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.
Machine
Regina Spektor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My hands are sub jointed
I live in the future
In my prewar apartment
And I count all my blessings
I have friends in high places
And I'm upgraded daily
All my wires without traces
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
I'm hooked into hooked into
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
I'm hooked into
Hooked into machine
I collect my moments
Into a correspondence
With a mightier power
Who just lacks my perspective
And who lacks my organics
And who covets my defects
And I'm downloaded daily
I am part of a composite
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
I'm hooked into, hooked into
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
Hooked into machine
I'm hooked into
Hooked into machine
Everything's provided
Consummate consumer
Part of worldly taking
Apart from worldly troubles
Living in your prewar apartment
Soon to be your postwar apartment
And you lived in the future
And the future
It's here
It's bright
It's now
The song "Machine" by Regina Spektor speaks to the concept of being connected to technology, and the ways in which it shapes and influences our lives. The lyrics speak to the idea of being "hooked into machine," where our lives are seamlessly intertwined with advancements in technology, often to the point where it becomes difficult to distinguish where our natural selves end and the technology begins.
The idea of the machine is central to the song, with Regina singing about "counting blessings" that come in the form of upgrades and wires without traces. She is "living in the future" in her prewar apartment, which speaks to the idea that advancements in technology have taken us beyond what we once thought was possible.
The idea of being a "part of a composite" speaks to the way in which technology has made it easier for us to connect and remain in contact with people all over the world. The lyrics also touch on the power dynamic between ourselves and the technology we use, where we are often reduced to "consummate consumers" who are being consumed by the world around us.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea that technology has become an undeniable part of our lives, and that we are constantly being shaped and influenced by it. It is a reflection on the ways in which we interact with the world around us, and how we can find ourselves both liberated and limited by the technology we use and rely on.
Line by Line Meaning
My eyes are bifocal
I have a specific perspective on everything
My hands are sub jointed
I am skilled and nimble when it comes to using technology
I live in the future
My lifestyle and technological integration is ahead of its time
In my prewar apartment
I still live in a setting of the past, despite my technological advancements
And I count all my blessings
I am grateful for all the advancements and benefits technology has given me
I have friends in high places
I have connections with powerful people and companies in the tech industry
And I'm upgraded daily
I constantly integrate new and advanced technology into my life
All my wires without traces
My tech integration is seamless and unnoticeable
Hooked into machine
I am fully integrated with technology
I collect my moments
I document and store every aspect of my life through technology
Into a correspondence
I create a digital record of my life events and experiences
With a mightier power
I am submitting my data to a higher authority or controlling force
Who just lacks my perspective
The higher power is processing and analyzing my data without a personal understanding of my life
And who lacks my organics
This higher power is not a living entity and does not have the same level of humanity or organic nature as myself
And who covets my defects
The analysis of my data may focus on my weaknesses or flaws to target and manipulate me
And I'm downloaded daily
A large amount of my digital data is collected and analyzed regularly
I am part of a composite
My data is combined with that of many others to create a larger understanding of the population
Everything's provided
Technology has eliminated many of the struggles and obstacles of daily life
Consummate consumer
I am fully engaged in the culture of consumerism, using technology to acquire and enjoy new things
Part of worldly taking
I am contributing to the larger societal trend of exploiting resources and consuming excessively
Apart from worldly troubles
Despite any struggles or issues in society, technology allows me to temporarily escape or ignore them
Living in your prewar apartment
Others may still be living in old-fashioned or outdated settings, while I continue to integrate technology into mine
Soon to be your postwar apartment
As technology continues to progress, my living space will reflect newer and more advanced features
And you lived in the future
I have fully embraced and integrated the future into my daily life
And the future
The futurist, technology-driven vision of our world
It's here
The technological future is currently present and part of everyday life
It's bright
The new technology and the ways it improves our livelihood is optimistic
It's now
The future is not some distant thing, but is currently happening in our time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: REGINA SPEKTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind