Call Them Brothers

Regina Spektor's 'Call Them Brothers' delves into the themes of fragmentation, loss, and the struggle to maintain connections in a world that often feels disjointed. The song opens with the poignant line, 'That's it, it's split - it won't recover,' immediately setting a tone of irreparable division. This division is metaphorically framed as 'halves' that are called 'brothers,' suggesting a forced or artificial sense of unity. The lyrics urge the listener to 'find their fathers and their mothers,' hinting at a search for identity and roots in a fragmented world where such connections are easily forgotten.

The recurring line, 'Over and over they call us their friends,' questions the authenticity of relationships and the roles we play in them. The suggestion to 'find something else to pretend' reflects a desire to escape the superficiality of these connections. The imagery of a 'film machine's spinning' in the darkness evokes a sense of being trapped in a repetitive cycle, yet there's a glimmer of hope in the idea of leaving before anyone notices, symbolizing a yearning for freedom and authenticity.

As the song progresses, the metaphor of splitting and framing continues, with the added imagery of 'chipping at the bricks' and 'filling up your pockets with the pieces of the wall that you stole.' This suggests a sense of taking what one can from a broken situation, perhaps as a means of survival or making sense of the chaos. The hunt and the shot ringing out introduce a sense of urgency and danger, yet there's a paradoxical desire for the chase to continue, reflecting the complexity of human emotions and the often contradictory nature of our desires. Ultimately, 'Call Them Brothers' is a haunting exploration of the human condition, marked by a deep sense of longing and the quest for genuine connection in a fractured world.