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I see the shapes
I remember from maps
I see the shoreline
I see the whitecaps
A baseball diamond
Nice weather down there
I see the school
And the houses where the kids are
Places to park
By the factories and buildings
Restaurants and bars
For later in the evening
Then we come to the farmlands
And the undeveloped areas
And I have learned
How these things work together
I see the parkway
That passes through them all
And I have learned
How to look at these things, and I say
I wouldn't live there if you paid me
I wouldn't live like that, no siree
I wouldn't do the things the way those people do
I wouldn't live there if you paid me to
I guess it's healthy
I guess the air is clean
I guess those people
Have fun with their neighbors and friends
Look at that kitchen
And all of that food
Look at them eat it
I guess it tastes real good
They grow it in those farmlands
Then they bring it to the store
They put it in the car trunk
And they bring it back home, and I say
I wouldn't live there if you paid me
I wouldn't live like that, no siree
I wouldn't do the things the way those people do
I wouldn't live there if you paid me to
I'm tired of looking
Out the window of the airplane
I'm tired of traveling
I want to be somewhere
It's not even worth talking
About those people down there, no
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo, ga-ga-ga
Goo-goo-goo-goo, ga-ga-ga-ga
| grandkrok (Lyons, France) | Posted: Jun 22, 2009 - 15:51 No vaseline.. no my way, anyway. End july David B and Marianne F ensemble. at les Nuits de Fourvière, Lyon, france. So check it up.. |
| derekd (Just Visiting This Planet) | Posted: Jun 22, 2009 - 15:46 Love this band. But really dislike this particular song. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Apr 20, 2009 - 06:21 FFS, David - you do go on, don't you? Short is sweet, you know ;-| |
| krich58 (SCruz) | Posted: Mar 19, 2009 - 17:54 bam23 wrote: A number of his songs appear to me as commentary on the attitudes of ... people ... So true. Listen to the other songs on the early Heads albums, and this is exactly what you see/hear. To take this literally is, literally, crazy talk. |
| milchschnitte (Hamburg, Germany) | Posted: Feb 16, 2009 - 05:00 slowly, he goes me on the nerves  |
| bam23 (Berkeley) | Posted: Jan 15, 2009 - 12:05 Reading the comments on RP illustrates the obvious truth that everyone hears things in a unique way. For this song, there are those who assume, apparently because they read the lyrics as if they are in a textbook, that David Byrne is strictly literal in his outlook. He is knocked by some commenters for his arrogant attitude. And so on. Oddly, I have always seen more than a little humor in his writing. To me, "I wouldn't live there if they paid me" is a sort of sarcastic take on a bi-coastal attitude that is strong in such places as New York, or even Providence, RI. A number of his songs appear to me as commentary on the attitudes of the people he has been associating with for years. Of course, maybe he is a smug artiste who scorns the common among us, maybe. But I also like the music. |
| twp | Posted: Jan 15, 2009 - 12:01 Always enjoyed this one a lot, even though it's not exactly a typical Heads tune. |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Jan 15, 2009 - 11:57 greyfin10 wrote: Of all the groups I've ever not liked that RP plays, Talking Heads is the only I'm not won over on yet. I get the suspicion that Bill likes em more than a little bit, and I'll keep trying to have an open ear since I trust Bill. A recent development that bodes well is that I recently found out that Adrian Belew (I know him from King Crimson and his quirky solo stuff) was involved with TH at some point in the past. Never knew that, made me go hmm. I think one thing that influenced me in my attitude is that I equated (rightly or wrongly) TH with the Punk attitude of not caring about the music as much as the heart/fire of the delivery. Maybe I got them confused with Sonic Youth? Same problem the record companies ran into over and over so that's why things got called New Wave. |
