This artist has repeatedly proven herself to be astonishingly enjoyable, and simultaneously challenging to understand. Her lyrics explore a "private universe" of sorts, much as Björk's do, where a sort of dream-logic prevails. Sometimes it's hard to discern the meaning in such phrases; it's possible that at times there is no meaning, that the words are simply organized for a pleasing confluence of sound or a vague evocative effect. Whatever the rationale behind her unusual lyricism, Spektor's songs are always emotive and startlingly original.

Braille

She was lying on the floor and counting stretch marks 
she hadn't been a virgin and he hadn't been a god 
so she names the baby Elvis 
to make up for the royalty he lacked 

And from then on it was turpentine and patches 
from then on it was cold Campbell's from the can 
They were just two jerks playing with matches 
Cause that's all they knew how to play 

And it was raining cats and dogs out side of her window 
And she knew they were destined to become 
sacred road kill on the way 
And she was listening to the sound of heavens shaking 
thinking about puddles, puddles and mistakes 

And from then on it was turpentine and patches 
from then on it was cold Campbell's from the can 
They were just two jerks playing with matches 
Cause that's all they knew how to play 

Elvis never could carry a tune 
she thought about this irony as she stared back at the moon 
she was tracing the years with her fingers on her skin 
saying why don't I begin again 
with turpentine and patches 
with cold Campbell's from the can 
after all I'm still a jerk playing with matches 
it's just that he's not around to play along 
I'm still an ass hole playing with matches 
Blowing out my wishes blowing out my dreams 
Just sitting here and trying to decipher
what's written in braille upon my skin...
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Ne Me Quitte Pas

Down in Bowery they lose their ballads
and their lipped mouths in the night
And stumbling through the street they say,
Sir do you got a light?
And if you do then you're my friend
And if you don't then you're my foe
And if you are a deity of any sort then please don't go

Ne me quitte pas, mon cher
Ne me quitte pas, ah ah ah
Ne me quitte pas

Down in Lexington they walk in new shoes stuck to aging feet
And close their eyes and open
and recognize the aging street
And think about the things were right
when they were young and veins were tight
And if you are the ghost of Christmas past
then won't you stay the night

Ne me quitte pas, mon cher
Ne me quitte pas, ah ah ah
Ne me quitte pas

Down in Bronxy Bronx the kids go sledding
down snow covered slopes and
frozen noses, frozen toes
The frozen city starts to glow
And yes they know it will pass
And yes they know New York will thaw
But if you are a friend of any sort
Then play along and catch a cold

Ne me quitte pas, mon cher
Ne me quitte pas, ah ah ah
Ne me quitte pas

I love Paris in the rain, I love Paris in the rain
I love, I love, I love in the rain...

Down in Paris they walk fast
That is unless they're walking slow
And in cafes they look away
that is unless they look right in
And in the gardens I'm getting lost
that is unless I'm getting found
And if you are the ghost of New York City
then won't you stick around

Ne me quitte pas, mon cher
Ne me quitte pas, ah ah ah
Ne me quitte pas


I love Paris in the rain, I love Paris in the rain
I love, I love, I love, in the rain
I love Paris in the rain, I love Paris in the rain
I love, I love, I love, in the rain
And I love, I love, I love, in the rain...
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Samson

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of wonderbread
and went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us
and the bible didn't mention us
The Bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But there just soft light
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
He told me I was beautiful and came into my bed
Oh I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors in the yellow light
He told me that I'd done alright
and kissed me till the morning light,
the morning light
and he kissed me till the morning light

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first
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Us

They made a statue of us
and put it on a mountaintop
Now tourists come and stare at us
Blow bubbles with their gum, take photgraphs 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
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

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

They made a statue of us
They made a statue of us
The tourists come and stare and us
The sculptor's momma 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
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E-mail: vokuro@adelphia.net
Last Modified: 2005/06/27