Regina Spektor - Genius Next Door (4-11-2006)

Regina Spektor singing a live versions of "Genius Next Door", another amazing song of hers.

You can also hear this song in its long-awaited studio recorded version on Regina's new album, "Far": http://www.amazon.com/Far-Regina-Spektor/dp/B00204AA0O

--
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 jokingly nicknamed it the porridge
'Cause overnight 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 thought it through
You fool

The genius next door was bussing tables
Wiping clean the ketchup 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 everyone was sleeping
And wade midway into that porridge
Just him and the secret he was keeping

You just hold in your breath
Till you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
Till 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 hungover
The neighbors were starting up their cars
The garbagemen were emptying the dumpsters
Atheists were praying full of sarcasm
And the genius next door was sleeping
Dreaming that the antidote is orgasm

Just hold in your breath
Till you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
Till you thought it through
You foolish child
Oh
Oh
Oh, la, lalalalala
Oh
Oh
Oh, la, lalalalala

Category:

Music

Tags:

• regina
• spektor
• genius
• next
• door

[lessandri]

I love this music...but...maybe I'm just not very bright...I think I don't get the true meaning of the music, could someone splain it to me?

[slicknick1986]

Don't think you aren't bright -- You're entitled to your own interpretation as much as anyone.

The meaning of this song? Like any good narrative I think it can have a ton of meanings, depending on who you are, your own life experiences, and how you look at things.

Genius Next Door is particularly haunting and beautiful I think...but I still haven't picked out an explicit meaning of it to me yet.

[outerlimits007]

regina favourited this!

[slicknick1986]

Hah, she did! I can't wait to finally hear the album version of this.

[lollypetal]

Hey anyone know what album this is off? I can't find it anywhere! I looked for it on b-sides as well but couldn't find it there either.

Please help! It's driving me mad!

[slicknick1986]

This song is currently not on any album. I'm hoping it appears on her next one!

[InterplanetJanet77]

I really like that you put the lyrics with the songs. Thanks. and thanks Regina, too.

[raspar6]

I think the song is about life and confusion.

[MrSchivy]

@outerlimits007 O: how do u know??? Do u have her youtube account??

[maugecitaa]

one of my favourite! just amazing. Can't believe I just saw her live 10 days ago!

[julieannlevine]

@lessandri Oh hun, I am sure you are bright:) bright people ask questions:) I think this song is about a thing the local kids were doing. Kind of along the same lines, as almost hanging yourself, while masterbating, for an intense O. but, the genius did not come up intime, and died:( very sad, and very real.

Understandable though, because an intence O can release much emotion and stress. People just need to learn more about the G spot and prostat massage:)

[Kurisuchina23]

Her voice makes you relax, she's so unique... I would like to be able to sing like her, she's amazing!

[nagzul]

its about a lake where people hold their breath until they release, orgasm, then come back up. Genius tries, and dies.

Yes this is something that really happens in reale life. My thoughts is that this may be something that happened where she was growing up.

[Riccarrrdo]

one of the reasons i can't stand the new album.

[arcadefire4life]

This song has grown on me over the past month. I find it to be so beautiful now...

[Anzalone666]

First time I heard it I thought of suicide too. Drowning to be paticular "hold in your breath, til you thought in though you foolish child" Is what does it for me. Very sad song.