Producer(s) Joe Mendelson (Songs version)David Kahne (Begin to Hope version) | ||
"Samson" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, from her albums Songs and Begin to Hope. Despite never being released as a single, it has charted in several countries, and is often considered one of Spektor's greatest songs.
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Background and composition
"Samson" was initially recorded as the first track for Spektor's second album Songs, which she recorded in one take on Christmas Day 2001. In 2006, Spektor re-recorded the song for her album Begin to Hope, which, unlike Songs, had a major label backing.
Lyrically, "Samson" is about the biblical episode of Samson and Delilah, found in Judges 16. Samson was granted extraordinary physical strength by God, though his strength was held in his hair, without which he was powerless. He fell in love with Delilah, who, because of his lust for women, discovered his vulnerability, and used it against him. Lines such as "you are my sweetest downfall" refer to Delilah being Samson's downfall.
The song is composed in the key of B Major and is set to a tempo of 76 beats per minute. However, the Begin to Hope version is set to a faster tempo of 90 beats per minute. The song alters between bars of 6/4 and bars of 4/4. Spektor's voice ranges from the low note of B3 to the high notes of D♯5.
Music video
"Samson" had an accompanying music video, despite not having been released as a single. The video was shot in almost black and white, and revolved around Spektor performing the song on a piano whilst paper designs pan over the camera.
Charts
Despite not being released as a single, the Begin to Hope version of "Samson" charted in four countries, being Spektor's most charted single to date (along with "Fidelity").