Regina Spektor - Human Of The Year Lyrics






Hello? Hello?
Calling a Karl Projectorinski
To the front of the cathedral
You have won, dear sir
May I congratulate you first?
Oh, what an honor

Human, human of the year and you've won [2x]

Why are you so scared
You stand there shaking in your pew
The icons are whispering to you
They're just old men
Like on the benches in the park
Except their balding spots are glistening with gold

Human, human of the year and you've won [2x]

You have won

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Outside the cars are beeping out a song just in your honor
And though they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
And thus the cathedral had spoken
Wishing well to all us sinners
And with a sigh grew silent
'Til next year's big human winner

Outside the cars are beeping out a song just in your honor
And though they do not know it
All mankind are now your brothers
All mankind are now your brothers

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hello? Hello?
Calling a Karl Projectorinski
To the front of the cathedral
You have won





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Regina Spektor Human Of The Year Comments
  1. T.... ....

    That bridge gives me goosebumps every single time. I'm not the kind of person to get emotional at songs but god that bridge is beautiful

  2. G.... ....

    My favorite song!🌞🌟

  3. D.... ....

    Absolute genius (for as I can tell).

  4. J.... D....

    2:18 Crashed my soul.

  5. J.... L....

    Anyone here because they've loved this song for a looooong time and not because of Eminem Haha?

    J.... L....

    Wait, what did eminem do?

  6. I.... E....

    I LOVE THIS! THAT HIGHEST FEMALE VOICE... . LUV, MOI

  7. J.... M....

    Your voice Regina Spektor always giving me a goosebumps!

  8. F.... M....

    I'm here because Regina Spektor is amazing

  9. M.... H....

    eminem <3

  10. J.... ....

    Beautiful

  11. T.... ....

    Regina doesn't get enough recognition

  12. R.... ....

    "This is our REVIVAL"

  13. T.... ....

    All these Eminem comments pls stop

  14. H.... E....

    This is the part
    0:00 ——>4:09

  15. a.... t....

    Heard this on Enlightened in 2011...didn't make the connection the amazing Eminem usage till I researched the show recently

  16. N.... C....

    She's so amazing, I wonder how I could live so much time with out knowing of her existence

  17. M.... A....

    i’m not here because of eminem. i just love regina spektor.

  18. T.... A....

    When everyone is talking about Eminem, but you never hear him...

  19. A.... S....

    GREW UP WITH THIS PERSON!

  20. B.... B....

    You guys do realize eminem stole this from her right?

    B.... B....

    Shut up

  21. M.... ....

    Great song...

  22. B.... ....

    I’m here to look for different influences for my own music and Regina Spektor is definitely one of the top ones who, without a doubt, has been such a great inspiration in my own song writing because of her impeccable lyricism and composing, not to mention her amazing piano playing, of course. And not to be one of those people but please stan Day6. Thank you.

  23. s.... ....

    I don't know why, but every time I listen to this song with all my consciousness, it makes me break out in tears.

  24. F.... ....

    For those who don’t know, this song isn’t about being the “Human of the year” as in “best human of the year”, well it is but there is a sarcastic tone to the entire song.
    I read somewhere that she said this song is about atheism in a way. Those “old men” she’s talking about are the apostles and those holy people in every religion. She’s simply saying that they’re old men “like in the benches in the park” saying they are probably not real and are just regular people not gods. The Karl Projectorinski guy is your “everyday church-goer.” Basically the song is one sarcastic phrase, she’s sarcastically saying “oh wow you go to church every sunday! Whoa you’re the HUMAN OF THE YEAR.”

  25. p.... t....

    8 year old me would WEEP to this song smh it still goes off

  26. J.... R....

    I just like to imagine a tough and macho guy like Eminem listening to someone like Regina Spektor.

  27. K.... S....

    one of my favorite songs

  28. s.... ....

    THIS IS OUR REVIVAL

  29. M.... ....

    This is so beautiful!!

  30. A.... L....

    I adore this song

  31. J.... T....

    her music makes me cry like wtf. such a beautiful voice

  32. h.... m....

    The song brings you into the isolated and closed off internal world of a narcisistic catholic man about to earn the title of deacon (a relatively small position, in reality). You can feel his ego inflating like a giant air balloon as he walks out the chapel, delusionally beleiving that God is applauding him for his new title by synchronously channelling praise through the horns of passing cars. The most intensefully ironic part of the song though, is right after the adrenal release at the end of the bridge. It is a short and unexpected silence; it is the nothingness in regards to this moment in time that is perceived by everyone in the world except for the deacon. It is isolation in its purest form; the kind of loneliness that only a delusional self admiration can bring companionship to. The deacon has created through his narscisim a kind of internal "wilson ball". Even God is perceived as someone far above in the clouds who has to chanell himself through car horns to reach into the world experienced by the deacon and only the deacon alone.

    The moral/theme of the song is portraited at the very end by the second long stretched out halleluijiah. Except this time in the song, Regina hits a high note reached by the first drawn out halleluijiah in a higher octave, and then uses her voice to create a subtle illusion of struggle and straining as she pushes the high note one notch higher than last time. This is a metaphor for what just took place; the deacon has forcefully pushed himself yet again to a new high in the name of God. He has proved himself to only himself for a couple of weeks until it wears off, but deep down it takes a tole that he refuses to bring to awareness.

  33. d.... i....

    3:18 when you bust a nut to nun pron

    d.... i....

    Dida u a savage 😂

  34. d.... i....

    Like if stephen hawking was the human of year

  35. B.... D....

    I feel like this is mocking pastors and their churches who claim to be preaching the "true" versions of religion and act like hate groups against anyone who isn't part of it, like the Westboro Baptist Church or something.

    B.... D....

    Because Determination that’s a perfect explanation. An atheist song that’s masqueraded as a love song.

  36. A.... P....

    This is such a beautiful song.

  37. b.... t....

    too bad her voice will never be heard agian

    b.... t....

    bob tim dude, she's still alive I just saw her in concert like two months ago. Why do people keep saying she died in the comments????

    b.... t....

    Because the woman who sampled this song on Eminem's album did pass away. People are confusing her with Regina.

    b.... t....

    cynopt ahhhhh that makes sense.

  38. S.... S....

    Eminem's Revival :)))

  39. V.... ....

    Who's here after eminems new album?

  40. D.... A....

    Eminem's Revival Interlude singer has sung way better than this one... i just fell in love with her voice... btw regina spektor must've have been so proud that her song has been sampled by Eminem!

    D.... A....

    Dev Anand fuck you

  41. W.... O....

    Wasn't expectin this on eminem's album #Revival

  42. E.... S....

    2:19 is where the sample for revival (interlude) is.

  43. C.... ....

    I wonder if eminem knew who this was and that she died

    C.... ....

    Ch33zyBreadTrellie she’s still alive

    C.... ....

    I meant Alicia lemke who died in 2015, the one on his album. I'm wondering if he knew of her before she died.

  44. C.... ....

    She has the same voice style, like the way she says her words like the singer/screamer from Otep. And I mean when she does her "spoken word" interludes

  45. A.... C....

    2:18 2:18 2:18 2:18 2:18 2:18 2:18 2:18

  46. j.... f....

    “This is our revival”

  47. j.... W....

    Here because of revival interlude x

  48. M.... R....

    Eminem brought me here

  49. Y.... V....

    Eminem Revival album 
    I love this song

  50. c.... s....

    Eminem!!!

  51. M.... ....

    REVIVAL

  52. M.... S....

    Eminem - Revival got me here!!! and I'm glad he did!!!

  53. G.... R....

    Complex?

  54. J.... C....

    eminem?

    J.... C....

    revival?

    J.... C....

    Imposter

  55. C.... Y....

    Eminem will revive this beautiful song <3

  56. N.... M....

    Came from Eminem’s Revival interlude
    That interlude is the best thing I’ve ever heard 😭😭

  57. G.... K....

    This song reminds me of em's revival interlude

    G.... K....

    Kevin Lorenz its a sample

    G.... K....

    Naomi Meme the interlude is a sample or did you mean that

    G.... K....

    It’s not exactly a sample, the melody is the same, but it’s a version by Alice Lemke.

    G.... K....

    Samples are different. Samples are when you use an exact part of the original song.

  58. F.... ....

    When I found out that it was a sarcastic song, it kinda ruined it for me

    F.... ....

    Fangirlhasnoreality MM that realization is the best part of the song.

  59. T.... C....

    Em`s new album brought me here :)

  60. 5.... O....

    Eminem anyone?

    5.... O....

    spice me

    5.... O....

    Yup, Revivals Interlude

  61. F.... ....

    Eminem - Revival Interlude

    F.... ....

    Flockiboy men

    F.... ....

    I listened to the interlude first but the bridge to this is so much more beautiful in my opinion, because of the amazing use of her agile voice

    F.... ....

    Stop it revival is different

  62. R.... D....

    Who came here after listening to eminems album?

    R.... D....

    Romeo Downs me

    R.... D....

    Romeo Downs not me, I just like Regina Spektor.

  63. y.... b....

    I hope that because eminem used this song in his new album it will finally get the recognition it deserves

    y.... b....

    yonatan brosh he brought me here

    y.... b....

    This has nothing to do with revival not once did she say cars is beeping in the revival interlude

    y.... b....

    @I stay getting hoed r/whoosh

    y.... b....

    Yes it does have something to do with Revival Interlude. Interlude used an instrumental sample from this song (Human of the Year) along with the vocals from an entirely separate song (called Our Revival) that Alicia Lemke had submitted to Eminem in 2012, which was never released. When they were going through tracks for the album they came across Alicia's song again and decided to use it. When they found out she had passed away they made it the theme to sort of tie it all together.

  64. K.... ....

    Whos here cause of the Revival interlude?

    K.... ....

    Karan me

    K.... ....

    Karan me! Lol

    K.... ....

    So I'm not the only one chasing the revival interlude it should be a full song

    K.... ....

    Nobody so keep it moving

    K.... ....

    @I stay getting hoed Keep what moving?

