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.
You
Regina Spektor Lyrics
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Trap, trap, trap 'til the cage is full
The cage is full
Stay awake
In the dark, count mistakes
The light was off but now it's on
Searching underground for a bit of sun
And everyone is waiting, waiting on you
And you've got time
And you've got time
Think of all the roads
Think of all their crossings
Taking steps is easy
Standing still is hard
Remember all their faces
Remember all their voices
Everything is different
The second time around
The animals, the animals
Trap, trap, trap 'til the cage is full
The cage is full
Stay awake
In the dark, count mistakes
The light was off but now it's on
Searching underground for a bit of sun
The sun is out, the day is new
And everyone is waiting, waiting on you
And you've got time
And you've got time
And you've got time
The lyrics to Regina Spektor's song "You" are somewhat cryptic, leaving it up to interpretation exactly what she's trying to say. The opening verse sets the scene, describing a "bright, sweet, and hot summer day." The singer's father loved that day in particular, though we don't know why. As the singer walks to the grocery store, a child winds up her fire engine toy. The following verse speaks to people passing her by while she's walking. They smile as they pass and seem to have a sense of familiarity - they've "been there before." The chorus repeats the phrase "love, love, love" and calls the idea of love a "whore." The singer sings about abusing and mistreating love, but in the end, it continues to come back for more.
As the song progresses, Spektor brings back the imagery of the hot summer day and the father who loved it. The child winding up the toy is mentioned again, but this time the song takes a more abstract and metaphorical turn. The idea of abusing and mistreating love persists, as does the imagery of kissing hard on the mouth.
The ambiguous imagery in this song leaves it open to interpretation. However, it seems to suggest that the singer has had negative experiences with love, but despite this, it continues to come back. Ultimately, it seems to suggest that love is something that can take a beating but will always bounce back.
Line by Line Meaning
Was a bright, sweet, and hot summer day
It was a beautiful and warm summer day.
That Daddy loved a little more
Her father had particular affection for that day.
Some little kid wound up my fire engine toy
A child wound up her toy as she walked to the store.
As I walked to the grocery store
She walked to the store.
All the people think I'm going too slow
Others perceive her as moving too slowly.
And they smiled at me as they passed
They smiled as they moved past her.
They've been there before
They have experienced something similar.
And they've come back again
They return to the same situation.
And they were going right back for more
They intend to continue with the same behavior.
Love, love, love
The repetition of love suggests its importance.
You're a whore, you're a whore
Love is compared to a 'whore' - someone who trades intimacy for payment.
Cause we beat you and mistreat you
People often mistreat or neglect love.
But time after time
Despite this, love is persistent.
He kisses back, kisses hard on the mouth
In return, the singer receives passionate, loving kisses.
It takes some talent, kisses hard on the mouth
She recognizes that her partner is especially skilled at kissing.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
This could be interpreted as joyful affirmative.
Couldn't see your face
She cannot see her lover's face.
Couldn't taste your kiss
She cannot experience her partner's kiss.
Couldn't sleep in your embrace
She cannot fall asleep while in her lover's embrace.
While you danced all down the drain
Her lover is metaphorically dancing or enjoying themselves while she misses their presence.
Cause we bruised you and abused you
Love is commonly mistreated and hurt.
But time after time
Despite this, love endures.
He kisses back, kisses hard on the mouth
Her lover responds with passionate and loving kisses.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Similar to the earlier usage, this could be interpreted as joyful affirmative.
Cause we cheat you and mistreat you
Love is further mistreated with deception and betrayal.
And beat you and bruise you
Love experiences physical harm.
And use you and abuse you
Love is used for personal gain and mistreated.
And cruise you and lose you
Love can be lost or wasted.
He kisses back until you're better
Despite the mistreatment, the artist's lover is comforting and loving.
Kisses
The repetition of kisses emphasizes the importance of the physical act.
Hard
The emphasis on the word 'hard' suggests passionate and strong intensity.
On the mouth
The kisses are focused on the lips.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Regina Spektor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous Anonymous
such a good recording. Wish she'd do a studio version
Emmanuel Mota
x2
expressrobkill
if Regina Spektor does have any bad songs she doesn't release them, she must really think about every song so hard before playing live because her songs are all so fantastic and unique, you really don't get that with other artists where every song is fantastic and thought through. Im not saying every song is the best song ever but that they are unpredictable and surprising and really nice to listen to and quite alot of them are.
Annie McMahon
i love this so much i can hardly describe it in words....
jackie123
this is one of my favourites :)
Patricia Lousinha
Love this song!
Mauricio Barbieri Figueroa
I WANT THE SHEET MUSIC OF THIS SONG SO BAD!!! CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE :(
lunakarkadam
Being a fresh Regina Spektor fan, I have to say that this is the most beautiful song about not losing hope in love. XD
Florence Q.
Such a beautiful song. She should make a new cd and have this song in it! Indeed, Regina Spektor=LOVE. "Cause it will haunt your empty heart forever, Till your body turns to dust" That line is amazing,
LinNeTule
Thanks for choosing this one to put up x3 In the other ones she doesn't add the extra "ou-ou-ous" after the vocalized 'you' and her experimentation with it for this performance just makes it so much prettier :o