Sunday Music: Becoming All Alone (Regina Spektor)

I can’t handle the overproduction. Where’s the Rick Rubin Regina Spektor album? I tried to listen to the new album, but I was struggling. I headed to YouTube in search of alternate takes/live versions since the songs seemed good but the presentation was so… “why did you make this choice?” It didn’t take me long to fall in love with these live takes of, “Becoming All Alone.” 

It’s a folk song that takes you to church, but church is a street corner and in one minute god is inviting you to the bar, while the next you’re luring god in for a drink. All because you’re feeling alone, even when you don’t want to, and if you don’t ask god (or anyone) to stay, will they? Might they? Can they? 

Spektor continues to be a fascinating songwriter to me. I can’t be the only one who thinks she’s at her best when it’s her voice, her emotions, and her impeccable piano skills in the rawest format we can get them. 

Here are the lyrics and 2 cuts of the song (a recent performance from Colbert and an older live cut, phone capture from the audience):

I went walking home alonePast all the bars and corner delisWhen I heard God call out my nameAnd he said, “HeyLet’s grab a beerIt’s awful lateWe both right here”And we didn’t even have to pay‘Cause God is GodAnd he’s reveredAnd I said:“Why doesn’t it get better with time?”I’m becoming all alone againStay, stay, stay

Let the ones who want it badGet all the things that make them betterLet the ones who don’t care feel a thrillAnd I just want to rideBut this whole worldIt makes me carsickStop the meter sirYou have a heartWhy don’t you use it?Why doesn’t it get better with time?I’m becoming all alone againStay, stay, stay

I went walking home alonePast all the bars and corner delisWhen I asked GodPlease callCall my nameAnd I said, “HeyLet’s grab a beerIt’s awful lateI know you’re hereAnd we wouldn’t even have to pay‘Cause You are God and You’re revered”Why doesn’t it get better with time?I’m becoming all alone againStay, stay, stayI’m becoming all alone againStay, stay, stayStay, stay, stayStay, stay, stayStay, stay, stay