DROWNING
"dreaming that the antidote is orgasm" - many believe that when a person drowns, they experience a euphoric sensation at the moment of death, comparable to an intense orgasm.
I believe maybe the lake had a reputation- the teenagers would go there to party, and dare eachother to hold their breath a long time underwater, hoping to achieve the fabled orgasm while still surviving to tell about it. Instead, many drowned- but this did not keep the kids from going back. They were foolish. Perhaps they joked that those young men who died had ejaculated in those waters... inspiring the humor in the consistency of the lake itself. The townspeople obviously did not find it appropriate to talk about what went down at the lake.
"The neighbours 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"
now the geek "genius" thought he'd try the theory out himself, without anyone knowing- he thought he was smarter than the drunk boys and would be sober enough to save himself, but he drowned alone in the lake, still hoping to acheive his orgasm, not realizing that there was no "antidote" to save him from death.
I agree with the auto-erotic asphyxiation interpretation. “If you just hold in your breath till you come…” is sung orgasmically and would suggest as much.
I agree with the auto-erotic asphyxiation interpretation. “If you just hold in your breath till you come…” is sung orgasmically and would suggest as much.
This song is about masturbation as an accepted antidote for youthful boredom. The adults (neighbours, others and locals) don’t want to talk about “the porridge” and the kids are also dismissive “saying to them it doesn’t matter”. The genius next door verse expands on this; his dismally drab job didn’t matter “as long as he was able to strip his clothes off… at night… just him and the secret he was keeping”.
I think the genius is one of the local kids, not an older man as some here have suggested. He busses tables and gets high, he’s probably just come back from a gap year around Europe (mumbling German fables whilst high).
The suicide/death concept which many people on here seem to have commented on doesn’t fit in here, for me. I recognise the suffocation theme but I don’t get the notion of a literal death. Note the French phrase “La petite mort” or “the little death”, an idiom for orgasm, pertaining to the breathless post-climatic exhaustion.
Perhaps the little town where these kids live is suffocating them; bussing tables is very boring. The stagnant atmosphere could be responsible for suicide, but more likely for a littler death. The song suggests that swimming in a lake of “porridge” is a foolish pursuit and the young people are wasting their lives. Think of the way genius is used sarcastically; these young people should be pursuing wisdom.
Whatever reason the cameras and reporters turn up (perhaps a metaphor for “the morning after” questioning that the kids will face as they wake up), it seems the situation is unlikely to change. Talking about it won’t stop it from happening.
There seems to be no effort to clear up the mess; garbagemen clean the dumpsters, but this is a cycle of dirty and clean. The prayers (think of a “God help us!” sort of parental exclamation) are both cynical and sarcastic. The neighbours (representing parents) start up their cars — they’re running away from the town and it’s issues.
The genius is still sleeping and therefore not becoming any wiser. His dreams (not just night time images but also his aspirations for the future) are for more orgasms.
The cycle continues, but it’s not as bleak as it sounds. Kids wont make porridge of their lives forever; they will eventually realise the dangers of living for pleasure and the stifling result.
Porridge is a fairly fast perishing food, it wont be left to stagnate in a skanky lake forever.
Well, at least, I understand now why I cry when I listen to this song!
Very good job, this interpretation is clear and right, I can only agree with you.
Well, at least, I understand now why I cry when I listen to this song!
Very good job, this interpretation is clear and right, I can only agree with you.
@juliaspaperbags the secret he was keeping is that he was going to commit suicide that night in the lake. Regina Spektor would not write a song about masturbation. The orgasm reference is a metaphor. Imagine the tough life she’s lived, the cops and reporters are there the next morning because there is a dead boy in the lake. And then life goes on as usual. No one gave a shit about the kid. Really sad song.
@juliaspaperbags the secret he was keeping is that he was going to commit suicide that night in the lake. Regina Spektor would not write a song about masturbation. The orgasm reference is a metaphor. Imagine the tough life she’s lived, the cops and reporters are there the next morning because there is a dead boy in the lake. And then life goes on as usual. No one gave a shit about the kid. Really sad song.
DROWNING "dreaming that the antidote is orgasm" - many believe that when a person drowns, they experience a euphoric sensation at the moment of death, comparable to an intense orgasm.
