After self-releasing her first three records and gaining popularity in New York City's independent music scenes, particularly the anti-folk scene centered on New York City's East Village, Spektor signed with Sire Records in 2004 and began achieving greater mainstream recognition. After giving her third album a major label re-release, Sire released Spektor's fourth album, Begin to Hope, which achieved a Gold certification by the RIAA. Her following two albums, Far and What We Saw from the Cheap Seats, each debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200. 2016's Remember Us to Life peaked at 23 on the Billboard 200.
Mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed June 11, 2019, Regina Spektor Day in New York City. Spektor was also inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame on May 18, 2019, by Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr.
Bobbing for Apples
Regina Spektor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The man with the iron curtain is following you
No one's coming for tea-time
Except my own holy ghost
You're somewhere far, probably drinking a whiskey
I dating Jack Daniel's and Caleb and Swiss Miss, Nicky and tea,
Nachos with cocoa hey, to each his own
Lovely people, lovely places
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Hey, light fixture, you are much too bright
Oh, won't you stay with me through the night
Just grab a pillow tight
And wait for the dizziness to pass
Rock and roll, you ate my soul
You sucked dry my bones but you spit out my mole
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Lovely people, lovely places
Drunken faces, slurring their phrases
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You so jealous, I'm so lonely
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You so jealous, I'm so lonely
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Someone next door's fucking to one of my
One of my
So-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-aww
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
The lyrics to Regina Spektor's "Bobbing for Apples" create a dream-like world that is both surreal and introspective. The imagery of bobbing for apples in Somalia, while seemingly nonsensical, serves as a metaphor for the singer's search for meaning and fulfillment in a world that is chaotic and dangerous. The man with the iron curtain who is following the singer suggests a sense of paranoia or fear of persecution, which is further reinforced by the line "no one's coming for tea-time." The singer's only solace is in their "holy ghost," which could refer to a number of different things, including spirituality or artistic inspiration.
The second verse further emphasizes the theme of disillusionment with the rock and roll lifestyle. The singer describes feeling drained of their creativity and identity by the music industry ("rock and roll, you ate my soul"). Despite this, the singer still chooses to "opt to fall down these stairs in the end," suggesting a fatalistic attitude towards their own self-destruction. The repetition of "lovely people, lovely places" and "drunken faces, slurring their phrases" creates a sense of detachment from the world around them, as if the singer is observing everything from a distance. The final repetition of "someone next door's fucking to one of my songs" serves as a reminder of the singer's own mortality and insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, "Bobbing for Apples" is a poignant and affecting reflection on the human condition, with Regina Spektor's unique musical style perfectly complementing the dreamy, introspective tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Bobbing for apples in Somalia
Doing something pointless and risky in a place that is far from safe or desirable
The man with the iron curtain is following you
You are being pursued by an oppressive and intimidating figure
No one's coming for tea-time
There is no one coming to visit or socialize with you
Except my own holy ghost
The only company you have is yourself
You're somewhere far, probably drinking a whiskey
You are distant and disconnected, possibly resorting to alcohol to cope
I dating Jack Daniel's and Caleb and Swiss Miss, Nicky and tea, Nachos with cocoa hey, to each his own
You are indulging in various forms of comfort food and drink, acknowledging that everyone has different preferences
Lovely people, lovely places
There are positive aspects to life, such as the people and surroundings you encounter
I can't remember names and I can't remember faces
Despite the pleasant experiences, you are struggling with memory and perhaps feeling disconnected from those around you
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
You are aware of the sounds of sexual activity nearby, which may be uncomfortable or distracting
Hey, light fixture, you are much too bright
You are uncomfortable with the intensity of the light source in the room
Oh, won't you stay with me through the night
You are seeking comfort and stability from an inanimate object
Just grab a pillow tight
You are physically trying to cope with discomfort or anxiety by holding onto something
And wait for the dizziness to pass
You are experiencing a physical symptom of distress and need time to recover
Rock and roll, you ate my soul
The music genre has had a profound emotional impact on you
You sucked dry my bones but you spit out my mole
The experience of being a fan of rock and roll has left you drained, but there are still some benefits or remnants
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You accept that life is full of ups and downs, and you would rather take the risk of stumbling than avoid it altogether
