Each of us has a list of songs that we like. Some people are fine with looking at a lot of music not on this list, and so the list grows very quickly. Listening to the music of someone else can be uncomfortable for those set in their musical listening ways, but there is something about listening to new music that allows you to rethink ideas or even discover new ideas. While I was listening to a friend's music I found "Folding Chair," by Regina Spektor. I thought there was another meaning under the trivial images of this song, so I decided to annotate it below (my thoughts are found in italics). I do not think that this is in anyway what Regina meant, but it seems to work and it makes the song important to me.
Come and open up your folding chair next to me
My feet are buried in the sand and there’s a breeze
There’s a shadow, you can’t see my eyes
And the sea is just a wetter version of the skies
I feel like I cannot move from where I am. Nothing sturdy is holding me in place, but you still must come to me as I do not want to test my ability to move towards you. So, please come and be beside me. You do not know me as there is a barrier preventing you from seeing who I am. It is okay, though because I am just an exaggerated version of you.
Let’s get a silver bullet trailer and have a baby boy
I’ll safety-pin his clothes all cool and you’ll grafitti up his toys
I’ve got a perfect body, though sometimes I forget
I’ve got a perfect body cause my eyelashes catch my sweat
Yes, they do, they do…
We can fall in love. Things may be hard, but we will make it. We will have fun and our baby will be loved. I forget how well this world works. After all, we have eyebrows so that our sweat does not burn our eyes. This is why it will be okay.
Now i’ve been sitting on this abandoned beach for years
Waiting for the salty water to cover up my ears
But every time the tide come in to take me home
I get scared, and I’m sitting here alone
Dreaming of the dolphin song…
I have been here, alone; perhaps waiting for you. I wanted to go swimming instead of waiting; I fell in love with God. Now I cannot hear anything except that call. You took to long and now I just want to be with Him. I have sat here so long with no other person. I have sat here talking to God.
Maybe one day you will understand
I don’t want nothing from you but to sweetly hold your hand
Till that day just please don’t be so down
Don’t make frowns, you silly clown
We are together, but my heart is with God. You do not understand, but my hope is you will. Just bear with me for there is nothing bad. Do not be upset for you are not losing me.
Just come and open up your folding chair next to me
My feet are buried in the sand and there’s a breeze
There’s a shadow, you can’t see my eyes
And the waves are just a frothier version of the skies
Just come, please sit with me. I cannot move, for God refreshes me as the cool sand, insulating my toes from the burning sun. You do not understand my connection to God. My ideas are just a little different from yours.
There’s a shadow, you can’t see my eyes…
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