Wow, lots of different opinions on this one- here's my take. [I have no reason to believe that it is Regina's intention, but it makes sense when I hear the words, so take it for what it's worth.]:
I see this song is a critical statement about our Christian society. I think the first couple lines are spoken as if to a child "Open wide here comes original sin." The idea that we are born into sin is a Christian idea that one would expect Regina to object to (the idea that a baby could be guilty of sin, simply by being born). Her lyric makes it sound as if the baby is being spoon-fed this idea of original sin (the sounds she makes, to me, are like the airplane noises you might make when feeding a child from a spoon- 'open wide, here it comes- bbbbrrrrrrr'). The repeated line "It's alright, it's alright, it's alright" also sounds like someone comforting a child.
"No one's got it all" means no one can claim to have all the answers or all the authority to pass judgment or offer salvation.
From here she moves to a wider criticism of a society that espouses Christian values but has trouble living by them. "We don't want power, We want pleasure" (ie. we willfully trade away our autonomy and submit to authoritative institutions) "The TVs try to rape us and I guess that they succeed." (we are violated, spiritually, by the culture that surrounds us and, since we do little to prevent it, they succeed.)
The line "we're going to these meetings but no one's doing any meeting" could be, in my mind, a reference to church services and the disconnection from meaning that many people experience, just going out of habit. "And we try to be faithful but we're cheating..." might not refer to faithfulness in a relationship, but rather to religious faith.
And finally, the closing assertion that "I'm the hero of this story/ don't need to be saved" is a statement of empowerment that rejects the notion that we are born sinners and that we need to be "saved." It's her life, she is the hero of her story.
I don't think that the song is necessarily anti-religion or anti-Christian, I just think that it is critical of one way religion can operate in society. It is a humanist critique of Christianity, and particularly the ideas of original sin and that submission is required before salvation can be granted.
And it is likely all in my head, but I thought I'd share in case someone found it interesting.
however, the line "I'm the hero of this story/ Don't need to be saved" resonated hugely with me, as a humanist/atheist. instead of relying on "God" and religion, we need to see that we are the heroes. when you place more responsibility on yourself and make yourself the sole power in your life (not placing anything "in God's hands"), it's amazing what you can accomplish. it's liberating, really.
however, the line "I'm the hero of this story/ Don't need to be saved" resonated hugely with me, as a humanist/atheist. instead of relying on "God" and religion, we need to see that we are the heroes. when you place more responsibility on yourself and make yourself the sole power in your life (not placing anything "in God's hands"), it's amazing what you can accomplish. it's liberating, really.
Regina might be using that sort of point of view to show how what we're doing right now isn't working government/structure-wise.
She did say that her latest album (Far) was mainly about religion. Although this isn't technically from that album, she said that religion was on her mind a lot when she wrotethe album - I;m guessing she wrote this song around the same time
She did say that her latest album (Far) was mainly about religion. Although this isn't technically from that album, she said that religion was on her mind a lot when she wrotethe album - I;m guessing she wrote this song around the same time
She has been singing this song in live shows since 2004, but in fact many songs included in her lastest album are about the same year (dance anthem of the 80's, folding chair, genius next door, the wallet...) then Musicindeed is guessing right.
She has been singing this song in live shows since 2004, but in fact many songs included in her lastest album are about the same year (dance anthem of the 80's, folding chair, genius next door, the wallet...) then Musicindeed is guessing right.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
@jlawren3 I think you're almost right, but in my opinion the song isn't so much about religion. I think it's about how we train our children into ideologies in general, forcing upon them the original sin of knowledge. As we grow older we give up ourselves to pleasure and the ideas of the masses "Power to the people - We don't want it we want pleasure" "TV's try to rape us and I guess that they're succeeding". Also, I think it's about how people can become very disconnected from each other and be selfish in their own desires "Going to...
@jlawren3 I think you're almost right, but in my opinion the song isn't so much about religion. I think it's about how we train our children into ideologies in general, forcing upon them the original sin of knowledge. As we grow older we give up ourselves to pleasure and the ideas of the masses "Power to the people - We don't want it we want pleasure" "TV's try to rape us and I guess that they're succeeding". Also, I think it's about how people can become very disconnected from each other and be selfish in their own desires "Going to these meetings but we're not doing any meeting" "Tryin' to be faithful but we're cheating". There's a lot more I could say but that's just my two cents on this song.
@jlawren3 wow I really like this! At first I was thinking it was about communism (due to her background) and phrases like 'TVs trying to rape us' I guessed could be talking about the censorship and what not. However I do really like your contrasting take!
@jlawren3 wow I really like this! At first I was thinking it was about communism (due to her background) and phrases like 'TVs trying to rape us' I guessed could be talking about the censorship and what not. However I do really like your contrasting take!
