Lyrics: Life During Wartime by Talking Heads
Writer: David Byrne
Band Members: David Byrne (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Jerry Harrison (guitar, keyboards), Tina Weymouth (bass)
Band Members: David Byrne (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Jerry Harrison (guitar, keyboards), Tina Weymouth (bass)
(from the album Fear of Music, 1979)
Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway
A place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance
I’m getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, lived in a ghetto
I’ve lived all over this town
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, out by the highway
A place where nobody knows
The sound of gunfire, off in the distance
I’m getting used to it now
Lived in a brownstone, lived in a ghetto
I’ve lived all over this town
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
This ain’t no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey-dovey
I ain’t got time for that now
Transmit the message to the receiver
Hope for an answer someday
I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don’t even know my real name
High on a hillside, trucks are loading
Everything’s ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttime
I might not ever get home
Hope for an answer someday
I got three passports, a couple of visas
You don’t even know my real name
High on a hillside, trucks are loading
Everything’s ready to roll
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttime
I might not ever get home
This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco
This ain’t no fooling around
This ain’t no Mudd Club, or CBGB
I ain’t got time for that now
This ain’t no fooling around
This ain’t no Mudd Club, or CBGB
I ain’t got time for that now
Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
Heard about Pittsburgh, PA?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
Somebody see you up there
I 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
Heard about Pittsburgh, PA?
You oughta know not to stand by the window
Somebody see you up there
I 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
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
This ain’t no fooling around
No time for dancing, or lovey-dovey
I ain’t got time for that now
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
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, I feel so tender
We all got fever, that’s how it goes
Burn down the house now, burn down the disco
No time to mess around
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
We all got fever, that’s how it goes
Burn down the house now, burn down the disco
No time to mess around
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
Brief Analysis (Updated)
“Life During Wartime” by Talking Heads, written by David Byrne, with contributions from band members Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth, is a tense, paranoid depiction of a dystopian urban landscape marked by conflict, surveillance, and survival. Released in 1979 on the album Fear of Music, the song captures societal anxieties through a post-punk and funk lens. Its driving rhythm and vivid lyrics create a sense of urgency, portraying a narrator navigating a war-torn environment with multiple identities and constant danger.
Themes and Imagery: The lyrics evoke a world of covert operations, with references to weapons, gravesites, and gunfire. The narrator, possibly a fugitive, uses multiple passports and disguises to evade detection, reflecting themes of lost identity and paranoia. The refrain, “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco,” rejects leisure, referencing punk venues like Mudd Club and CBGB, grounding the song in its cultural moment.
Tone and Perspective: The tone balances detachment (“I’m getting used to it now”) with urgency, while moments of vulnerability (“You make me shiver”) reveal emotional strain. The fragmented narrative mirrors the chaos of wartime.
Cultural Context: Written amid Cold War fears and urban decay, the song reflects anxieties about surveillance, societal collapse, and loss of individuality, resonating with both its 1970s context and modern concerns.
Musical Elements: The funky bassline by Tina Weymouth and relentless rhythm from Chris Frantz, paired with Jerry Harrison’s keyboards and David Byrne’s distinctive vocals, create an ironic contrast between the danceable groove and grim lyrics, critiquing escapism while inviting movement.
In summary, “Life During Wartime” is a powerful blend of music and narrative, driven by David Byrne’s songwriting and the band’s tight performance, offering a timeless commentary on survival and identity under pressure.
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