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.
Us
Regina Spektor Lyrics
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And then put it on a mountain top
Now tourists come and stare at us
Blow bubbles with their gum
Take photographs of fun, have fun
They'll name a city after us
And later say it's all our fault
Then they'll give us a talking to
'Cause they've got years of experience
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
We wear our scarves just like a noose
But not 'cause we want eternal sleep
And though our parts are slightly used
New ones are slave labor you can keep
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
The tourists come and stare at us
The sculptor's mama sends regards
They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
Our noses have begun to rust
We're living in a den of thieves
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We're living in a den of thieves
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
And it's contagious
Regina Spektor's song Us is a haunting satire about the parts of our lives that perpetuate myths and create legacies. The opening line, "They made a statue of us," sets the tone as a surrealistic comment on the human tendency to romanticize even mundane aspects of life, but it also lays the groundwork for a broader examination of the power of perception. Spektor uses the image of the mountain top statue as a metaphor for how humans can immortalize moments and people and make them into legends. The tourists blowing bubbles and taking pictures with the statue suggest how reality can often give way to fantasy when people are looking for something to idolize.
The second verse brings in the political implications of memory-making. The idea of a city being named after a person or place is accompanied by the suggestion that the city's residents will ultimately blame the namesake for any problems that occur. This line is a commentary on how places become entwined with the people who are connected to that place, for better or worse. The reference to a "talking to" indicates the kind of scrutiny and blame that can come with being in the public eye. The final lines of this verse - "’Cause they’ve got years of experience" - are somewhat ambiguous, but they suggest that those in positions of power or authority are often more concerned with their own experiences than with the truth or the wellbeing of the people they are supposed to serve.
The final verse returns to the physical body and the things we carry with us. The "scarves just like a noose" allude to the ties that bind us, not necessarily in a negative way, but implying that our relationships and connections can exert control over us. The final lines - "New ones are slave labor you can keep" - suggest a certain resignation and futility. The song returns to the idea of the den of thieves, a place where people are constantly searching for something that might not exist or might not be attainable. The final repetition of "it's contagious" implies the cyclical nature of this search and the ways in which our perceptions and beliefs reinforce one another.
Line by Line Meaning
They made a statue of us
Our relationship was admired so much that they made a statue to honor us
And then put it on a mountain top
The statue was placed in a prominent location for all to see
Now tourists come and stare at us
People from all over come to see the statue and what it represents
Blow bubbles with their gum
They are carefree and enjoying the moment
Take photographs of fun, have fun
Creating memories of their experience and enjoying themselves
They'll name a city after us
Our legacy will be so great that a city will be named after us
And later say it's all our fault
As with all great things there may be some negative consequences that are placed on our legacy
Then they'll give us a talking to
We will be criticized for the negative consequences of our legacy
Then they'll give us a talking to
We will be criticized for the negative consequences of our legacy
'Cause they've got years of experience
The people who criticize us have more experience and knowledge
We're living in a den of thieves
Our world is full of deceit and dishonesty
Rummaging for answers in the pages
We are searching for truth among the lies and deception
And it's contagious
The dishonesty is spreading and influencing others
And it's contagious
The dishonesty is spreading and influencing others
And it's contagious
The dishonesty is spreading and influencing others
And it's contagious
The dishonesty is spreading and influencing others
We wear our scarves just like a noose
Our clothing represents the suffocating life that we lead
But not 'cause we want eternal sleep
We aren't doing this on purpose, but it is what our reality has led us to
And though our parts are slightly used
We are a work in progress, constantly growing and changing
New ones are slave labor you can keep
The new and perfect alternatives are built using unethical and immoral means and we reject them
The sculptor's mama sends regards
The sculptor's mother acknowledges and respects our relationship and legacy
Our noses have begun to rust
Even the statue that was built to honor us is starting to break down and decay
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Regina Spektor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind