Regina Spektor - Genius Next Door

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Published by BehindThisMusic at 02/15/2010 08:22 Like

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Genius Next Door
Artist: Regina Spektor
Album: Far

Lyrics

Some said the local lake had been enchanted
Others said it must have been the weather
The neighbors were trying to keep it quiet
But I swear that I could hear the laughter
So they joke, and they nicknamed it "the porridge"
Cause over night that lake had turned as thick as butter

But the local kids would still go swimming, drinking
Saying that to them it doesn't matter

If you just hold in your breath
'Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
'Til you've thought it through
You fool

The genius next door was bussing tables
Wiping clean the keptchup bottle labels
Getting high and mumbling German fables
Didn't care as long as he was able
To strip his clothes off by the dumpsters
At night while every one was sleeping
And wade midway into that porridge
Just him and the secret he was keeping

If you just hold in your breath
'Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
'Til you thought it through
You foolish child

In the morning the film crews start arriving
With donuts, coffee and reporters
The kids were waking up, hung over
The neighbors were starting up their cars
The garbageman were emptying the dumpsters
Atheists were praying full of sarcasm
And the genius next door was sleeping
Dreaming that the antidote is orgasm

If you just hold in your breath
'Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
'Til you thought it through
You foolish child

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Latest comments

Matt Pimley, at 05/17/2013 01:40, says:
Apparently you DO think it's fun to argue on Youtube...
ilikematches2, at 05/16/2013 04:05, says:
Let the kids play Tom, It's a Saturday and they ate all their vegetables.
Matt Pimley, at 05/16/2013 01:07, says:
Well alrighty then?
ilikematches2, at 05/15/2013 20:03, says:
it's fun
Matt Pimley, at 05/15/2013 03:17, says:
Yeah but why do people have to argue about it?
Vanni Estrada, at 05/14/2013 00:13, says:
Xx
bedsidetrash, at 05/12/2013 04:35, says:
There's nothing wrong with people trying to figure out what the song means by analyzing the lyrics. ANd some interpretations are more insightful than others.
Applefrost64, at 05/10/2013 23:06, says:
yeah i am pretty sure that's right.
TheOddSavants, at 05/03/2013 13:41, says:
This is music.
nathan110063, at 04/26/2013 18:55, says:
this song has such depth its scary.
Matt Pimley, at 04/23/2013 02:02, says:
Maybe you all should stop trying to figure out what it means and just enjoy the song. Art is interpreted different to every person, no one theory is right or wrong.
SourBitters, at 04/08/2013 13:04, says:
--(Part 2) Having a song about a smart kid that does dumb things to unwind and take his mind off his dumb job isn't "perversion" it's beautiful. He was a genius, not one ever recognized his genius and he died looking like a fool to the entire town who just found a naked drowned kid in the lake. So even after his death he was never recognized. Everyone understands that the word orgasm is used metaphorically. We didn't hear the word "orgasm" and go, "OH DIS SONG BOUT SEX"
SourBitters, at 04/08/2013 13:23, says:
Your interpenetration is very original and I like it a lot! My only problem is that you seem to think it's insulting to have a song about asphyxiation because thats "pervy and weird" --though I think your pollution theory explains the lake it sort of ignore all the characterization given to the genius which is his apathy not activism; and the extend the song goes to to show that he is a smart kid working a meaningless job it also makes it seem like he goes to the lake often to unwind.
Michael Vincent, at 04/05/2013 16:59, says:
(Part 2) The ORGASM, Pervs, was the euphoric feeling of knowing that his genius was not going to waste. By becoming a martyr (killing himself) he would give attention to the pollution problem. The laughing of the neighbors could possibly mean they knew there was a problem, but they were profiting from it in some way (i.e a factory) so they looked the other way.
Michael Vincent, at 04/05/2013 16:41, says:
(Part 1) I've never seen this many people turn a great song into a giant perversion! The song is about a polluted lake. The teenagers would stupidly challenge each other, while drunk, to stay under the water as long as possible without drinking it, which explains the chorus. The genius was an outcast but knew the water was dangerous. Leaving his clothes at the dumpster showed he wasn't coming back. He killed himself which brought in the news crews so that the secret would be revealed.
Tony Cruise, at 04/04/2013 21:56, says:
i think its about a genius who wants to fit in with the other kids, and i think the lake is a metaphor because lakes dont go anywhere. so while all the other kids are having sex, and masturbating, and stuff he thinks thats whats gonna make him happy. cus he was trying to fit in with the crowd. and the only way he can let go of this energy is to masturbate or get high because his life is not as exciting as it should be
Tony Cruise, at 04/04/2013 21:37, says:
try listening to hero or samson i love those 2
Tony Cruise, at 04/04/2013 21:44, says:
thats how i feel everyday of my life almost
burnsbeachphysio, at 03/29/2013 17:48, says:
" you foolish child."
Rachel6316, at 03/27/2013 19:31, says:
Retiens ton souffle..........