Regina Spektor has a fantastic voice and musical style, in my opinion. But, unfortunately a lot of her music is not the best(content wise). Josh Harris and his brothers, Alex and Brett, posted about her new single on their blog today. It's very strange to see this song come from a secular artist like her. Not to judge her heart, but I do not believe she is Christian. Josh Harris said:
I listened to Regina Spektor's haunting song "Laughing With" several times today. I don't know Regina's personal religious beliefs, but I think she's written a powerful song. To me the song speaks of the fact that suffering strips away our flippant attitude towards God. We can laugh at God when all is well or when we encounter a caricature of him, but when tragedy strikes we're confronted with the reality that we're helpless. "No one laughs at God in a hospital."
I don't know what I think of this song. I do think it's powerful and Josh Harris's thoughts are interesting. But I'm not sure if I read the song that same way. I do agree with him about how the world reacts to tragedy... though sometimes it seems to be the opposite. Like, it seems like our culture only notices or thinks about God when something bad happens, but when everything is fine and dandy, God never enters their mind. But maybe those thoughts do agree, they just touch different angles of the issue.
I am still perplexed by this song. I haven't decided what I think her purpose is. Does anyone have thoughts to share? Maybe her own song will speak to her? Or maybe God already has and the result is this song? What does she mean in the very last line(we're all laughing with God)? Anyways, here is the video and lyrics:
EDIT: I can't make the embedded video be small enough for my blog, so here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rov3pV9PsRI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2
"Laughing With" Lyrics:
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor
No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke
God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke
God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God
3 comments:
Although this song's writing is awfully awkward, I think it's very well written. Now, does she write her music or does someone else? This could totally have just been the writer's thinking and thought her voice would sound good to it.
I think that this song means that in times of tragedy things seem to change in the way they perhaps see God. They have more respect and therefore, do not use his name in vain, and knows of his righteousness. In times of need we often turn to God. But when we are happy go lucky, we seem to neglect him. When we are happy we think that we don't need him in our lives, and we turn away from him. I think that maybe, in a very complex way, that we need to be connected to god 24/7. Not just in times of tragedy.
Let me know what you think on this.
yeah I've heard that song and read what the Harris bros thin about it...it is certainly confusing. By some of her other lyrics I gather that she is not a Christian. I guess - well idk
I am pretty sure the Regina writes her own music.
Interesting thoughts Abbie!
And yes Matt, some of her lyrics are pretty bad...
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