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.
Daniel Cowman
Regina Spektor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the world should have ended right then and there
at precisely four-fifteen when he stopped existing
the world should have ended
How could it go on?
How could it go on?
How could it go on?
I don't exist [repeats]…
So now that we've got that straight
doesn't mean that I can fly
doesn't mean I that I can go do whatever I want.
Now that we've got that clear
and you know that I'm not here
doesn't mean that I can go do whatever I please.
The premature ejaculation of his death
(something) hit Daniel in the face like a big round spitball hwk-pfffff.
And everything got hazy in the courtroom and then he stood up
and then he sat back down another two times in the row.
And everything got real slow like a gunshot in the movies
and he remembered heroin boy walking in through the door
bouncing off the walls and the floor
taking off his belt taking off his pants
filling up the bathtub
getting ready to go in for a swim.
Singing I don't exist
I don't exist [repeats]…
and now that we've got that straight,
doesn't mean that I can fly
doesn't mean that I can go do whatever I want.
Now that we've got that clear
and you know that I'm not here
doesn't mean that I can go do whatever I please.
and you start remembering and remembering and remembering
and remembering…
The heroin boy, he walked through the door,
and he was screaming
and I was like 'why's you screaming like it's the end of the world?'
and he was like 'well it is.'
and I was sitting in the corner with my pants down
and I was sure that someone next door was blowing up balloons
and it was red and orange.
And there was that swell lady at the bar just tryin to buy gin
and there was this other lady at the bar and she was tryin to sell gin
It worked out good for the boths of them.
And heroin boy started taking off his belt,
started taking off his pants,
started taking off his shoes
started filling up the bathtub
getting ready to go in for a swim
I says "No-o.
You're goin to drown.
he says 'No,
I can't drown.
Simply because…
shhhhhhh.
A man destined to hang
Can never drown,
a man destined to hang
can never drown,
a man destined to hang
can never ever drown.
A man destined to drown
can never burn,
a man destined to drown
can never burn,
a man destined to drown
can never ever burn.
A man destined to fry
can never ever ever
a man destined to fry
can never ever ever
a man destined to fry
can never ever ever die…
in any other way but frying,
lucky that I'm dying
by hanging and not drowning.
So now that we've got that straight
can't I just be left alone?
I want to take a fuckin' bath.
Regina Spektor's song "Daniel Cowman" is a sorrowful reflection on the weight of loss and what it means to exist. The titular character's death is described as world-ending, as if his passing has rendered continuation impossible. The singer's declaration of non-existence is an extension of this existential anxiety, as if his presence is not enough to sustain the world in the absence of Daniel Cowman. The repetition of "How could it go on?" emphasizes this point, that the enormity of loss is larger than life itself.
The song takes a surreal turn in the second half, in which the singer recounts a scenario involving heroin and a bathtub. The scene is disjointed and dreamlike, though the inclusion of the line "And you start remembering and remembering and remembering / and remembering…" suggests it is a memory of the singer's. The heroin boy's assertion that "a man destined to hang can never drown" lends an air of fatalism to the song, as if Daniel's death, and perhaps the singer's own non-existence, was predetermined. The final line, "I want to take a fuckin' bath," is a poignant juxtaposition with the weightiness of the song, suggesting that in the face of tragedy, sometimes all we can do is seek comfort in the mundane.
Line by Line Meaning
On the day that Daniel Cowman stopped existing,
The day Daniel Cowman passed away should have been the end of the world.
the world should have ended right then and there
Daniel Cowman was too important to the world, and it should have ended with him.
at precisely four-fifteen when he stopped existing
The exact time of Daniel Cowman's death is significant.
How could it go on?
The world cannot continue without Daniel Cowman.
Oh and I don't exist, I don't exist [repeats]…
The artist feels insignificant or invisible, as if they do not exist.
So now that we've got that straight,
Now that we understand the singer's existence or lack thereof,
doesn't mean that I can fly
Their newfound understanding does not grant them any special abilities.
doesn't mean I that I can go do whatever I want.
The artist's existence or lack thereof does not give them free rein to do as they please.
Now that we've got that clear,
Now that there is a clear understanding about the artist's existence or lack thereof,
and you know that I'm not here
Others should be aware that the artist is not present or visible.
doesn't mean that I can go do whatever I please.
Their absence does not allow them to do as they please.
The premature ejaculation of his death
The suddenness or unexpectedness of Daniel Cowman's death.
(something) hit Daniel in the face like a big round spitball hwk-pfffff.
The impact of his death felt like a hit to the face.
And everything got hazy in the courtroom and then he stood up
Daniel Cowman's death affected those around him and caused confusion and disorientation.
and then he sat back down another two times in the row.
Daniel Cowman's death caused extreme emotional distress, causing him to be physically unstable.
And everything got real slow like a gunshot in the movies
Time seemed to slow down, and emotions and events became exaggerated.
and he remembered heroin boy walking in through the door
Daniel Cowman's thoughts shifted to a different memory or experience.
bouncing off the walls and the floor
Heroin boy was acting erratic and uncontrollable.
taking off his belt taking off his pants
Heroin boy was undressing and acting recklessly.
filling up the bathtub
Heroin boy was preparing to take a bath, possibly while under the influence.
getting ready to go in for a swim.
Heroin boy was preparing to submerge himself in water.
Singing I don't exist, I don't exist [repeats]…
The artist repeats the idea of their own insignificance or lack of presence.
and you start remembering and remembering and remembering
The singer is lost in their own thoughts and memories.
and remembering…
Their thoughts become increasingly obsessive or repetitive.
The heroin boy, he walked through the door,
Reference back to the memory of Heroin boy's arrival.
and he was screaming
Heroin boy was expressing intense emotion, likely due to the effects of the drug.
and I was like 'why's you screaming like it's the end of the world?'
The singer is confused by Heroin boy's behavior and is attempting to engage him in conversation.
and he was like 'well it is.'
Heroin boy believes the end of the world is imminent, possibly from the effects of the drug.
and I was sitting in the corner with my pants down
The artist is expressing vulnerability or feeling exposed.
and I was sure that someone next door was blowing up balloons
The singer's perception or sense of normalcy is skewed.
and it was red and orange.
The singer sees colors that may be associated with danger or urgency.
And there was that swell lady at the bar just tryin to buy gin
Reference to a character at a bar attempting to make a purchase.
and there was this other lady at the bar and she was tryin to sell gin
Reference to another character at the bar engaged in a business transaction.
It worked out good for the boths of them.
The transaction was mutually beneficial for both parties involved.
And heroin boy started taking off his belt,
Reference back to Heroin boy's behavior.
started taking off his pants,
Heroin boy is continuing to undress.
started taking off his shoes
Heroin boy is removing his shoes, possibly in preparation to get in the bathtub.
started filling up the bathtub
Heroin boy is preparing the bathtub for submersion.
getting ready to go in for a swim
Heroin boy is preparing to submerge himself in the water.
I says 'No-o.
The artist attempts to intervene in the situation.
You're goin to drown.
The artist is expressing concern that the situation is dangerous.
he says 'No,
Heroin boy denies the danger of the situation.
I can't drown.
Heroin boy is expressing confidence in their ability to withstand the water's pressure or stay afloat.
Simply because…
Heroin boy is about to offer an explanation or reasoning.
shhhhhhh.
Heroin boy silences the artist and the music.
A man destined to hang
Heroin boy begins a philosophical argument.
Can never drown,
Heroin boy believes that because they are not destined to die by drowning, they cannot drown even in a dangerous situation.
a man destined to hang
Reference to those who may be fated to die in a specific way.
can never burn,
Heroin boy believes that because they are not fated to die by burning, they cannot be burned even in a dangerous situation.
a man destined to drown
Reference to those who may be fated to die by drowning.
can never ever burn,
Heroin boy is expanding on their previous statement.
a man destined to fry
Reference to those who may be fated to die in a way related to extreme heat or fire.
can never ever ever
Heroin boy is emphasizing their point through repetitive language.
a man destined to fry
Reference to those who may be fated to die in a way related to extreme heat or fire.
can never ever ever die…
Heroin boy believes that those who die in a way they are not fated to cannot truly die.
in any other way but frying,
Heroin boy believes that they will die specifically by frying.
lucky that I'm dying by hanging and not drowning.
Heroin boy is grateful that they are fated to die in the way that they are.
So now that we've got that straight
Reference back to the idea of a clear understanding.
can't I just be left alone?
The singer desires to be alone and unbothered.
I want to take a fuckin' bath.
The artist desires to engage in a simple, self-care activity.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@azelheidrruth1661
On the day that Daniel Cowman stopped existing
The world should've ended right then and there
At precisely four-fifteen when he stopped existing
The world should've ended--how could it go on?
How could it go on when I don't exist? I don't exist...
and now that we got that straight, doesn't mean that I can fly
Doesn't mean that I can go do whatever I want
Now that we got that clear, and you know that I'm not here
Doesn't mean that I can go do whatever I please
the premature ejaculation of his death sentence
Hit Daniel in the face like a big round spitball
And everything got hazy in the courtroom
And then he stood up and then he sat back down
Another two times in a row
And everything got real slow like a gunshot in the movies
And he remembered heroin boy walking through the door
Bouncing off the walls and the floor
Taking off his belt, taking off his pants
Filling up the bathtub, getting ready to go in for a swim
Singing, I don't exist...
and he start remembering...
The heroin boy'd walk through the door
And he was screaming and everybody was, like,
What're you screaming as if it's the end of the world?
And he was, like, well it is
And I was sitting in the corner with my pants down
And I was sure someone next door was blowing up balloons
And they was red and orange
And there was this one lady at the bar and she was trying to buy gin
And this other lady at the bar and she was trying to sell gin
And it worked out good for the boths of them
And heroin boy started taking off his belt
Started taking off his pants, started taking off his shoes
Filling up the bathtub, getting ready to go in for a swim
I says, no--you're gonna drown
And he says, no--I can't drown
Simply because...shhhh...
A man destined to hang can never drown
A man destined to drown can never burn
A man destined to fry can never, ever, ever
Die in any other way
Frying--lucky that I'm dying by hanging and not drowning
so now that we got that straight, can't I just be left alone?
I want to take a fucking bath
@ArtistsInsanity
"There was this one lady at the bar and she was trying to BUY gin and there was this other lady at the bar and she was trying to SELL gin and it worked out good for the boths of them...." Who in the world thinks like this?!? Regina is fantastic. This is one of my all time favorite songs.
@cynopt
"So now that we got that straight, can't I just be left alone? I want to take a fucking bath." Best final line to any song ever.
@screamPHOEBE
I abandoned saying, "This is the best song ever" when I realized that everything she wrote was the "best song ever". All I can say is that this is yet another masterpiece that brings tears to my eyes ._.
@amandapartlow990
wow what a way to put it into words
@Emeralds31
I love this song, it really just cracks me up. "Why you screamin as if it's the end of the world?" and he's like, "Well it is." Haha.
@Strangelittleorange
So many times I've tried to understand this song fully, but I realized that it's more powerful if I just let the emotions sweep over me. I cry every time.
@jesusfz93
This is just the best song on the meaning of existence ever. I want it to be played at my funeral!! #respekt
@boberson33
I'm huge grunge fan/metalhead and for some reason this music gives me goosebumps.
@chexagon7656
There are only 7 notes in music. In between there is nothing but passion. When you truly see greatness, genre is completely inconsequential. Welcome from a grindcore guitarist & anarch@ hip-hop MC
@ArielWidhibrata
I WANNA TAKE A FUCKING BATH