Lyrics for Us as interpreted by TheBeff

Us Lyrics
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 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
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 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
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

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  • 103 Comments
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xImmune2Gravityx
02-08-2005

Rated 0 
It was great when Ragina opened for the Dresden Dolls

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americanmusic
02-15-2005

Rated 0 
I just read about that in their journal thing.

I'm jealous.

Apparently they had a REALLY good time; hopefully they'll tour together again?

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rustytheskatemaker
02-18-2005

Rated 0 
in my opinion, regina spektor doesn't have as much fame as the dresden dolls and her music is far and from them. The dresden doll's music isn't half bad...it's their [and everyone elses] cockiness about it that gets in the way.

but anyways, back to the song,
this song and video is so beautiful. It's one of her best on the new c.d. I can't wait for the dvd!

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1 Reply
anna118k
02-18-2005

Rated +1 
beautiful song. I love the whole concept of the world edifying love by making a statue. what the speaker and her significant other had was so awesome and profound that they immortalized it. It's also great that the love is contagious and catching. They're going to spread it throughout and get "blamed for it." Though the line with "den of thieves" makes it sound like the love is being stolen, i prefer not to think of it that way. Love can't be stolen. :) it grows and is spread to others.

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2 Replies
ivegotatimebomb
03-11-2005

Rated 0 
I never thought of it the way anna put it...that's lovely...

For some reason, I thought of the statue of liberty. And the line about blaming was about immigrants coming in and then later Americans blame them for all our problems. Whatever it's about, it's beautiful.

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drfunk
03-15-2005

Rated 0 
this song caught me off gaurd! I heard her on late night television and have spent days listening to all of her music. She is playing in my area on mid april and I cannot wait to see her. She is beautiful!

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NCguard63
03-23-2005

Rated 0 
I keep seeing this video on VH1, and I was under the impression that it was about some kind of \"Soviet Kirsch\" in WWII (hense the maps,and pictures). Can anyone give me a hand here?

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adamanteve
03-26-2005

Rated 0 
I saw her on Conan and fell in love.. this song is so beautiful. I find her different from many other gals with pianos that are popular today (well at least the two most obvious, Alicia Keys and Vanessa Carlton).. Soviet Kitsch. This is such a beautiful and lovely song. I think Anna has a really nice explanation for it :)
Also that red piano she had on Conan was awesome.

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ultimatesparanza
04-13-2005

Rated 0 
Which regina spektor/dresden dolls show were you at? I saw them at lupos in RI. It was amazing..they are both such original and energetic musicians....

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xImmune2Gravityx
05-01-2005

Rated 0 
TLA in Philly

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Nosdravde
05-06-2005

Rated 0 
I love this song!

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wrat
05-07-2005

Rated +2 
The clue is the lyric "rummaging for answers in the pages" and the excerpt "Den of thieves" which references the gospel of Mark 11:17.

"And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."

This is about how the original message of religious prophets ("us") has become so corrupted and coopted by "them" that it has become a "contagious" virus and when it comes to reinterpreting scripture to justify actions in our name, "we" (the original prophets) want no part of it ("new ones are slave labor you can keep").

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1 Reply
tasteslikeG0LD
05-20-2005

Rated 0 
what a great song. i freakin love ms. spektor.

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shortidiva19
05-20-2005

Rated 0 
It's basically about everyone looking for answers to the same questions, how we all commit the same crimes which make us famous.....Like healers who have healed or done something wonderful to the world and getting their names pressed to dirt, and so the world blames all their problems on those healers, miracle workers, and innocents. (isn't true, they name places after battles and streets after outlaws/outlawed acts sometimes???) And it's addicting to submit to the world's beliefs...

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joemomma
06-27-2005

Rated 0 
I thought it was meant to be historical, like the way Soviets treated Lenin and Engles, how Russia became, well, den of thieves, and how capitalist countries always looked down on the communist enthusiasts, and that they knew the experiment would fail. and yes, lenin did wear his scarf like a noose.

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joemomma
07-03-2005

Rated -2 
Yes, wrat. I'm sure the Jewish Regina was looking through the GOSPEL of Mark for inspiration. Don't you just love Americans?

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3 Replies
SoakedinMercury
07-17-2005

Rated +1 
Does it matter what religion one is to write a song? No, it doesn't. I've written many times about God-- when I don't even believe in him.

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silentsailor
11-11-2005

Rated 0 
For some reason - especially with the video - this reminds me of the Curies.

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ilikestuffandyou
12-13-2005

Rated -1 
uhhh......duhhhhhh.......she was referencing the Quran, which says "And ye, who resides in a Thief Den, shall be found contageous, and lo, exocuted. Alas, a statue of us shall be built, and may many cities be named after ye. Praise be to allah!"

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1 Reply
amongthetrees
12-13-2005

Rated 0 
I love the way her voice can sound really harsh
but then become really soft and gentle
brilliance.

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wrat
01-07-2006

Rated 0 
It doesn't matter what Regina's religion is. She still could be writing about the den of thieves purporting to be Christians governing the country she now lives in.

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pychobj2001
01-12-2006

Rated +1 
well....when i first heard this song i didn't know what it was about, and i like to imagine what it could be about...if i wrote it...and this one just makes feel like the youth of a generation is saying that the older generation is building us up like we are the future of america will be great but when it doesn't go they wanted it, the older generation blames the younger generation for everything wrong about the world. or the other way i saw it was, we have this statue of blackhawk the indian by my hometown rockford, and i always picture ppl going by blowing bubble....they "early americans" respected the indians..but stole from them "living in a den of thieves" blamed the indians for things and "it's contagious" means it still goes on today...we are doing thing like that all over again. "we search for answers of how to fix it "rumaging for answers in the pages" (of history). but that's just me

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tigersroamfree
01-22-2006

Rated 0 
she's an amazing poet... my favourite bit is the noses rusting! which kind of reminds me of that saying 'cut off your nose to spite your face'

it's about striving for a dream and how we as people in our naughty world want truth?

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Fluffaducks
02-01-2006

Rated 0 
i love these kinda lyrics, when they mean a lot but can so many different points of view. i think regina spektor is basically......talent

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LeslieAnnLevine
02-06-2006

Rated 0 
"we wear our scarves, but not because we want eternal sleep." Somehow she always plays with these suicidal images (carbon monoxide I am thinking of mainly), and yet fills her music so full of life. I would have to agree, she is a talent unlike any other female vocalist today. She has a slightly Mirah feel, and every once and a while reminds me of Nellie McKay, but mostly it's completely unique. Love it, especially this song.

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