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.
Lady
Regina Spektor Lyrics
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As if she mean it
As if it's hell down here
In the smoke-filled world
Where the jokes are cold, they don't laugh at jokes
They laugh at tragedies
Corner street societies
They never leave her while she sings
She make them feel safe
She says, 'I can sing this song so blue
That you will cry in spite of you
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
And I have walked these streets so long
There ain't nothin' right, there ain't nothin' wrong
But the little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on my baby's shoulder.'
Lady lights a cigarette, puffs away, no regrets
Takes a look around, no regrets, no regrets
Stretches out like branches of a poplar tree
Says, 'I am free;' sings so soft as if she'll break
Says, 'I can sing this song so blue
That you will cry in spite of you
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
And I have walked these streets so long
There ain't nothin' right, nothin' wrong
But the little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
But on this stage I've learned to fly
Learned to sing and learned to cry
Little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
But now it's time to say goodbye
Some might laugh, but I will surely cry
Little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
Little wet tears on my baby's shoulder.'
Lady lights a cigarette
Puffs away
And winter comes
And she
Forgets
In "Lady," Regina Spektor paints a picture of a woman who performs the blues with such sincerity and emotion that she draws crowds from small, corner-street societies. The lyrics convey the sense of a world filled with smoke and tragedy, where jokes fall flat and the only solace comes from a woman who can truly sing the blues. Lady herself says, "I can sing this song so blue, that you will cry in spite of you," highlighting her ability to draw raw emotion from her audience. Throughout the song, Lady is shown to be someone who has walked the streets for a long time and has come to the realization that while there may be little right or wrong, the tears she has shed are real and irreducible. In the final verse, winter comes and Lady forgets, perhaps indicating a letting go of the past and a moving on to a new phase of life.
The lyrics of this song are stirring, poetic and poignant. The song is a tribute to women who have the ability to convey emotions through song, pulling the listener into the artist's experience. The song is filled with metaphors, including the "branches of a poplar tree," which Lady is said to stretch out like, indicating perhaps her desire to be free and unrestricted by societal limitations. The line "Laugh at tragedies" is also a powerful commentary on the human experience, noting how sometimes people find solace in humor, even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
Lady sing the blues so well
The woman sings sad songs with great skill
As if she mean it
She sings as though she sincerely feels the pain of the songs
As if it's hell down here
She sings as though the world is a terrible place
In the smoke-filled world
The world is filled with smoke, potentially symbolizing confusion or deception
Where the jokes are cold, they don't laugh at jokes
People are not easily amused or entertained, as they are used to sadness
They laugh at tragedies
Tragic events are more commonly and easily accepted by people
Corner street societies
She sings on the streets, in the presence of different groups of people
But they believe her
Her audience has faith in her singing and her words
They never leave her while she sings
When she sings, people stay and listen
She make them feel safe
Her singing provides a sense a security for her listeners
She says, 'I can sing this song so blue
She claims she can sing a particularly sad song with great power and emotion
That you will cry in spite of you
Her singing is so powerful it will make people cry against their own will
Little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
People's tears will spill over onto the babies they hold
And I have walked these streets so long
She has been performing and singing for a long time
There ain't nothin' right, there ain't nothin' wrong
The world is complex and can't be described simply as good or bad
Lady lights a cigarette, puffs away, no regrets
She smokes with no remorse or hesitation
Takes a look around, no regrets, no regrets
She surveys her surroundings, still with no regret about her choices
Stretches out like branches of a poplar tree
She extends herself, like the branches of a tall tree
Says, 'I am free;' sings so soft as if she'll break
She declares her freedom, singing gently and delicately as if she's fragile
But on this stage I've learned to fly
Through singing, she has ascended to new heights and abilities
Learned to sing and learned to cry
Her singing has taught her how to properly express her emotions, including sadness
But now it's time to say goodbye
Her performance has come to an end
Some might laugh, but I will surely cry
While some people may not understand the sadness of her singing, she herself will cry
And winter comes
The metaphorical 'winter' represents the end of her performance
And she
Referring to the woman
Forgets
She moves on from her performance and forgets the emotions she expressed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: REGINA SPEKTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind