The song begins in an intricately melodic sequence of trills and runs that simulate the delicate sound of a music box. However, the song is actually about feeling trapped in your own routine, and the musical theme of the song is complicated by its lyrics, which wonder if music boxes ever get tired of playing the same thing over and over.
As the dissatisfaction in the lyrics gets more pronounced, the delicacy of the melody that began the song breaks down more and more until Spektor is half moaning the words, the melody rendered utterly ugly in her satirizing voice.
Music Box
Regina Spektor Lyrics
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The mallets hit
The gears are always turning
And everyone inside the mechanism
Is yearning to get out
And sing another melody completely
So different from the one they're always singing
But then I feel mortality surround me
I want to sing another melody
So different from the one I always sing
But when I do the dishes
I run the water very very very hot
And then I fill the sink to the top with bubbles of soap
And then I set all the bottle caps I own afloat
And it's the greatest voyage in the history of plastic
And then I slip my hands in and start to make waves
And then I dip my tongue in and take a taste
It tastes like soap but it doesn't really taste like soap
And then I lower in my whole mouth and take a gulp
And start to feel mortality surround me
I close my eyes and think that I have found me
But life inside the music box ain't easy
The mallets hit
The gears are always turning
And every one inside the mechanism
Is yearning to get out
And sing another melody completely
Is yearning to get out
Is yearning to get out
Is yearning to get out
Regina Spektor's song "Music Box" is a commentary on the human experience and the inherent desire within us to break free from the constraints of societal norms and expectations. The song draws a metaphorical comparison between life and a music box - the mallets hit and the gears are always turning, representing the constant flow of time and the pressures of conformity that weigh on us all. We are all part of the same mechanism, yearning to break free and sing a different melody, one that is unique to us and not one that we are told to sing.
The lyrics reveal the struggle to find individuality and authenticity in a world that values conformity over creativity. The singer longs to break free from the mundane and sing a different tune, but is constantly reminded of their own mortality. The song touches on the theme of mortality a few times, with the singer feeling it surround them as they do the dishes or close their eyes.
The final repetition of "is yearning to get out" emphasizes the importance of taking action and breaking free from the constraints that society places on us. It speaks to the idea that we all have the power to change our lives and the world around us, but it is up to us to make the effort to do so.
Overall, "Music Box" presents a poignant and introspective reflection on the human experience and our desire for individuality and authenticity in a world that often discourages it.
Line by Line Meaning
Life inside the music box ain't easy
Living in a restrictive world where everything is controlled can be challenging.
The mallets hit
The constant sound of the mallets hitting the box represents the unyielding pressure to conform.
The gears are always turning
The gears represent the monotony of life and how things always seem to repeat themselves.
And everyone inside the mechanism
This refers to the people trapped within the constraints of society and the expectations placed upon them.
Is yearning to get out
People want to break free from societal standards and expectations and live their own lives.
And sing another melody completely
They want to express themselves and do something different than what has always been done before.
So different from the one they're always singing
People want to break free from the mundane and monotonous lives they lead and try something new and unique.
I close my eyes and think that I have found me
The artist attempts to find herself in a world that feels boxed in and restricted.
But then I feel mortality surround me
The artist realizes that she is mortal and her time on this Earth is limited.
I want to sing another melody
The artist wants to try new things in life and break free from the monotony.
But when I do the dishes
The mundane task of washing dishes brings the singer out of her imagination and back to reality.
I run the water very very very hot
The artist wants to feel something, anything to break up the monotony of life.
And then I fill the sink to the top with bubbles of soap
She creates a world within the mundane task by imagining the bubbles as small floating universes.
And then I set all the bottle caps I own afloat
She adds to her imaginary world by adding more objects to the 'universe' she's created.
And it's the greatest voyage in the history of plastic
The singer revels in her imagination and how she can create entire worlds out of small, plastic objects.
And then I slip my hands in and start to make waves
She begins to interact with her imaginary world and takes control of it.
And then I dip my tongue in and take a taste
She indulges in her imagination to the point where she is actively engaging with it.
It tastes like soap but it doesn't really taste like soap
She enjoys how her imagination can make even something as mundane as soap bubbles into something magical.
And then I lower in my whole mouth and take a gulp
She takes her indulgence even further, willing to immerse herself completely in her imagination.
And start to feel mortality surround me
She comes back to reality and remembers that she is human and mortal, breaking the spell of her imagination.
Is yearning to get out
The repetition of this phrase at the end emphasizes how people are always striving to break free from the constraints of society.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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