Talking Heads

Released: June 1, 1983

Songwriter: Tina Weymouth Jerry Harrison Chris Frantz David Byrne

Producer: Talking Heads

[Verse 1]
Ah
Watch out, you might get what you're after
Cool, babies - strange but not a stranger
I'm an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

[Verse 2]
Hold tight, wait 'til the party's over
Hold tight, we're in for nasty weather
There has got to be a way
Burning down the house

[Chorus 1]
Here's your ticket, pack your bag, it's time for jumping overboard
The transportation is here
Close enough but not too far, maybe you know where you are
Fighting fire with fire, ah!

[Verse 3]
All wet, here, you might need a raincoat
Shakedown, dreams walking in broad daylight
Three hundred sixty-five degrees
Burning down the house

[Chorus 2]
It was once upon a place, sometimes I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work say, “Baby, what did you expect?”
Gonna burst into flame, ah

[Synthesizer Solo]

Burning down the house

[Verse 4]
My house is out of the ordinary
That’s right, don't wanna hurt nobody
Some things sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house

[Chorus 3]
No visible means of support and you have not seen nothing yet
Everything's stuck together
I don't know what you expect staring into the TV set
Fighting fire with fire, ah

[Instrumental Outro]

Ground-breaking rock band Talking Heads is arguably one of the most influential bands of all time. Spearheaded by their slightly crazy lead singer David Byrne, they were at the forefront of the New Wave movement.

The band was formed in 1974 by Byrne and drummer Chris Frantz. Frantz’s then-girlfriend-later-wife Tina Weymouth was quickly recruited to play bass. After a few recordings and performances, guitarist/keyboardist Jerry Harrison was hired to round out the group.

Their first album, Talking 77, was appropriately released in 1977. It quickly received critical acclaim.

more tracks from the album

Once in a Lifetime

From the albums

Speaking in Tongues (1983)
Once in a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads (1992)
Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites (1992)
Only Dance 1980-1984 (1995)
Once in a Lifetime (2003)
The Best Pub Jukebox … Ever! (2004)
13 Going on 30: Music From the Motion Picture (2004)
The Best of Talking Heads (2004)

Talking Heads popular songs

Burning Down the HouseTalking Heads

Talking Heads

Once in a Lifetime