Genius Next Door

by Regina Spektor

From the album: Far

Track 10 of 13 on Far (2009).

Duration: 5:05

Far cover art

Lyrics for Genius Next Door

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 Till you come back up in full Hold in your breath Till 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 wade midway into that porridge Just him and the secret he was keeping If you just hold in your breath Till you come back up in full Hold in your breath Till you thought it through You foolish child In the morning, the film crews start arriving With doughnuts, coffee, and reporters The kids were waking up hung over 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 orgasm If you just hold in your breath Till you come back up in full Hold in your breath Till you thought it through You foolish child Oh Oh Oh, la, lalalalala Oh Oh Oh, la, lalalalala

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More from Far

  1. The Calculation
  2. Eet
  3. Blue Lips
  4. Folding Chair
  5. Machine
  6. Laughing With
  7. Human of the Year
  8. Two Birds
  9. Dance Anthem of the 80's
  10. Genius Next Door
  11. Wallet
  12. One More Time with Feeling
  13. Man of a Thousand Faces