I believe maybe the lake had a reputation- the teenagers would go there to party, and dare eachother to hold their breath a long time underwater, hoping to achieve the fabled orgasm while still surviving to tell about it. Instead, many drowned- but this did not keep the kids from going back. They were foolish. Perhaps they joked that those young men who died had ejaculated in those waters... inspiring the humor in the consistency of the lake itself. The townspeople obviously did not find it appropriate to talk about what went down at the lake. "The neighbours 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"
now the geek "genius" thought he'd try the theory out himself, without anyone knowing- he thought he was smarter than the drunk boys and would be sober enough to save himself, but he drowned alone in the lake, still hoping to acheive his orgasm, not realizing that there was no "antidote" to save him from death.
that has got to be the most amazing interpretation ever...I LOVE IT!! great job!
that has got to be the most amazing interpretation ever...I LOVE IT!! great job!
Wow.. I agree, this is the most believable interpretation that i've read so far. Nice Job! :)
Wow.. I agree, this is the most believable interpretation that i've read so far. Nice Job! :)
I definitely agree with this interpretation!! Nicely done :)
I definitely agree with this interpretation!! Nicely done :)
I like this interpretation. Although it makes me cringe a little bit... gaaah. I would not swim in this porridge...
I like this interpretation. Although it makes me cringe a little bit... gaaah. I would not swim in this porridge...
I agree with the auto-erotic asphyxiation interpretation. “If you just hold in your breath till you come…” is sung orgasmically and would suggest as much.
I agree with the auto-erotic asphyxiation interpretation. “If you just hold in your breath till you come…” is sung orgasmically and would suggest as much.
This song is about masturbation as an accepted antidote for youthful boredom. The adults (neighbours, others and locals) don’t want to talk about “the porridge” and the kids are also dismissive “saying to them it doesn’t matter”. The genius next door verse expands on this; his dismally drab job didn’t matter “as long as he was able to strip his clothes off… at night… just him and the secret he was keeping”.
I think the genius is one of the local kids, not an older man as some here have suggested. He busses tables and gets high, he’s probably just come back from a gap year around Europe (mumbling German fables whilst high).
The suicide/death concept which many people on here seem to have commented on doesn’t fit in here, for me. I recognise the suffocation theme but I don’t get the notion of a literal death. Note the French phrase “La petite mort” or “the little death”, an idiom for orgasm, pertaining to the breathless post-climatic exhaustion.
Perhaps the little town where these kids live is suffocating them; bussing tables is very boring. The stagnant atmosphere could be responsible for suicide, but more likely for a littler death. The song suggests that swimming in a lake of “porridge” is a foolish pursuit and the young people are wasting their lives. Think of the way genius is used sarcastically; these young people should be pursuing wisdom.
Whatever reason the cameras and reporters turn up (perhaps a metaphor for “the morning after” questioning that the kids will face as they wake up), it seems the situation is unlikely to change. Talking about it won’t stop it from happening.
There seems to be no effort to clear up the mess; garbagemen clean the dumpsters, but this is a cycle of dirty and clean. The prayers (think of a “God help us!” sort of parental exclamation) are both cynical and sarcastic. The neighbours (representing parents) start up their cars — they’re running away from the town and it’s issues.
The genius is still sleeping and therefore not becoming any wiser. His dreams (not just night time images but also his aspirations for the future) are for more orgasms. The cycle continues, but it’s not as bleak as it sounds. Kids wont make porridge of their lives forever; they will eventually realise the dangers of living for pleasure and the stifling result.
Porridge is a fairly fast perishing food, it wont be left to stagnate in a skanky lake forever.
Well, at least, I understand now why I cry when I listen to this song! Very good job, this interpretation is clear and right, I can only agree with you.
Well, at least, I understand now why I cry when I listen to this song! Very good job, this interpretation is clear and right, I can only agree with you.
@juliaspaperbags the secret he was keeping is that he was going to commit suicide that night in the lake. Regina Spektor would not write a song about masturbation. The orgasm reference is a metaphor. Imagine the tough life she’s lived, the cops and reporters are there the next morning because there is a dead boy in the lake. And then life goes on as usual. No one gave a shit about the kid. Really sad song.
@juliaspaperbags the secret he was keeping is that he was going to commit suicide that night in the lake. Regina Spektor would not write a song about masturbation. The orgasm reference is a metaphor. Imagine the tough life she’s lived, the cops and reporters are there the next morning because there is a dead boy in the lake. And then life goes on as usual. No one gave a shit about the kid. Really sad song.