Hears the Lyric, Heres the Rhetoric

Samson - Regina Spektor


You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of Wonderbread 
And went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us 
And the Bible didn't mention us
The Bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first , I loved you first
Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But they're just old light
They're just old light
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
Told me I was beautiful and came into my bed
I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors and the yellow light
He told me that I'd done all right
And kissed me until the morning light, the morning light
And he kissed me until the morning light

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
Ate a slice of Wonderbread
And went right back to bed
We couldn't break the columns down
No, we couldn't destroy a single one
And the history books forgot about us
And the Bible didn't mention us
Not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first




Every time I listen to this song the same person comes to mind. When a song is able to bring an image, a face, to the surface of your thoughts you know it is powerful music. Regina, in this song, is practically pouring out love. Every word, every beat speaks it. More so obvious in the lines "I loved you first", however it is also visible in the little things she speaks of. 


This "love" she speaks of is a complex one, despite the simple things that make it what it is. Or was, I should say. I've put it in the past tense now, because the "history books" and "Bible" suggest a sort of past relation. 


The whole first verse is like a summary. "You are my sweetest downfall" says, theres no regret yet definitely disappointment. Suggests mistake and failure, but no unhappiness towards it. "I loved you first", pretty straight forward. A first love, everyone experiences one and one can never forget it. The repetition of the line suggests how it will not be forgotten. "Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth." Shows that perhaps there has not been full honesty, all that is wanted to be said has not been, and fear plays a role in that. It is much easier to write down how you feel than say it out loud. "I have to go, I have to go". Fear, shown plainly here. Black and white. The repetition portrays urgency, as if scared the lover will find out the true feelings, scared the reaction will not be as expected. "Your hair was long when we first met". Shows how long the hidden love had gone on and on, and how the lover has no changed. 


His hair- Regina explains was once long, however he let her cut it off herself. This is highly symbolic, relating to a mans, masculinity or his guard. It shows how she was let in, how she "cut" him up finally, and how that is the one thing she will not forget and will cherish. 


The Wonder bread- the little things, that made all the difference. 


Then, essentially, the first and the last lines of the song, simply speak what she is trying to say to him. 
(I love you, and I always will, but it is the past.)