The Calculation

· by Regina Spektor

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Lyrics

You (C)went in to the kitch en cup board, ter got your self an oth er hour, (C)and you gave (F)did our think ing half of it to me.

We (C)sat there look ing at the fac es (C)vid of these stran gers in the pag es (F)’til we knew them math e mat i (Am)c’lly.

They were in our (Dm7)minds

un til for ev er.

But we did n’t (Dm7)mind;

we did n’t know (G)bet ter.

So we (C)made our own the kitch com pu board, ter out of mac a ro ni piec (C)es, and it (F)did our think ing while we lived our lives.

It (C)count ed up our feel ings and di (C)vid of ed them up e ven, and it (F)called that cal cu la tion per fect (Am)love.

Did n’t e ven (Dm7)know

that love was big ger,

did n’t e ven (Dm7)know

that love n’t was (G)bet ter.

So we (G)so, so, hey, hey, hey.

Hey, this fire is burn ing, (C)burn ing us up.

Hey, this fire is burn ing, (C)burn ing us

(Dm)up.

Ooh,

ooh, ooh, ooh.

So we (C)made the hard de ci sion, and we (C)each made an in ci sion.

(C)Past our (F)mus cles and our bones, saw our hearts were lit tle stones.

Pulled them (C)out.

They weren’t beat ing, and we (C)weren’t e ven bleed ing (C)as we (F)lay them on the gran ite count er top.

We beat them up

a gainst (F)each oth er.

We beat them up

a gainst each (F)oth er.

We struck them hard

a gainst each (F)oth er.

We struck them (Dm7)so hard, so hard ’til they sparked.

Hey, this fire it’s burn ing, (C)burn ing us up.

Hey, this fire it’s burn ing, (C)burn ing us up.

Hey, this fire it’s burn ing, (C)burn ing us

(Dm)up.

Ooh,

ooh, ooh, ooh.

Ooh.

Woo,

(Bb)woo.

Woo,

woo.

Oh, oh.

The Calculation by Regina Spektor — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Calculation” by Regina Spektor in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 102 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Calculation" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Calculation"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "The Calculation" use?: Just 8 chords: Am, Bb, C, Dm, Dm7, F, G, G7. Take it one section at a time.
What other Regina Spektor songs work for kids?: Try "FIDELITY", "DANCE ANTHEM OF THE 80'S", "EET". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.