  65. R.... H....

    ..came here from EMINEM's revival ?

    R.... H....

    oooo yeah

  66. J.... C....

    i can see where Eminem got inspiration for his revival interlude from this. Thank you Regina Spektor

    J.... C....

    Eminems Revival (Interlude) was written or sampled from Human of the Year by Alice and the Glass Lake (Alicia Lemke) who died two years ago

    J.... C....

    @Ahmed Ghazal I wanna find the original cover by Alicia Lemke but I can't seem to find it. All I can find is Eminem's interlude. Does he own the rights or something?

  67. K.... ....

    Eminem -Revival. First to comment.

    K.... ....

    Kredible1 me

    K.... ....

    KarateE! Mouse nice!!

    K.... ....

    Naomi MEME ok ok. I see you.

  68. N.... ....

    Eminem - Revival Interlude anyone???

    N.... ....

    Naved yes

    N.... ....

    No just stop this has nothing to do with revival

    N.... ....

    the only reason i came here lol

    N.... ....

    @I stay getting hoed shut up

  69. C.... G....

    Who knows the history behind this song??? I love it!

  70. v.... i....

    Damn, those notes in the bridge! That freaking vocal run gets me each time. Thanks Regina.

  71. P.... P....

    This song is so amazing - it makes me feel emotions I can't really describe.

  72. a.... a....

    I think the song, in my personal opinion, is about that you don't need any kind of special reward for being human and do good things, because you are a human being and the mankind is really your brother, so, it is your duty to love them all, you don't need to be called human of the year, because you are a human, so, this is the irony. It's sad that the society has to do that, and probably is because this society failed and built a terrible world for all the living beings.

    a.... a....

    amaranta arcadia castillo gómez I think the same thing. To me this song is a huge satirical piece about how pointless it is to award anyone the title "Human of the Year" because we are all equally pointless in the grand scheme of things. How can we decide that one out of 7 billion is so much more important than the others?

    a.... a....

    @Vic Galaxies Thanks for your beautiful words :)

  73. D.... C....

    I'm watching Enlightened over and I remember how much I loved/love this song!! I want this show back!! If HBO has a show like Girls, Enlightened should still be on!!

  74. d.... ....

    I absolutely love this song. I love the lyrics especially. Its like she's mocking the recipient who won the "human of the year". Someone who in fact would arrogantly think the beeping horns are saluting him as he exists the cathedral. Listen to the way she sings the word "won". It flutters like chiding children giggling nah na na nah nah. Brilliant!

    d.... ....

    I think it's more of a celebration of "any ol' body", as it were.

    "And though they do not know it..." is a key here. There is a celebration, even if people don't know about the party they're throwing.

  75. M.... S....

    damn, she knows how to sing.

  76. o.... b....

    This is one of my favorite songs by Regina. The lyrics always get me. Agh! It's just so beautiful.

  77. K.... S....

    I love how open to interpretation this song is.

  78. D.... L....

    Beautiful Regina !!!!!

  79. a.... t....

    i always liked the idea of taking karl's last name literally. projectorinski = of the projector. he's karl the projector guy, an unassuming man who works in the local movie theatre. he wandered into a cathedral and was rewarded for his very unassuming-ness.

    a.... t....

    I read that on Quora too. Written by Ankit Sethi *rolls eyes*

    a.... t....

    Oh is that where it came from?? I assumed I'd read it as one of the comments on songmeanings.com rip. ty for sourcing it!!!!!

  80. A.... S....

    Been a Regina fan for years. How on earth did I miss this song until just now?! Music perfection. 3:18--wow.

    A.... S....

    Don't you mean 2:18

    A.... S....

    Actually, no! 2:18 is awesome. But 3:18 is just a divine homage to gospel revival--it's perfect for the word she's singing and the climax after the charismatic build of the bridge.

  81. P.... S....

    come find me, it will be a great adventure my dear

  82. E.... M....

    Karl Projectorinski? As in Karol Wojtyla? He was certainly called to the front of the cathedral...

    E.... M....

    Papa JP2

  83. w.... o....

    rome is cool

  84. E.... S....

    This song reminds me of vegetarians

    E.... S....

    Please, do explain.

    E.... S....

    this is the best comment

    E.... S....

    remind me of eminem

  85. M.... D....

    Off the measuring chart

  86. D.... V....

    she is literally one of my favourite inspirational people on earth

    D.... V....

    Yes, she's an inspiration, even considering this song is about a funeral :)

  87. M.... S....

    beautiful x

  88. L.... O....

    I know how to play it! oh what an honor!

  89. A.... R....

    I heard this song while I was candy flipping...damn it hit me spiritually so hard I love it !!

  90. 7.... ....

    Dear Pope: congratulations dude.

  91. S.... U....

    this was 2 years ago?!

    how come I'm just now hearing this on Pandora?!!

  92. s.... v....

    This is so ominously beautiful

  93. D.... ....

    lol this song is so sarcastic XD

  94. D.... L....

    Is it on Spotify allready

  95. Z.... X....

    "Rome is cool"

  96. e.... f....

    she's so talented omgg