Wow, lots of different opinions on this one- here's my take. [I have no reason to believe that it is Regina's intention, but it makes sense when I hear the words, so take it for what it's worth.]:
I see this song is a critical statement about our Christian society. I think the first couple lines are spoken as if to a child "Open wide here comes original sin." The idea that we are born into sin is a Christian idea that one would expect Regina to object to (the idea that a baby could be guilty of sin, simply by being born). Her lyric makes it sound as if the baby is being spoon-fed this idea of original sin (the sounds she makes, to me, are like the airplane noises you might make when feeding a child from a spoon- 'open wide, here it comes- bbbbrrrrrrr'). The repeated line "It's alright, it's alright, it's alright" also sounds like someone comforting a child.
"No one's got it all" means no one can claim to have all the answers or all the authority to pass judgment or offer salvation.
From here she moves to a wider criticism of a society that espouses Christian values but has trouble living by them. "We don't want power, We want pleasure" (ie. we willfully trade away our autonomy and submit to authoritative institutions) "The TVs try to rape us and I guess that they succeed." (we are violated, spiritually, by the culture that surrounds us and, since we do little to prevent it, they succeed.)
The line "we're going to these meetings but no one's doing any meeting" could be, in my mind, a reference to church services and the disconnection from meaning that many people experience, just going out of habit. "And we try to be faithful but we're cheating..." might not refer to faithfulness in a relationship, but rather to religious faith.
And finally, the closing assertion that "I'm the hero of this story/ don't need to be saved" is a statement of empowerment that rejects the notion that we are born sinners and that we need to be "saved." It's her life, she is the hero of her story.
I don't think that the song is necessarily anti-religion or anti-Christian, I just think that it is critical of one way religion can operate in society. It is a humanist critique of Christianity, and particularly the ideas of original sin and that submission is required before salvation can be granted.
And it is likely all in my head, but I thought I'd share in case someone found it interesting.
wow, you nailed it, in my opinion.
wow, you nailed it, in my opinion.
however, the line "I'm the hero of this story/ Don't need to be saved" resonated hugely with me, as a humanist/atheist. instead of relying on "God" and religion, we need to see that we are the heroes. when you place more responsibility on yourself and make yourself the sole power in your life (not placing anything "in God's hands"), it's amazing what you can accomplish. it's liberating, really.
however, the line "I'm the hero of this story/ Don't need to be saved" resonated hugely with me, as a humanist/atheist. instead of relying on "God" and religion, we need to see that we are the heroes. when you place more responsibility on yourself and make yourself the sole power in your life (not placing anything "in God's hands"), it's amazing what you can accomplish. it's liberating, really.
Regina might be using that sort of point of view to show how what we're doing right now isn't working government/structure-wise.
She did say that her latest album (Far) was mainly about religion. Although this isn't technically from that album, she said that religion was on her mind a lot when she wrotethe album - I;m guessing she wrote this song around the same time
She did say that her latest album (Far) was mainly about religion. Although this isn't technically from that album, she said that religion was on her mind a lot when she wrotethe album - I;m guessing she wrote this song around the same time
She has been singing this song in live shows since 2004, but in fact many songs included in her lastest album are about the same year (dance anthem of the 80's, folding chair, genius next door, the wallet...) then Musicindeed is guessing right.
She has been singing this song in live shows since 2004, but in fact many songs included in her lastest album are about the same year (dance anthem of the 80's, folding chair, genius next door, the wallet...) then Musicindeed is guessing right.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
i completely agree!! I started getting into regina spektor when i was 15, i was raised catholic and was still in youth group at the time and as we studied the bible i realized all the true meanings behind her songs. this was beautifully written i would love to hear some of your interpretations of her other songs.
@jlawren3 I think you're almost right, but in my opinion the song isn't so much about religion. I think it's about how we train our children into ideologies in general, forcing upon them the original sin of knowledge. As we grow older we give up ourselves to pleasure and the ideas of the masses "Power to the people - We don't want it we want pleasure" "TV's try to rape us and I guess that they're succeeding". Also, I think it's about how people can become very disconnected from each other and be selfish in their own desires "Going to...
@jlawren3 I think you're almost right, but in my opinion the song isn't so much about religion. I think it's about how we train our children into ideologies in general, forcing upon them the original sin of knowledge. As we grow older we give up ourselves to pleasure and the ideas of the masses "Power to the people - We don't want it we want pleasure" "TV's try to rape us and I guess that they're succeeding". Also, I think it's about how people can become very disconnected from each other and be selfish in their own desires "Going to these meetings but we're not doing any meeting" "Tryin' to be faithful but we're cheating". There's a lot more I could say but that's just my two cents on this song.
@jlawren3 wow I really like this! At first I was thinking it was about communism (due to her background) and phrases like 'TVs trying to rape us' I guessed could be talking about the censorship and what not. However I do really like your contrasting take!
@jlawren3 wow I really like this! At first I was thinking it was about communism (due to her background) and phrases like 'TVs trying to rape us' I guessed could be talking about the censorship and what not. However I do really like your contrasting take!