A Cannon
Regina Spektor Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

A cannon was fired
By the light of the moon; I'm
Waiting, the boat should be here very soon
And I mind less and less all the silly
Pictures that hang 'round my room, for now
I write you a letter: I hope you feel better
I hope you forgive the transgression, I've given
You love and I've given you anger as well, and I
Meant them bo-o-oth
I always knew it was coming this way, it was coming this way
I always knew a big boat would come, and
Take me away, take me away

I stirred in my bed, then I slipped on my dress
Then I ran through the halls like a ghost
And in case someone heard me, I grabbed up a dagger
That I'd never use unless
Bare feet on a cobblestone street, then a beach
Then a splash in my ankles, my knees, then my thighs
And my eyes open wide, I threw myself right into the sea-ea-ea
And I could see it was coming my way, it was coming my way
I always knew a big boat would come and
Take me away, take me away, take me away

I've woken up once
And I've woken up twice
And I've woken up millions and millions of times
Somebody's got to tell all the people to be like the water
Somebody's got to tell all the people to be like the water

I would if I could, but I can't so I don't
My heart breaks too easy, my words get all jumbled
And when I wear lipstick, then no one
Understands me at a-a-all
They think I'm saying hello and goodbye, and hello and goodbye
What I'm really saying is...
They think I'm saying hello and goodbye, and hello and goodbye, and hello and...
What I'm really saying is...

I've woken up once




And I've woken up twice
And I've woken up millions and millions of times

Overall Meaning

The song "A Cannon" by Regina Spektor begins with the sound of a cannon firing, setting the scene for the rest of the song. The singer is waiting for a boat that will take her away, away from the "silly pictures" hanging in her room, away from the love and anger she has experienced. The singer then hurries out of her room, grabbing a dagger just in case. She walks through cobblestone streets, makes her way to the beach and throws herself into the sea. The chorus repeats the idea that she has always known a big boat would come and take her away.


The second verse shifts to a more general message, as the singer claims that she has woken up countless times and that someone needs to tell people to be like water. But she then qualifies this statement, admitting that while she would tell people to be like water if she could, she cannot because her heart breaks too easily and her words get all jumbled.


The song "A Cannon" is full of symbolism and metaphor, making it open to interpretation. However, it seems to convey a sense of escapism, a desire to escape from one's current circumstances and start anew. The cannon that is fired at the beginning of the song could be seen as a sign of change, setting things in motion for the singer's eventual escape. Her decision to grab a dagger also suggests a need for self-protection, a fear of something coming to harm her. Ultimately, the song leaves us with a sense of yearning for something better, for a path that will lead to happiness and freedom.


Line by Line Meaning

A cannon was fired
A loud sound was made by a cannon being fired


By the light of the moon; I'm
It is nighttime and Regina is waiting


Waiting, the boat should be here very soon
Regina is anticipating the arrival of a boat


And I mind less and less all the silly
Regina is becoming less bothered by the trivial things in her room


Pictures that hang 'round my room, for now
She is currently ignoring the pictures in her room


I write you a letter: I hope you feel better
Regina is writing a letter to someone


I hope you forgive the transgression, I've given
She is hoping for forgiveness for her mistake


You love and I've given you anger as well, and I
She has given both love and anger to the person she is addressing


Meant them bo-o-oth
She intended to give both love and anger


I always knew it was coming this way, it was coming this way
Regina was aware of this event happening


I always knew a big boat would come, and
Regina predicted the arrival of a big boat


Take me away, take me away
She wants the boat to take her away


I stirred in my bed, then I slipped on my dress
Regina got dressed after waking up


Then I ran through the halls like a ghost
She ran quickly and quietly


And in case someone heard me, I grabbed up a dagger
She took a dagger in case of danger


That I'd never use unless
Regina would only use the dagger in extreme situations


Bare feet on a cobblestone street, then a beach
She is walking on cobblestone and then the beach without shoes


Then a splash in my ankles, my knees, then my thighs
Regina is walking in the ocean


And my eyes open wide, I threw myself right into the sea-ea-ea
She jumped into the ocean with excitement


I could see it was coming my way, it was coming my way
Regina was aware of the boat approaching


I always knew a big boat would come and
She was confident that the boat would arrive


Take me away, take me away, take me away
She is eager for the boat to take her away


I've woken up once
Regina has woken up one time


And I've woken up twice
Regina has woken up two times


And I've woken up millions and millions of times
Regina has woken up many times


Somebody's got to tell all the people to be like the water
She believes everyone should act like water


Somebody's got to tell all the people to be like the water
She repeats that people should be like water


I would if I could, but I can't so I don't
Regina can't tell people to be like water


My heart breaks too easy, my words get all jumbled
Regina is too emotional and confused for this task


When I wear lipstick, then no one
When she is wearing lipstick


Understands me at a-a-all
No one comprehends her when she wears lipstick


They think I'm saying hello and goodbye, and hello and goodbye
Other people only hear her saying hello and goodbye


What I'm really saying is...
Regina is attempting to clarify her true message


They think I'm saying hello and goodbye, and hello and goodbye, and hello and...
Other people assume she is only repeating hellos and goodbyes


What I'm really saying is...
Regina wants to give her true meaning


I've woken up once
Regina has woken up one time


And I've woken up twice
Regina has woken up two times


And I've woken up millions and millions of times
Regina has woken up many times




Contributed by Madison H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Cucumamacacapipi

UGH. Why is EVERYTHING she does, why is always genius?
Maybe that's narcissistic of me. Because half of this song is things I have thought. But it's things that NOBODY says.

I've meant them both
I cant so I wont
Be like the water
being woke

and then the lipstick line, it's like it's something I didn't know I've thought, or she put it into words what I've felt. It's just so good to feel validated.



All comments from YouTube:

danielle rebelle

Regina is so many characters. Her life is just full of characters, situations, and imagery. The way she expresses it in her music, through sound, is so serene. I love how many of her songs, she sounds she's so youthful. It makes my heart melt :)

chickenoddle

Regina inspires me. when I stat listening to her music, my imagination goes crazy and I begin to write :D thank you Regina. you have helped me thru some of the toughest writers blocks!

Nyla M

I've replayed it once
I've replayed it twice
I've replayed millions and millions of times

Zoila Lulu

Lmao, me too! 😂😂

ceruleanSantos

I love this song! It's always been one of my favorites because it is so poetic. :)

j4zz78

I love this song. I seriously cannot stop listening to it-it's so addicting.

it's Lis

Still my fave💛

Valérie Van Mol

One of my favorites too! Unique kind of poetry...

gibberconfirm

I can't believe it's not even on that unreleased album the Icelandic guy put together (which is one of her best albums,) had to download it as .mp3.

Victor Gomes

Regina is a really good singer/composer/writter (: i totally love her...yesterday i was a bit sad cause of some problems and i just inclueded her on my playlist, when i listened to this song i just smiled (:...its beautiful the power that her voice and even she has (:...great woman :P (btw the beggining of this music makes me remember Claude Debussy ^^)

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