| ThePoose | Posted: Dec 14, 2008 - 21:29 greyfin10 wrote: Of all the groups I've ever not liked that RP plays, Talking Heads is the only I'm not won over on yet. I get the suspicion that Bill likes em more than a little bit, and I'll keep trying to have an open ear since I trust Bill. A recent development that bodes well is that I recently found out that Adrian Belew (I know him from King Crimson and his quirky solo stuff) was involved with TH at some point in the past. Never knew that, made me go hmm. I think one thing that influenced me in my attitude is that I equated (rightly or wrongly) TH with the Punk attitude of not caring about the music as much as the heart/fire of the delivery. Maybe I got them confused with Sonic Youth? Always remember: Bill loves Byrnin' down the house. |
| greyfin10 (Panama City, FL) | Posted: Nov 13, 2008 - 08:24 Of all the groups I've ever not liked that RP plays, Talking Heads is the only I'm not won over on yet. I get the suspicion that Bill likes em more than a little bit, and I'll keep trying to have an open ear since I trust Bill. A recent development that bodes well is that I recently found out that Adrian Belew (I know him from King Crimson and his quirky solo stuff) was involved with TH at some point in the past. Never knew that, made me go hmm. I think one thing that influenced me in my attitude is that I equated (rightly or wrongly) TH with the Punk attitude of not caring about the music as much as the heart/fire of the delivery. Maybe I got them confused with Sonic Youth? |
| von_Hayek | Posted: Nov 13, 2008 - 08:15 rscherm wrote: unpopular, nonfavorite  |
| rscherm (room 420) | Posted: Oct 12, 2008 - 17:27 unpopular, nonfavorite |
| Papernapkin (Mountain View, CA) | Posted: Apr 06, 2008 - 10:38 I have to admit they're honest. It's not singing, just talking. |
| keller1 (Altered States) | Posted: Feb 03, 2008 - 11:56 rosedraws wrote: I love TH. But not this one.
Ditto. This one plods, the melody is atonal in places, and Byrne's vocal is really annoying. Blech. |
| treatment_bound (Duluth to Madison) | Posted: Nov 01, 2007 - 09:28 Wow! Lots a bashing of this TH album #2 closer cut. I always thought it was a pretty cool song, regardless of whether or not Byrne was trashing "flyover America". And I live here! And nobody pays me to! |
| songbirdfemme (syracuse ny) | Posted: Nov 01, 2007 - 07:30 miahfost wrote: Yet these days, the music is childish in its arrangement, with insipid lyrics. His voice, which used to stand out as the warbling nerd now just sounds untrained and dull. They used to have something to say, these talking heads. Now they just talk.
true, but isnt that what happens when you get old? you have something to say until you are almost dead |
| rosedraws (never close enough) | Posted: Nov 01, 2007 - 07:25 I love TH. But not this one. |
| wtango (Asheville, NC, USA) | Posted: Nov 01, 2007 - 07:25 love it! |
| Banaszak (3rd star from the left) | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 10:08 wookie wrote: The only way I could dance to this is with a pogo stick...enough already with the Heads!
This has to be the most awesome idea I have heard all day. I am getting a pogo stick on my way home tonight. |
| Hannio (Austin, TX) | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 10:07 miahfost wrote: Yet these days, the music is childish in its arrangement, with insipid lyrics. His voice, which used to stand out as the warbling nerd now just sounds untrained and dull. They used to have something to say, these talking heads. Now they just talk.
Well said, gotta agree. TH has not aged well. |
| o2bnsv | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 10:06 miahfost wrote: Yet these days, the music is childish in its arrangement, with insipid lyrics. His voice, which used to stand out as the warbling nerd now just sounds untrained and dull. They used to have something to say, these talking heads. Now they just talk.
