My Big Nurse
Byrne/Eno Lyrics
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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
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
The lyrics of "My Big Nurse" by David Byrne and Brian Eno are contemplative and reflective of the complexities that come with the human experience. In the first stanza, the song references the natural world and the unpredictable events that occur, such as a lake catching fire, and the loss of loved ones. The second stanza references the human world and its contradictions, such as falling in love with war or an angel engaging in taboo behavior. Despite the ups and downs of life, the singer remains focused on the multitude of possibilities that exist for finding joy and happiness, especially in mundane moments like a lazy afternoon.
Byrne and Eno work together to create a sonic landscape that reflects the lyric's themes of change and possibility. The music builds slowly but steadily, adding layers of percussion, synths, and guitars. The result is a captivating soundscape that complements the intricate lyrics. "My Big Nurse" ultimately celebrates the unpredictability of life and the power of human resilience in the face of difficulty.
Line by Line Meaning
When the lake's on fire
When everything around us is in chaos and destruction
With all the world's desires
Amidst this chaos, when everyone is selfish and wants everything for themselves
When he shakes the stars above
When something so powerful happens that it affects everything, even the cosmic objects
When we lose the ones we love
When we experience the pain of losing someone dear to us
When the seasons lose their grip
When even the natural cycles of life become unpredictable and inconsistent
When the tightrope walker slips
When things don't go as planned and everything becomes unstable
I'm counting all the possibilities
Despite all this, I choose to keep hope and see the potential for good outcomes
When the past becomes the now
When we are forced to deal with the consequences of our actions and past mistakes
When the lost becomes the found
When we finally discover something that was once lost or hidden from us
When we fall in love with war
When we become so consumed with power and conflict that we forget the humanity in others
When the angel fucks the whore
When something unexpected and taboo happens, causing a disruption in the natural order of things
When the road we travel on
When we are on a journey or path in life
Takes us back where we came from
When we end up right where we started, despite our efforts to move forward
A million kinds of possibilities
There are infinite outcomes and opportunities available, even in times of uncertainty
For dancing on this lazy afternoon
For enjoying life's simple pleasures and finding happiness in the present moment
In the comfort of the world
Feeling at ease and safe in the familiarity of our surroundings
In the arms of my big nurse
Being nurtured and cared for by someone who loves and protects us
From the science of the heart
Understanding our emotions and how they impact us and those around us
To each animal and plant
All living beings, big or small, are important and interconnected
Compact, relaxed, intact, give thanks
Being content and grateful for the things we have and the life we are living
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: BRIAN ENO, DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind