Regina Spektor: Us Meaning

Song Released: 2006

Us Lyrics

They made a statue of us
And it put it on a mountaintop
Now tourists come and stare at us
Blow bubbles with their gum
Take photographs have fun, have fun

They'll name a city after us
And later say it's all our fault
Then they'll give us...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Nov 5th 2012 !⃝

   Regina Spektor grew up in Soviet Russia and this song is about Soviet Russia and its downfall. "They built a statue of us" refers to the statues built of Stalin and Lenin and how rediculous it is that these have become tourist attractions when they were built as a symbol of communism. "They named a city after us" refers to Stalingrad and Leningrad.
   
   "And later say it's all our fault" is about how people blame Stalin and Lenin for all the bad things they did but don't take into account any of the good things they did. Many people preferred living in communist Russia to living in Russia after the Soviet union broke down.
   
   "We're living in a den of theives" talks about capitalism and how it's contagious - so not necessarily better than communism.
   
   "We wear our scarves just like a noose" paints the picture of the people living in Soviet Russia who can see the good parts of communism but also the bad. They go along with it, but are aware that they could be forming their own noose.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   kicker1388

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   Sep 7th 2010 !⃝

   This song is about the relationship between adults and their kids. The first part talks about how parents place their kids on a pedestal and are so proud of what they've made; they take pictures of them growing up and they're having a great time. "They'll name a city after us", simply put they give us a name.
   After awhile, these kids grow up and start making poor decisions, just as we all do as we grow up. The parents aren't as proud anymore of their kids and start telling them what they've done wrong "because they have years of experience". I see this line as being slightly sarcastic.
   The chorus is rather dark, saying that we grow up in a somewhat dog-eat-dog environment and that we must resort to books and such in order to gain the truth.
   This entire cycle can be called contagious because it goes on every generation of mankind.
3. anonymous

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   Feb 6th 2013 !⃝

   I totally agree with the last interpretation. It talks about our world today, comunism and capitalism. Sorry for those who pictured it as a love song... Regina often goes further than that. Thanks Regina!
4. anonymous

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   Jun 28th 2012 !⃝

   I actually think this song is about a relationship between a couple similar to Bonnie and Clyde. They enjoy the thrills of lying and stealing the action and adventure and this song describes how they think it will turn out. When they get to the talk of the nation people will put them down in history as having a record of crimes and a whole bunch of people will know who they were.
5. anonymous

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   Dec 20th 2011 !⃝

   I think it is actually a love story, always have. like these were two people and the fell in love like Romeo and Juliet and put a statue of them up, which could be took as bragging about them and saying they were a match made in heaven. Then they get into a fight or break up or something and get back together, but now everybody doesn't think that good of a couple now and are "giving them a talking to, because they've got years of experience" Living in a den of thieves refers to people trying to make them stay apart then them rummaging for answers in the pages to make it all work out. They try to stay away from each other, but keep coming back because it's contagious.
   That's what I think, probably wrong,but that's what I've always thought.
6. anonymous

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   Jun 9th 2011 !⃝

   I think that she is being historical but i have to do research to figure it out for sure. I think that she is taking a country and saying that tourist come in and have fun. Then they leave and take things, soveniers maybe. They may also take back things and show it off to other people, "put it on a mountain top." But I thik that it's a famous city, maybe from russia, and Regina is saying that people blame russia for things. And with Russia's history, Regina might be saying how cities are named after people. And cities in different countries are blaming russia when russia is really innocent and didn't "take over" the city. They'll name a city after us
   And later say it's all our fault. Just a wild interpretation

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