School Is Out
Regina Spektor Lyrics

School is out
The academic year has ended

And I walk the empty hallways
The singer wanders alone in a vacant building

I walk alone
The singer is always by herself

Alone as always
She has no companions or friends

There's so many lucky pennies
The artist observes numerous coins on the ground

Lying on the floor
The coins are scattered among debris

But where the hell are all the lucky people
The singer notices the lack of good fortune in her own life compared to others

I can't see them any more
The artist has lost a sense of hope and optimism

And there's such a nasty smell
There is a foul odor in the bathroom

In the bathroom
This area is a source of discomfort

The people float by
Other individuals pass by without much engagement

While the toilets are flushing
The bathroom continues to operate despite poor conditions

And there's all this shit written on the bathroom wall
There is graffiti and vulgar messages in a small area

With a leaky pen
The source of the scrawlings is unreliable

And Lisa loves Jason
One of the scribbles is a confession and admission of love

Oh, Jason loves Ben
A different note describes another romantic connection

And a letter from Michigan
A piece of mail originating from this state is left unopened

Is sittin' on my desk
It occupies a stationary place in her living quarters

And I remember one thought
The singer processes one idea with clarity

But I forget all the rest
Other memories and recollections are slipping away

And the ice cream is melted
A dessert has lost its structure

And dripping down my neck
The artist's clothing is stained with the melted substance

And my bottles standing on the edge of the table
Two containers are perilously positioned near a precipice

And I think it's in the mood to break me
The artist aligns these events with a broader sense of instability

Just break me,
She desires a release from pressure and stress

Just, just break me
Her plea for help is repeated for emphasis

And I messed myself up again
The singer recognizes her own failures and shortcomings

Nobody really cares
Others are not sympathetic to her distress or hardships

I wish I could just have some time
The artist yearns for a brief sense of escape

To play with my old teddy bear
The singer wishes for a return to childhood or a more innocent time

And maybe I could go
She imagines herself transitioning to a different reality

To teddy bear heaven
This represents a fantasy dreamland of comfort and security

Just like her
She references another individual who has already passed away

'Cause well, she went when she was eleven
The individual previously mentioned died at a very young age

But I stayed late
The singer is procrastinating returning to her own life

'Cause I can't understand physics
She is having difficulties with her academic workload

I don't want to go home
The singer is resisting her responsibilities and obligations

And cook myself dinner
One of her basic requirements for survival feels like a burden

Or look in the mirror
She is reluctant to confront or acknowledge herself

That big, fat mirror
She perceives the literal object as a source of shame and self-loathing

That swallows me up in a corridor
The power of this object extends beyond the physical realm and affects her mental state

Oh, just swallows me whole
The mirror consumes and overwhelms her consciousness completely

And cha-ching goes the robber
A criminal action is occurring

And cha-ching goes the gun
Violent threats and danger permeate her surroundings

And cha-ching goes the bittersweet
Her experiences are tinged with bitterness and regret

Judgmental nun
A religious figure known for criticism and condemnation is present

Cha-ching goes the gun
The threat of violence is repeated for emphasis

And cha-ching goes the purse
The artist is presented with examples of greed and theft

And cha-ching goes the over-fucked
Sexual expectations and pressure are imposed upon her

Registered nurse, me
The singer acknowledges her occupation and the feelings of exhaustion associated with it

Just nurse me
She desires care and comfort for herself

Just, just nurse me
Her plea for help is repeated for emphasis

Where the hell are all the lucky people
The artist returns to the theme of comparing her life to that of others

Where the hell are all the lucky people
She repeats her frustration and disappointment for emphasis

I can't see them
The singer's sense of isolation and disconnection persists

Any more
The hope and optimism for meaningful connections with others has been lost