Drunken faces, slurring their phrases
You observe others who are similarly numbing themselves with alcohol to cope or have a good time
You so jealous, I'm so lonely
There is likely a relationship dynamic where one partner is possessive, while the other feels isolated
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
Despite difficulties in the relationship, one partner is still deeply invested in the other
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
You are haunted by the knowledge that someone else is enjoying your music in a very different context
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
You are reminded again of the juxtaposition between your own world and those around you, and feel somewhat powerless to control or influence it
Someone next door's fucking to one of my
The repetition highlights the constant, intrusive nature of the situation
One of my
The phrase is left unresolved, indicating ongoing frustration or uncertainty
So-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-aww
These nonsensical sounds add to the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to fully express oneself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: REGINA SPEKTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hana Sugisaki
Bobbing for apples in Somalia
The man with the iron curtain is following you
No one's coming for tea time
Except my own holy ghost
You're somewhere far probably drinking a whiskey
I dating Jack Daniel's and Caleb - Swiss Miss, Micky - T,
Nacho's with cocoa hey, to each his own
Lovely people, lovely places
I can't remember names and I can't remember faces
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Hey light fixture, you are much too bright
Oh, won't you stay with me through the night
Just grab a pillow tight
And wait for the dizziness to pass
Rock and roll, you ate my soul
You sucked dry my bones but you spit out my mole
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Lovely people, lovely places
Drunken faces, slurring their phrases
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You're so jealous, I'm so lonely
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
QWIN
Bobbing for apples in Somalia
The man with the iron curtain is following you
No one's coming for tea time
Except my own holy ghost
You're somewhere far probably drinking a whiskey
I dating Jack Daniel's and Caleb - Swiss Miss, Micky - T,
Nacho's with cocoa hey, to each his own
Lovely people, lovely places
I can't remember names and I can't remember faces
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Hey light fixture, you are much too bright
Oh, won't you stay with me through the night
Just grab a pillow tight
And wait for the dizziness to pass
Rock and roll, you ate my soul
You sucked dry my bones but you spit out my mole
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Lovely people, lovely places
Drunken faces, slurring their phrases
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You're so jealous, I'm so lonely
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Olivia Garden
Bobbing for apples in Somalia
The man with the iron curtain is following you
No one's coming for tea time
Except my own holy ghost
You're somewhere far probably drinking a whiskey
I dating Jack Daniel's and Caleb - Swiss Miss, Micky - T,
Nacho's with cocoa hey, to each his own
Lovely people, lovely places
I can't remember names and I can't remember faces
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Hey light fixture, you are much too bright
Oh, won't you stay with me through the night
Just grab a pillow tight
And wait for the dizziness to pass
Rock and roll, you ate my soul
You sucked dry my bones but you spit out my mole
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Lovely people, lovely places
Drunken faces, slurring their phrases
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You're so jealous, I'm so lonely
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Hana Sugisaki
Bobbing for apples in Somalia
The man with the iron curtain is following you
No one's coming for tea time
Except my own holy ghost
You're somewhere far probably drinking a whiskey
I dating Jack Daniel's and Caleb - Swiss Miss, Micky - T,
Nacho's with cocoa hey, to each his own
Lovely people, lovely places
I can't remember names and I can't remember faces
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Hey light fixture, you are much too bright
Oh, won't you stay with me through the night
Just grab a pillow tight
And wait for the dizziness to pass
Rock and roll, you ate my soul
You sucked dry my bones but you spit out my mole
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Lovely people, lovely places
Drunken faces, slurring their phrases
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
You're so jealous, I'm so lonely
You'll never forgive me but I love you only
I'll always opt to fall down these stairs in the end
Someone next door's fucking to one of my songs
Inourkey
this has been one of my favorite songs for so long. thanks for posting it.
Tony
Great!! Never heard it not live. Just great!
Wooly Cooly
beautiful song
Droktiskzz
I love this song sooo much!
Amisha
I want her and fiona apple to collab ...wonder what it will be like with her amazing voice and fiona's deep timbre;) besides both have very different singing styles and musical aptitudes but have great vocals!!!
Wooly Cooly
same
Flax
You are so right. I have been dreaming of this collab for so long.
Fae Brigid
i love this song.
Danielle Rebelle
Thank you for uploading this ! I'm going to be getting a ReSpekt tatoo very soon. Yay!