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.
Buildings
Regina Spektor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
he was a husband who drove his wife home
and in the car he would gently lean her head on the side door window
and in the bathroom he would hold her hair back and hope, saying;
they build buildings oh they build buildings oh they build buildings
so tall these days
but she would always always wake up the next morning
and he'd take one look at her a say baby that's ok
and her conscience would issue yet another last warning, saying;
they build buildings oh they build buildings
oh they build buildings
so tall these days
and she would ask for time
and she'd ask for time
and she would ask for time
and she would beg for time,
and she would beg for time
and beg for time and call it a gift
and he would give her time
and he'd give her time
and he would give her time
and he'd give her time
but time is not given and time is not taken
it just sifts through its sift
and it was coffee and coffee and coffee
and coffee and coffee and coffee some more
he'd go to work and she'd take a sick day and rot at the core
and by the time he came back
she'd scrub the bathroom and make it smell like pine
it would be almost as if nothing had happened
and he'd give her time, saying;
they build buildings, oh they build buildings, oh they build buildings,
oh don't they build buildings, oh they build buildings,
they build buildings so tall these days
and she would ask for time
and she'd ask for time
and she would ask for time
and she would beg for time,
and she would beg for time
and beg for time and call it a gift
and he would give her time
and he'd give her time
and he would give her time
and he'd give her time-
but time is not given and time is not taken
it just sifts through its sift
he was a husband drove time home pine scrub bathroom window
don't they build buildings so tall these days...
The lyrics of Regina Spektor's "Buildings" tell a heartbreaking story about a troubled marriage. The husband is a caring and thoughtful figure, who just like in the beginning drives his wife home drunk from parties and takes care of her. However, with every morning, she wakes up and struggles with her memories. She asks for time over and over again in the hope of forgetting and starting afresh, but as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that time is not something given or taken. It just passes by, leaving behind the remnants of pain and sorrow.
The phrase "they build buildings so tall these days" is repeated throughout the song, acting as a metaphor for the distance and disconnect that builds up between people over time. The husband seems to understand this, and despite his efforts to be there for his wife and give her time, he knows that some things cannot be undone or forgotten. The song ends on a sad and poignant note, with the singer summing up the situation. It's a portrayal of life's hardships and the ways in which we deal with them.
Line by Line Meaning
he was a husband who drove his wife home drunk from the parties
He was a man who drove his inebriated wife home from events.
he was a husband who drove his wife home and in the car he would gently lean her head on the side door window
As her spouse, he would carefully rest her head against the car door window during their ride home.
and in the bathroom he would hold her hair back and hope, saying;
He would supportively assist her while she vomited in the bathroom.
they build buildings oh they build buildings oh they build buildings so tall these days
The world continues to construct ever taller buildings.
and in the morning she'd wake up and crouch recollections all day
After sleeping through the night, she would frequently attempt to piece together scattered memories throughout the day.
and he'd take one look at her a say baby that's ok and her conscience would issue yet another last warning, saying;
Upon seeing her state the next morning, he would reassure her that everything is alright, while her conscience would still signal her that her behavior is problematic.
and she would ask for time and she'd ask for time and she would ask for time and she would beg for time, and she would beg for time and beg for time and call it a gift
She repeatedly requested time from him, calling it a favor and even pleading for it.
and he would give her time and he'd give her time and he would give her time and he'd give her time
Her partner would often indulge her time requests.
but time is not given and time is not taken it just sifts through its sift
Time is a passing entity that cannot be completely controlled by humans.
and it was coffee and coffee and coffee and coffee and coffee and coffee some more
She repeatedly consumed coffee throughout the day.
he'd go to work and she'd take a sick day and rot at the core
She would often call in sick to work and struggle with inner turmoil.
and by the time he came back she'd scrub the bathroom and make it smell like pine
Before his return, she would clean the bathroom and attempt to cover up any lingering odors.
it would be almost as if nothing had happened and he'd give her time, saying;
She would attempt to conceal the previous night's events to make it seem as though nothing had occurred, and he would continue to grant her time.
and she would ask for time and she'd ask for time and she would ask for time and she would beg for time, and she would beg for time and beg for time and call it a gift
She persistently pleaded for time from her partner.
and he would give her time and he'd give her time and he would give her time and he'd give her time- but time is not given and time is not taken it just sifts through its sift
Despite his continuous granting of time, time itself cannot be controlled by humans.
he was a husband drove time home pine scrub bathroom window don't they build buildings so tall these days...
The husband would transport his wife home and clean up after her, as the world continues to build taller buildings.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@quekkw3q918
I've been inlove with your songs since 17 years ago! Your music saves me from depressing highschool days before❤ Labyuuu regina!!!
@kaybedegroff1733
But time is not given, and time is not taken
It just sifts through itself. I fuckin love it
@comradehermit9320
There is just something absolutely punk rock in her presentation. It's almost harrowingly off-kilter. Like the strings of the piano could snap at any moment. I don't believe I've ever heard that level of immediacy with just a piano.
@maxmiller8562
Yeah specially with songs like Ezra pound and apres mois
@mugflub
@@maxmiller8562I was at a concert of hers where she played apres moi. During the intense part of the song the stage lights went red and the wind happened to start blowing her hair into her face. I’ll never experience a performance like that again. One of life’s perfect moments.
@mugflub
Criminally underrated song
@bfadem42
This is simply my favorite song of all time, i have listened and sang along and cried to this song so many times over the last 15 years. i have shared it with my mother and my friends and the loves of my life. if someone understands this song, they will understand me a bit better, too. thank you regina ❤️🌞
@newbie3293
Как всегда - душевно, лампово и прекрасно. Спасибо за то, что ты делаешь!
@BretSnyder
Regina always makes me smile.
@PrestonBurtonHuman
Regina you are the best! Loved listening to you since I found you in high school, 16 years ago! I always sing along to your songs.