Talking Heads first appeared on the New York music scene as a trio in 1974. At the time, the band consisted only of Byrne and Frantz, and was initially called The Artistics. By 1975, the band had recorded a demo album for CBS Records and landed a gig opening for the Ramones at CBGB in June 1975, which was the first time the band used the name Talking Heads. The band was signed to Sire Records in late 1976 and the group released their first single, "Love → Building on Fire" in February 1977. In March 1977, the band added Jerry Harrison, formerly of Jonathan Richman's band The Modern Lovers.
Their first album, Talking Heads: 77 was released soon afterward and did not contain the earlier single, although it did include the underground singles Psycho Killer and Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town. Despite being regulars at New York's legendary CBGB, the band only began to break through further with the landmark Brian Eno-produced, 1978 album More Songs About Buildings And Food, an album which continued in the same vein, but with a more accessible style, wittier lyrics, and ultimately better songs. It was a great critical hit with subject matter ranging from home movies to the art world. It also included their cover of Take Me To The River. On the following year's Fear Of Music the band started to dabble in African rhythms, notably on I Zimbra, and more straightforward pop styles, on Life During Wartime and Cities.
1980 brought the band's fourth and most innovative effort Remain In Light. Notable for the single Once In A Lifetime, which became an early MTV staple, Remain In Light saw the band experiment with ambient sounds, fugal structures, polyrhythms, and about everything under the sun to make the body groove. Following this, the group split with Brian Eno, enjoying greater commercial success with 1983's Speaking In Tongues. It took the musical innovations of its predecessor and refined them into pop songs, most notably Burning Down The House, Girlfriend Is Better and This Must Be The Place. This period was topped off with a live album, from Jonathan Demme's documentary, Stop Making Sense. The documentary, with its name taken from a line in Girlfriend Is Better, was a great success, and took their inimitable style to a wider audience.
1985's Little Creatures was an even bigger hit, and exhibited another stylistic shift for the band. It saw the punk styles of '77 almost completely abandoned for simple, three or four chord pop songs. The album produced the singles And She Was, and Road To Nowhere. The following two albums, True Stories and Naked, were both moderate successes, the former producing their biggest radio hits, Love For Sale and Wild Wild Life, and the latter focusing more on Latin influences with hits like (Nothing But) Flowers. After this, a long quiet period followed, with the band eventually officially announcing their break up in 1991. Since the split, Byrne continued his solo career and Weymoth and Frantz continued to record and tour as Tom Tom Club. Weymouth, Harrison and Frantz reunited for an album, "No Talking, Just Head", recorded under the name The Heads in 1996.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. The band reunited for a three song performance at the ceremony. Due to personality conflicts between Byrne and the other members, further reunions are unlikely.
www.talking-heads.net
Air
Talking Heads Lyrics
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Hit me in the face
I run faster
Faster into the air
(I say to myself)
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
Some people say not to worry about the air
Some people never had experience with...
Air...Air
It can break your heart
So remember when the weather gets rough
(You'll say to yourself)
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
Air can hurt you too
Some people say not to worry about the air
Some people don't know shit about the...
Air...
The Talking Heads' song "Air" is a poignant commentary on the dangers of air pollution and how we often ignore the long-term harm it can cause. The lyrics reflect an urgent tone, as if the singer is warning listeners that the air we breathe can be harmful to our health. The repetition of the word "Air" throughout the song gives it a hypnotic quality, as if the singer is trying to remind us of how pervasive air is and how important it is to our survival.
The song starts with the singer feeling the wind hitting his face and running even faster into the air. However, amidst the rush of adrenaline, he realizes that something is wrong with his skin, and he questions where the protection he needs from the air is. This prompts the singer to acknowledge and warn the listener that the air can cause harm as well. The line "Air can hurt you too" is repeated throughout the song, driving home the point that, while we take for granted the air we breathe, it can be harmful to our health.
The latter half of the song talks about how the air can hurt one's heart and serve as a reminder that we need to be mindful of environmental dangers. The warning is clear - as the weather gets rough, we may be hurting internally too. The final line of the song expresses frustration at those who dismiss air quality concerns, "Some people don't know shit about the air", emphasizing the importance of awareness in environmental matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Air...Air
The song is introducing the concept of air and how it can impact our lives.
Hit me in the face
The singer is physically feeling the air, possibly the wind blowing in their face.
I run faster
The singer feels energized by the air and is motivated to run faster, possibly because the cool air feels refreshing.
Faster into the air
The artist runs further into the open air and continues to feel its effects.
(I say to myself)
The artist is having an internal dialog and considering the effects of the air on their body.
What is happening to my skin?
The singer is noticing changes in their skin, possibly feeling its sensitivity or dryness in response to the air.
Where is that protection that I needed?
The singer is questioning the lack of protection their skin seems to have against the air's effects.
Air can hurt you too
The song suggests that air can have negative effects on the body and can cause harm, contrary to popular belief.
Some people say not to worry about the air
The song acknowledges that some people do not see the air as a source of concern or danger.
Some people never had experience with...
The song implies that those who do not have concerns about the air may not have experienced its negative effects, and are thus not aware of its dangers.
It can break your heart
The singer is claiming that air can emotionally hurt, possibly referring to air pollution and its effects on the environment.
So remember when the weather gets rough
The song encourages listeners to be mindful of the air, especially during times of harsh conditions, such as extreme weather.
(You'll say to yourself)
The song brings the listener back to the persona of the singer having an internal dialog.
What is happening to my skin?
The singer is still considering the effects of air on their body and may be noticing new or worsening reactions.
Where is that protection that I needed?
The singer is still questioning the lack of protection their skin seems to have against the air's effects.
Air can hurt you too
The song repeats its earlier point that air can have negative effects on the body and can cause harm, contrary to popular belief.
Some people say not to worry about the air
Once again, the song acknowledges that some individuals do not view the air as a concern or hazard.
Some people don't know shit about the...
The song humorously suggests that those who are not concerned about the air are uninformed or uneducated about its dangers.
Air...
The song concludes by restating its focus on the power and impact of air.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind