::the open end::

This video is the first from Regina Spektor’s brand new album, “Far”, which will be released tomorrow.  The album can already be heard in its entirety, thanks to the Exclusive First Listen on NPR.  The artist collaborated with 4 very different producers and incorporated many more instruments on this one, and it’s sure to please.  While the first song seems a bit simple and popish, the album progresses to the beautiful “Blue Lips” and closes with the (familiar) “Man of a Thousand Faces.”  I’ll be waiting to see the tour lineup, but for now, this video will tide me over.  Bonus: it’s done a la Magritte. Enjoy!

Regina Spektor

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 real late, 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 they’re mistaken.

No one laughs at god when the cops knock on their door and they say “We got some bad news, sir.”
No one’s laughing at god when there’s a famine, fire, or flood.

But god could be funny…
at a cocktail party while listening to a good god-themed joke,
or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head,
you’d think they’re about to choke.

God could 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 & Santa Claus.
God could be so hilarious. Haha. Hehe.

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’ve 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 could be funny…
at a cocktail party while listening to a good god-themed joke,
or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head,
you’d think they’re about to choke.

God could 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 & Santa Claus.
God could 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.

Related TOE posts:

• Rejazz – Regina Spektor
• Apres Moi – Regina Spektor [Lollapalooza 2007]
• Regina Spektor – The Call
• Dizzy – Tommy Roe
• She’s Not There – The Zombies