I couldn't have said it better myself. RP could use a few days...weeks...months without Talking Heads or any offshoots. :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: |
| wookie (Pleasanton, CA) | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 10:05 The only way I could dance to this is with a pogo stick...enough already with the Heads! |
| jjbix (san diego) | Posted: Aug 30, 2007 - 10:04 not TH again and again and again Bill!! |
| Odyzzeuz (Austin, Texas) | Posted: Jun 28, 2007 - 09:01 Not one of their best. I always thought the beat on this was Neanderthal compared to some of the interesting riffs they found elsewhere. |
| curtsusu (Gilbert, Arizona) | Posted: Jun 28, 2007 - 08:58 mooseisadick wrote: Cool song, but if it is a put down of non-New York America then I don't get it. I've spent a lot of time in NYC and I can't think of a bigger cesspool than that place. Unless maybe Ohio. Anyway I like the tune.
i used to listen to this song when it first came out and think, yes, that is right... of course, i grew up in NYC for all my life, then i moved to AZ and found out what am arrogant, hubris lyric it is... having said all that, "More Songs about... is still one of my favorite all time records... |
| miahfost (Svensk Socialist Soviet Monarki) | Posted: May 28, 2007 - 02:13 Yet these days, the music is childish in its arrangement, with insipid lyrics. His voice, which used to stand out as the warbling nerd now just sounds untrained and dull. They used to have something to say, these talking heads. Now they just talk. |
| bodhi | Posted: May 12, 2007 - 07:36 I guess my take on the lyrics is a little different. I was just thinking how political the song is - and was even more so in the Reagan years, when turning your back on the values of the self-interested mainstream of America was a hugely political act. At the same time, it's also an expression of the slightly self-important art school graduate he also was. But by instinctively supporting the outsider in songs like 'Listening Wind' and 'Life During Wartime', which flirts dangerously with the glamor of guerrilla chic, he gave voice to many others at the time who felt they just didn't fit. |
| Wizzuvvoz (middle of the road in the groin of America) | Posted: Apr 26, 2007 - 15:28 Very cool song IMO. Always liked it a lot. For any who think he is being an arrogant "city slicker", I would say "no-sirree!" |
| exciter76 (venice - la bella italia / Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me; no hope no harm, just another false alarm) | Posted: Sep 14, 2006 - 07:21 the most irriverent name for an album in the music history!   |
| window (Richmond, VA) | Posted: Sep 14, 2006 - 07:19 hcaudill wrote: My take on the lyrics is that the person being parodied is a self-important urban sophisticate, who thinks he's better than all the people down there. David Byrne's a pretty subtle and thoughtful guy, and I don't think he's being scornful of rural/suburban people - just the opposite. Here are the lyrics for your reference:
For all those folks discussing and pondering the meaning of the lyrics, I suggest you read AllMusic's insightful song review: (click here) |
| milehighYinzer (Denver) | Posted: Sep 14, 2006 - 07:15 You can never overplay the talking heads Bill. Also, to the people below. He isn't singing as if he is better and more sophisticated then country folk. In college I did acid and listend to this song. You see what he is saying. |
| ndfan75 (Texas) | Posted: Aug 01, 2006 - 10:14 ndfan75 wrote: $$#@!$^Y%^#&%@&%&@$$^^#$
make it stop seriously, wtf. I'm replying to my own messages now |
| renlat (Montreal, Canada) | Posted: Aug 01, 2006 - 10:14 ndfan75 wrote: $$#@!$^Y%^#&%@&%&@$$^^#$
make it stop Agree with you. Can't stand that voice. |
| mooseisadick (Westland, Michigan) | Posted: Aug 01, 2006 - 10:13 Cool song, but if it is a put down of non-New York America then I don't get it. I've spent a lot of time in NYC and I can't think of a bigger cesspool than that place. Unless maybe Ohio. Anyway I like the tune. |
| steeler (Riding The Bus to Canton) | Posted: Aug 01, 2006 - 10:13 hcaudill wrote: My take on the lyrics is that the person being parodied is a self-important urban sophisticate, who thinks he's better than all the people down there. David Byrne's a pretty subtle and thoughtful guy, and I don't think he's being scornful of rural/suburban people - just the opposite. Here are the lyrics for your reference:
I think the key line is "And I have learned how to look at these things." Not a slam at all; it's about someone forced to rationalize because he can't live like those down below because he's too busy climbing the ladder of success. |
| ndfan75 (Texas) | Posted: Aug 01, 2006 - 10:11 $$#@!$^Y%^#&%@&%&@$$^^#$ make it stop |
| Zep (Home) | Posted: Jul 11, 2006 - 12:57 ObsidianInfinity wrote: i hate the talking heads so much...his voice hurts my head
Turn it up. Loud. You will be cured soon. |
| catbirdman (Long Beach) | Posted: Mar 23, 2006 - 00:09 Immediately evokes my junior and senior years of high school. A perfect song of alienation for people of a certain age and temperament -- which I most definitely was. Is it any wonder I went on to become a land planner? |
| hcaudill (Washington, DC) | Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 10:09 stonesmaster wrote: Very disrespectful of rural america.
