, reinforces the sense of powerlessness that can pervade such situations. Yet even as she laments these truths, there is a sense that the repetitive refrain of "still my guitar gently weeps" is almost a mantra of hope. The guitar may weep, but it remains steadfast in its convictions.
The final lines of the song provide a sense of resolution, as Regina Spektor brings the focus back to the "love there that's sleeping." She suggests that although the world may be harsh and unjust, the solution lies in continuing to recognize and appreciate the small moments of kindness and connection that are always present. The guitar continues to weep, but it does so even as it acknowledges the possibility of a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
The singer sees the potential for love in the people around them that is currently dormant and unused.
While my guitar gently weeps
Despite the beauty of the world and the people in it, the singer is still filled with sadness and melancholy.
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
The singer is distracted by small, trivial things in the face of larger problems in the world.
Still my guitar gently weeps
Despite the distractions and the beauty in the world, the artist's sadness and melancholy remain constant.
I don't know why nobody told you
The artist is perplexed as to why someone hasn't given the other person advice or direction.
How to unfold your love
The singer wishes the other person knew how to express their love.
I don't know how someone controlled you
The singer is unsure why the other person is acting a certain way and wonders if someone else is influencing them.
They bought and sold you
The artist believes the other person has been manipulated and commodified like an object.
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
The artist is aware of the passage of time and the changes happening in the world.
With every mistake we must surely be learning
The artist believes that humans can learn from their mistakes and grow as people.
I don't know how you were diverted
The singer is unsure why the other person has deviated from their original path or intentions.
You were perverted too
The artist believes the other person has been led astray or corrupted in some way.
I don't know how you were inverted
The singer is unsure why the other person has had a sudden change in personality or beliefs.
No one alerted you
The singer believes the other person was not warned about the potential consequences of their actions.
Look at you all
The singer is addressing the people around them and encouraging them to pay attention.
Weeps
The artist's guitar is still shedding tears.
While my guitar gently weeps
The artist's sadness and melancholy persist even as they observe the world around them.
Still my guitar gently weeps
The singer's guitar continues to express their sadness and melancholy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind