Tuesday, November 10, 1970

Genius Next Door

Written by: regina spektor

Available Recordings: Click to view

Lyrics (fan transcription):
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 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 matter

if you just hold in your breath til you come back up in full
hold in your breath til you thought it through, you fool

the genius next door was bussing 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 to wade midway into that porridge
just him and the secret he was keeping

hold in your breath til you come back up in full
hold in your breath til you thought it through, you foolish child

in the morning the film crews start arriving
with coffee, donuts, and reporters
the kids were waking up hungover
the neighbors were starting up their cars
the garbagemen were emptying the dumpsters
atheists were praying full of sarcasm
and the genius next door was sleeping
dreaming that the antidote was orgasm

hold in your breath til you come back up in full
hold in your breath til you thought it through, you foolish child…


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