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.
Paris
Regina Spektor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the man who came for me
Took me by the hand
And said it was time to leave
Margaret atwood, she could not stop him
Virginia woolf, she could not stop him
The truth is I wanted to go
He is all I know, he is all I know…
I got back home from Paris
And he told me what I'd done was wrong
And though his speech was rather long
I listened like an obedient child
The light was coming in through the windows
It was a most familiar type of night
How I loved every streetlight
And I wanted him to kiss me
Margaret atwood, she could not stop me
Virginia woolf, she could not stop me
The truth is I wanted to go
He is all I know, he is all I know…
Sweet, sweet forever
I'll comfort myself in my next life…
He told me that he couldn't live without me
And I told him the same thing too
And though we knew it wasn't true
We both knew it wasn't a lie
The light was coming in through the window
It was a most familiar type of night
How I loved every streetlight
And I wanted him to kiss me
Margaret atwood, she could not stop me
Virginia woolf, she could not stop me
The truth is I wanted to go
He is all I know, he is all I know…
Sweet, sweet forever
I'll comfort myself in my next life…
The song "Paris" by Regina Spektor describes a romantic relationship that takes the singer to Paris, but eventually she has to return home. The man in her life takes her away from Paris, despite attempts by famous writers Margaret Atwood and Virginia Woolf to stop him. Although it seems that she wants to be with the man more than anything else, there is tension in the relationship, as he berates the singer for what she has done. The song ends with the singer reflecting on the relationship and finding solace in the thought of a better life in the next.
It appears from the lyrics that the relationship in this song is characterized by an extreme level of co-dependency. The singer is willing to give up living in Paris, which is a dream destination for many, to be with his partner. She sees him as her whole world, even when he disapproves of her actions. There are hints in the song that their relationship is far from perfect, with lines like "And though we knew it wasn't true / We both knew it wasn't a lie" suggesting that they both know that something is off.
Paris is a city that inspires love and passion, and the fact that the relationship described in the song begins in Paris makes it all the more romantic. There is a sense of longing and nostalgia in the way that the singer describes the city, with the "familiar type of night" and "every streetlight" that she loves. However, the fact that she eventually leaves Paris behind adds a melancholic touch to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I could've settled down in Paris
I had the option to make a life for myself in Paris.
But the man who came for me
My partner arrived to take me away from Paris.
Took me by the hand
He physically led me away from Paris.
And said it was time to leave
He expressed that it was time for us to depart from Paris.
Margaret atwood, she could not stop him
Even an influential author like Margaret Atwood could not prevent him from taking me away.
Virginia woolf, she could not stop him
Even a literary icon like Virginia Woolf could not prevent him from taking me away.
The truth is I wanted to go
In reality, I desired to leave Paris.
He is all I know, he is all I know…
I am heavily reliant on my partner and have no other significant relationships in my life.
I got back home from Paris
I returned home from Paris with my partner.
And he told me what I'd done was wrong
My partner criticized my actions in Paris.
And though his speech was rather long
He went on at length regarding his disapproval.
I listened like an obedient child
I submitted to his authority and took in his words without rebellion.
The light was coming in through the windows
Sunlight was filtering into the room through the windows.
It was a most familiar type of night
The night felt familiar and comforting to me.
How I loved every streetlight
I had a strong affection for the streetlights in my city.
And I wanted him to kiss me
I desired physical intimacy from my partner in that moment.
Sweet, sweet forever
There is an endless happiness I long for.
I'll comfort myself in my next life…
I will only find complete solace in the afterlife or a next life.
He told me that he couldn't live without me
My partner expressed that he would not be able to survive without me.
And I told him the same thing too
I reciprocated the sentiment that I am completely dependent on him as well.
And though we knew it wasn't true
Despite recognizing the falsehood of our statements, we still clung to them.
We both knew it wasn't a lie
Our feelings were genuine, even if the statement was untrue.
Sweet, sweet forever
Eternal happiness remains an unattainable hope for me.
I'll comfort myself in my next life…
I will only find complete solace in the afterlife or a next life.
Contributed by Adalyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@pebblywon
If she has a kid they will get to fall asleep to the beautiful voice of a lyrical genius. <3
@thinkpinksyd
I heard this song when I was a teen. I forgot about it until yesterday. it popped in to my head! I knew it was Regina Spektor, and I memorized it, but i never knew the name of the song! After 15 years, I finally heard it again! thank you! ❤
@cinnamongirlivana
its unbelievable how one night I wrote just a word on you tube and I found all Regina`s songs and it was like my life its retailed in her songs ... no no no I am not dreaming :)
@junebug222760
her voice is beyond incredible
@Pantag3
I love the fact that one of my idols mentions another one of my idols, "Virginia Woolf, she could not stop me!"
@averageskill
true music: The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre.
@DoodleTaffy
I love this acapella version, hearing it like this I imagine her speaking/singing this rythm/melody on a soap box in a small, chic, indie coffe shop on a Spoken Word night!
@chellya2004
maybe only Regina Spektor who can sing without music... and still sounds so damn beautiful !!
@meeplesquadge
See, I like this. I like the acapella stuff of it. Its hard to sing without music. And she does it well =] Love reginaxxx
@GoldaLeah16
so im obsessed with regina spektor. ......so yeah right now im in love with you for putting up all of these songs i've never heard before. so. thank you for existing. :]