I’m a big fan of Regina Spektor (see on eBay). Usually I do not pay much attention to the words, mostly I listen to how they sound, but this song (“genius next door” from album “Far“) caught my attention. It was somehow disturbing, very emotional and requiem-like.
In such cases my asylum is SongMeanings. (I would say all Regina’s songs require a proper discussion)
OK, first listen to the song and read the lyrics below:
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 matterIf you just hold in your breath
‘Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
‘Til you thought it through
You foolThe genius next door was busing 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 keepingIf you just hold in your breath
‘Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
‘Til you thought it through
You foolish childOh
OhIn 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 garbage men were emptying the dumpsters
Atheists were praying full of sarcasm
And the genius next door was sleeping
Dreaming that the antidote is orgasmIf you just hold in your breath
‘Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
‘Til you thought it through
You foolish childOh
Oh
It was agreed upon the following: the “genius” died in the lake while practicing underwater autoerotic asphyxiation. The mentioned orgasm did not help against “the porridge” (a referral to sperm and brothers Grimm’s “fable”), he drowned.
Whatever the actual meaning is, please be careful, please no requiem.