My Big Nurse
Brian Eno;David Byrne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the lake's on fire
With all the world's desires
When he shakes the stars above
When we lose the ones we love

When the seasons lose their grip
When the tightrope walker slips

I'm counting all the possibilities

When the past becomes the now
When the lost becomes the found
When we fall in love with war
When the angel fucks the whore

When the road we travel on
Takes us back where we came from

A million kinds of possibilities
For dancing on this lazy afternoon

In the comfort of the world
In the arms of my big nurse
From the science of the heart
To each animal and plant

Compact, relaxed, intact, give thanks

I'm counting all the possibilities
For dancing on this lazy afternoon

Overall Meaning

"My Big Nurse" is a song about finding peace and comfort amidst chaos and uncertainty. The opening lines describe a scene where the lake is on fire and the world is consumed by desire, but then the focus turns to the heavenly bodies above and the pain of losing loved ones. The lyrics then showcase a list of contrasting scenarios such as the seasons losing their grip, the tightrope walker slipping, the past becoming the present and the lost becoming found, and even falling in love with war. Yet, in the chorus, the singer is still counting all the possibilities for dancing on this lazy afternoon, highlighting the desire for optimism and hope despite the odds.

The song's title "My Big Nurse" is a reference to the persona of a caring nurse, providing comfort and care to those in need. The lyrics suggest that this comforting presence can be found in the world itself and its natural wonders such as animals and plants, as well as in the science of the heart. The final lines of the song emphasize the importance of gratitude and appreciation for the world we live in, with the repeated phrase "compact, relaxed, intact, give thanks".

Overall, "My Big Nurse" is a thought-provoking song about finding meaning and beauty in the chaos of the world, and the importance of gratitude and hope in times of uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

When the lake's on fire
When everything is going wrong

With all the world's desires
Amidst everyone's greed and ambitions

When he shakes the stars above
When something incredible or unbelievable happens

When we lose the ones we love
When we experience loss and heartbreak

When the seasons lose their grip
When things are not going as planned

When the tightrope walker slips
When something unpredictable happens

I'm counting all the possibilities
Acknowledging that there are numerous outcomes for any given situation

When the past becomes the now
When something from the past resurfaces in the present

When the lost becomes the found
When something that was lost is suddenly found

When we fall in love with war
When we become obsessed with conflict and power

When the angel fucks the whore
When something unexpected or taboo happens