Talking Heads

Released: April 24, 1984

Songwriter: Jerry Harrison Chris Frantz Tina Weymouth David Byrne

Producer: Gary Goetzman Tina Weymouth Jerry Harrison Chris Frantz David Byrne

[Instrumental intro: 0:00-0:41]

[Verse 1]
Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some grave sites, out by the highway
Place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance
I'm getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, I lived in the ghetto
I've lived all over this town

[Chorus 1]
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
This ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey-dovey
I ain't got time for that now

[Verse 2]
Transmit the message, to the receiver
Hope for an answer some day
I got three passports, 'couple of visas
You don't even know my real name
High on a hillside, trucks are loading
Everything's ready to roll
I, I, I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttime
I might not ever get home

[Chorus 2]
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
This ain't no fooling around
This ain't no Mudd Club, or C.B.G.B
I ain't got time for that now

[Keyboard solo #1: Jerry Harrison]

[Chorus 1]
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
This ain't no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey-dovey
I ain't got time for that now

[Verse 3]
Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.?
You 'oughta know not to stand by the window
Somebody'll see you up there
Got some groceries, some peanut butter
To last a couple of days
But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no headphones
Ain't got no records to play

[Chorus 3]
Why stay in college? Why go to night school?
Gonna be different this time
Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard
I can't write nothing at all

[Chorus 4]
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco
This ain't no fooling around
I'd love you hold you, I'd like to kiss you
I ain't got no time for that now

[Verse 4]
Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock
We blended in with the crowd
We got computers, we're tapping phone lines
I know that that ain't allowed
We dress like students, we dress like housewives
Or in a suit and a tie
I changed my hairstyle so many times now
I don't know what I look like
You make me shiver and I feel so tender
We make a pretty good team
Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving
You ought to get you some sleep
Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks
They won't help me survive
My chest is aching, burns like a furnace
The burning keeps me alive

[Keyboard solo #2: Jerry Harrison]

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.

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