My take on the lyrics is that the person being parodied is a self-important urban sophisticate, who thinks he's better than all the people down there. David Byrne's a pretty subtle and thoughtful guy, and I don't think he's being scornful of rural/suburban people - just the opposite. Here are the lyrics for your reference: I see the shapes, I remember from maps. I see the shoreline. I see the whitecaps. A baseball diamond, nice weather down there. I see the school and the houses where the kids are. Places to park by the fac'tries and buildings. Restaunts and bar for later in the evening. Then we come to the farmlands, and the undeveloped areas. And I have learned how these things work together. I see the parkway that passes through them all. And I have learned how to look at these things and I say, (CHORUS) I wouldn't live there if you paid me. I couldn't live like that, no siree! I couldn't do the things the way those people do. I couldn't live there if you paid me to. I guess it's healthy, I guess the air is clean. I guess those people have fun with their neighbors and friends. Look at that kitchen and all of that food. Look at them eat it' guess it tastes real good. They grow it in the farmlands And they take it to the stores They put it in the car trunk And they bring it back home And I say ... (CHORUS) I say, I wouldn't live there if you paid me. I couldn't live like that, no siree! I couldn't do the things the way those people do. I wouldn't live there if you paid me to. I'm tired of looking out the windows of the airplane I'm tired of travelling, I want to be somewhere. It's not even worth talking About those people down there. |
| Luna2 (CT) | Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 10:01 Meghan: what happen to queen liner-notie drag on paragraphs ????? |
| squidish (California) | Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 10:00 Why does this have to be a song? Why couldn't he have just written it down as an essay in the New Yorker? Why couldn't it just be a painting? |
| Luna2 (CT) | Posted: Feb 21, 2006 - 09:59   |
| shakitten (8500 feet, overlooking Denver, Colorado) | Posted: Feb 06, 2006 - 17:03 I just think it's funny how DB loves baby noises...cracks me up! Gagaga.... |
| willmcnaught (Eugene Oregon) | Posted: Feb 06, 2006 - 17:01 I wouldn't do the things that most people do!!!!!!!! Gagagagagagaga  |
| Helchat (a record store near you) | Posted: Feb 06, 2006 - 16:59 LOVE IT! and the guitar slidin' is waaay fun.... |
| djblitz (Boston, MA) | Posted: Feb 06, 2006 - 16:58 My lowest rated RP song ever, downright unlistenable.  |
| Glockman45 (undisclosed) | Posted: Dec 10, 2005 - 11:12 theticket.com |
| PattonFever (wherever i go, there i am.) | Posted: Nov 25, 2005 - 19:51 i really don't like this one. he sounds like he's straining to hit every note. every single one. i can't appreciate this one's sound at all. perhaps i need a lyric sheet. |
| federico (Padova, Italy) | Posted: Nov 11, 2005 - 04:25 the thumping part at the end makes it good enough for me: a 5. |
| Darlington (Columbia, South Carolina) | Posted: Sep 13, 2005 - 11:19 sergeant_x wrote: The album this song originally came from is one of my favorites and definitely the best Talking Heads. Another song from that one, "Found a Job" always sticks with me, espeicially when I hear about yet another bad television show. "Good Thing" and, of course "Take Me to the River" are excellent cuts as well.
Agree 1000 percent. |