From 1979!
Great song! This is one of my all-time favorite bands. They were one of the first punk/new wave bands out, in their case out of the New York art school scene. All band members met in art school. David Byrne is a damned genius, and everyone else in the band was also very smart. I always loved Tina Weymouth, the chick on guitar. Their first album was actually called More Songs about Buildings and Food and was usually listed as a punk album alongside the Clash, the Pistols, etc. though they were always more weird and arty than punk.
Fear of Music, which this song is off, was the second album. It came out in 1979. It’s one of the best rock music albums ever made! This song is great, but really they are all great. The whole album is great from start to finish.
If you have never heard of this band, check them out. They’re glorious.
N.B. I saw the Talking Heads live at UCLA of all places in the summer of 1979 with some friends of mine. This was one of the first punk rock shows in LA. There were a lot of arty/nerdy college kid types there. UCLA is a very selective school, and you can’t get in unless you are wicked smart.
It was a great show! Oingo Boingo (if you have heard of them) were also there. That is another great old punk/new wave band from the old days.
Here are the lyrics. Even if you’re an atheist, it’s as great a song about Death and Heaven as has ever been written.
“Heaven – heaven is a place. A place where nothing – nothing ever happens.”
I’m not quite sure this is what the authors of the Bible had in mind, or, Hell, maybe they did. World-weariness is a thing as old as our race (and it’s always just a bit charming, especially in a handsome man of a certain age). It didn’t just sprout up in the age of Information Overload. No matter how much you love to run, you always reach a point where you just can’t go anymore, and you’ve just got to lie down, dammit. And I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel good.
I was talking to a friend once, about death. What else is there to talk about, after all? All roads lead to the same destination. Think about it.
I asked him if he was scared.
“I don’t know Bob. I’m tired, Bob.”
Sure. Well, yeah. No train runs forever. They all run out of steam at some point, and there’s always an end of every line.
Then again, maybe Heaven is like a Chili’s where they never quite run out of applewood bacon. Which, you’ve got to admit, would be pretty cool right there, n’est pas? Better than most of my life anyway.
Last call! Last call!
Last call for alcohol! Last call for alcohol!
Hurry up boys, it’s time! Hurry up boys, it’s time!
See ya all on the other side!
Everyone is trying
To get to the bar
The name of the bar
The bar is called HeavenThe band in Heaven
Plays my favorite song
They play it once again
They play it all night longHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensThere is a party
Everyone is there
Everyone will leave
At exactly the same timeIt’s hard to imagine
That nothing at all
Could be so exciting
Could be this much fun.Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensWhen this kiss is over
It will start again
It will not be any different
It will be exactly the sameIt’s hard to imagine
That nothing at all
Could be so exciting
Could be this much fun.Heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happensHeaven
Heaven is a place
A place where nothing
Nothing ever happens
