Songs
Genius Next Door
Description
"Genius Next Door" is a song originally composed, performed, recorded, and released by Regina Spektor. The song was first performed live at Sin-é in New York City on 2003-08-19. A demo of the song was recorded at the 2004 studio session on 2004-09-22. "Genius Next Door" would be played periodically between 2003 and 2010, with its release on the LP Far occuring on 2009-06-23. The song would not be played again for thirteen years, where it resurfaced for several shows in 2023.
Music Videos
Live Performances
This song has no known live performances.
Lyrics
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 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 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 to wade midway into that porridge
Just him and the secret he was keeping
If you just 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 donuts, coffee and reporters
The kids were waking up hungover
The neighbors were starting up their cars
The garbageman were emptying the dumpsters
Atheists were praying full of sarcasm
And the genius next door was sleeping
Dreaming that the antidote is orgasm
If you just hold in your breath til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath til you thought it through, you foolish child!
Song Facts
Release Status:
Released
Originally By:
Original
Collaborators:
Solo
Alternate Titles:
N/A
Written:
Unknown
Demo:
First Official Release:
First Live Performance:
Last Live Performance:
Song Stats
First Known Date:
Last Known Date:
Time Between First Known Date and Last Known Date:
Time Between First and Last Performance:
about 19 years and 11 months
# of Appearances on Official Releases:
1
# of Times Performed Live:
27
Themes & References
Trivia
Media Features
There are no known media features associated with this song.