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.
Chemo Limo
Regina Spektor Lyrics
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Crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin came over
Baby-sat all four of my kids
Then in my dream
I told the doctor off
He said if you don't want to do it
Then you don't have to do it
You'll be okay, anyway
Then in my dream
Crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin and the doctor
Went and had a talk with my boss
Something about insurance policies
They kept the door closed at all times
I couldn't hear or see
When they came out they said
You'll be okay, anyway
And I smiled cause I'd known it all along.
No thank you no thank you no thank you no thank you
I don't have to pay for this shit
I couldn't afford chemo like I couldn't afford a limo
And on any given day I'd rather ride a limousine
No thank you no thank you no thank you no thank you
I ain't about to to die like this
I couldn't afford chemo like I couldn't afford a limo
And besides this shit is making me tired
It's making me tired
It's making me tired
You know I plan to retire some day,
And I'm gonna go out in style
Go out in style
This shit it's making me tired
It's making me tired
It's making me tired
I'm-a gonna go out in style go out in style
When I woke up
My kids were being quiet
I knew it was a dream right away
I called the limousine company
Then I got dressed
I dressed the kids as well
The limousine pulled in
And we piled in
The doctor he asked which way we were headed
I said, Sir, let's just go west and he listened obediently,
Sophie only wants to listen to radio BBC
Michael sat on my knees and whispered to me
All about the meanies
Jacqueline was being such a big girl
With her cup of tea looking out of the window
And Barbara
She looks just like my mom
Oh my, Barbara
She looks so much like my mom
No thank you no thank you no thank you no thank you
I don't have to pay for this shit
I couldn't afford chemo like I couldn't afford a limo
And on any given day I'd rather ride a limousine
No thank you no thank you no thank you no thank you
I ain't about to die like this
I couldn't afford chemo like I couldn't afford a limo
And besides this shit is making me tired
It's making me tired
It'smaking me die
You know I plan to retire some day,
And I'm-a gonna go out in style
Go out in style
This shit it's making me tired
It's making me tired
It's making me tired
I'm-a gonna go out in style go out in style
Style
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I had a dream
Crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin came over and
Baby-sat all four of my kids
I had a dream
Crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin came over and
Baby-sat all four of my kids
Sophie only want to tune us into radio BBC
Michael sat on my knees and whispered to me
All about the meanie
Jacqueline was being such a big girl
With her cup of tea looking out of the window
And Barbara
She looks just like my mom
Oh my god, Barbara
She looks so much like my mom
Oh my god, Barbara
She looks so much just like my mom
Regina Spektor's song Chemo Limo seems to be a reflection of her experience with cancer treatment. It begins with a dream sequence in which Benjamin Franklin is babysitting all four of her kids, and she confronts her doctor regarding her treatment options for chemotherapy. In the dream, the doctor assures her that she will be okay with or without the treatment. The dream then shifts to a conversation between Benjamin Franklin and her boss about insurance policies, although she cannot hear the details.
The dream concludes with Regina waking up and calling a limousine company to take her and her children on a ride, with the doctor accompanying them. They head west, and her daughter Sophie requests to listen only to BBC radio. Michael sits on her lap and talks about the "meanies," and Jacqueline is a well-behaved young girl drinking tea and looking out of the window. Regina's daughter Barbara looks just like her mother, causing Regina to say "Oh my god, Barbara. She looks so much just like my mom."
The meaning behind the lyrics is open to interpretation, but it seems that Regina is rejecting the idea of chemotherapy and its subsequent effects. She compares her situation to not being able to afford a limo, and on any given day, would instead prefer to ride in one. The repetition of "no thank you" and her refusal to "pay for this shit" reiterates her refusal to undergo chemotherapy. It seems that Regina is determined to "go out in style" and retire on her terms, without compromising her quality of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream
The singer is recounting a dream they had.
Crispy crispy Benjamin Franklin came over
The singer had a dream that Benjamin Franklin, a historical figure, visited them.
Baby-sat all four of my kids
In the dream, Benjamin Franklin watched over the singer's children.
Then in my dream
The dream continues with a shift in events.
I told the doctor off
The artist confronted their doctor in the dream.
He said if you don't want to do it
Then you don't have to do it
In the dream, the doctor reassured the singer that they have a choice in their medical decisions.
He said the truth is
You'll be okay, anyway
The doctor also told the singer that they don't necessarily need medical treatment to be okay.
Went and had a talk with my boss
Something about insurance policies
They kept the door closed at all times
I couldn't hear or see
In the dream, Benjamin Franklin and the doctor talked to the artist's boss about insurance policies, but the artist was kept in the dark about the details of the conversation.
When they came out they said
You'll be okay, anyway
And I smiled cause I'd known it all along.
After their conversation, Benjamin Franklin, the doctor, and the boss reassured the artist that they will be okay, and the artist felt relieved because they already knew that.
No thank you no thank you no thank you no thank you
I don't have to pay for this shit
I couldn't afford chemo like I couldn't afford a limo
And on any given day I'd rather ride a limousine
The artist expresses that they don't want to pay for chemotherapy, just like they can't afford a limo. They would rather ride in a limousine than go through chemotherapy.
I ain't about to to die like this
I couldn't afford chemo like I couldn't afford a limo
And besides this shit is making me tired
It's making me tired
It's making me tired
You know I plan to retire some day,
And I'm gonna go out in style
Go out in style
This shit it's making me tired
It's making me tired
It's making me tired
I'm-a gonna go out in style go out in style
The singer reiterates that they don't want to die in this state and that chemotherapy is making them exhausted. They plan to retire one day and want to go out in style, not while feeling tired and sick.
When I woke up
My kids were being quiet
I knew it was a dream right away
I called the limousine company
Then I got dressed
I dressed the kids as well
The limousine pulled in
And we piled in
The dream ends and the artist wakes up. They realize it was a dream and call a limousine company, then get ready along with their children. They ride in a limousine.
The doctor he asked which way we were headed
I said, Sir, let's just go west and he listened obediently,
Sophie only wants to listen to radio BBC
Michael sat on my knees and whispered to me
All about the meanies
Jacqueline was being such a big girl
With her cup of tea looking out of the window
And Barbara
She looks just like my mom
Oh my, Barbara
She looks so much like my mom
In the limousine, the doctor asks where they're going and the singer says west. The children each have their own personalities and activities going on. The singer also notices that one of their children looks like their mother, Barbara.
Style
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Repetition of the word 'style.'
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: REGINA SPEKTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind