The track has a prominent bassline and sets the funk tone of the album. A live rendition of the song was included, with a long bass intro, on the 2004 re-issue of the live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads. It incorporates elements of African music, continuing an approach used in an earlier Talking Heads song "I Zimbra". The guitar solo beginning at around 2:45 was performed by Adrian Belew, who joined the band on the following tour, and later went on to join King Crimson.
AllMusic critic Bill Janovitz describes the singer as being "another alienated, lost soul seeing a world filtered through his delusions and paranoia," similar to the protagonists in other Talking Heads songs. Janovitz points to the following lyrics to support this assessment:
"A government man
Born under punches
I'm a tumbler..I am not drowning man
And I am not a burning building...I'm so thin"
Author Ian Gittens also describes the singer as being unstable, describing the song as being about "a harassed and apparently unstable 'Government Man'". Janovitz claims that the "thick menage of polyrhythmic percussion, staccato guitars, popping bass, and Devo-like electronic blips and bleeps" make this protagonist even more threatening than the one in the Talking Heads' earlier song "Psycho Killer". Gittens likewise concurs that the contrast with "warmth and gravitas" of the "humane backing" deepens the impression of the singer being unstable. Janovitz notes David Byrne's vocal performance in speaking and shouting his bitter lines and threats through the complex music. Gittens particularly praises Brian Eno's production, stating that the way Eno layered the multiple guitars, bass guitar, and drum parts gave the song an "original, sharply conceived and imposingly textured" sound.
It was named one of the best songs released between 1980 and 1982 in the 2008 book The Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present.
A medley of "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" with two other songs from Remain in Light, "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Once in a Lifetime," reached #20 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart. The song was released as a single in Japan. The single's B-side track is a live performance of "Cities" from the August 24, 1979 concert at the Berklee Performance Center. An 8:24 extended version appears on the 2004 reissue of The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads. The song was included as the first track to Röyksopp's mix album Back to Mine.
Born Under Punches
Talking Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a look at these hands
The hand speaks, the hand of a government man
Well I'm a tumbler born under punches, I'm so thin
All I want is to breathe
(I'm too thin)
Won't you breathe with me?
(In-between it)
And keep one step ahead, of yourself
Don't you miss it, don't you miss it
Some of you people just about missed it
Last time to make plans
And I'm a tumbler, I'm a government man
Never seen anything like that before
Falling bodies tumble 'cross the floor
(Well I'm a tumbler)
When you get to where you wanna be
(Thank you! Thank you!)
When you get to where you wanna be
(Well, don't even mention it)
Oh, take a look at these hands, they're passing in-between us
Take a look at these hands
Take a look at these hands, you don't have to mention it
No thanks, I'm a government man
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
And the heat goes on where the hand has been
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
And the heat goes on
(I got time)
And the heat goes on
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
And the heat goes on, where the hand has been
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
I'm not a drowning man
And I'm not a burning building! I'm a tumbler
Drowning cannot hurt a man
Fire cannot hurt a man, not the government man
All I want is to breathe
(Thank you, thank you)
Won't you breathe with me?
Find a little space so we move in-between
(I'm so thin)
And keep one step ahead of yourself
(I'm catching up with myself)
All I want is to breathe
Won't you breathe with me?
(Hands of a government man)
Find a little space so we move in-between
And keep one step ahead of yourself
(Don't you miss it! Don't you miss it!)
All I want is to breathe
Won't you breathe with me?
The song "Born Under Punches" by Talking Heads is full of references to power and struggle in society, represented through the metaphor of the human hand. The singer first draws attention to their own hands and how they are a symbol of government authority. Immediately after, they describe themselves as a "tumbler," which can be interpreted both as someone who physically tumbles or falls, and as someone who rolls with the punches in life. Through this description, the singer implies that they are vulnerable and weak, while still maintaining some level of agency.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look at these hands
Observe the hands of the government man
Take a look at these hands
Again, observe the hands of the government man
The hand speaks, the hand of a government man
The hands symbolize the actions of the government man
Well I'm a tumbler born under punches, I'm so thin
The artist is resilient and able to roll with the punches despite being vulnerable
All I want is to breathe
The artist desires the basic human need to breathe and live
(I'm too thin)
The singer is physically weak and vulnerable
Won't you breathe with me?
The singer is seeking human connection and support
Find a little space, so we move in-between
Create a safe space for us to exist in the midst of chaos
(In-between it)
Within the space created for survival and connection
And keep one step ahead, of yourself
Stay ahead of your own fears and doubts to survive
Don't you miss it, don't you miss it
Don't lose this chance for life and connection
Some of you people just about missed it
Some people have already missed out on the opportunity to survive and connect
Last time to make plans
There may not be another chance to make plans for survival
Never seen anything like that before
The chaotic situation is unprecedented
Falling bodies tumble 'cross the floor
People are dying and falling to the ground
(Well I'm a tumbler)
The artist is resilient and able to roll with the punches
When you get to where you wanna be
Once you reach your desired destination in life
(Thank you! Thank you!)
Gratitude is expressed for reaching this point
Well, don't even mention it
The singer is modest and does not require thanks for helping others
Oh, take a look at these hands, they're passing in-between us
The hands of the government man separate and divide people
Take a look at these hands
Again, observe the divisive hands of the government man
Take a look at these hands, you don't have to mention it
It's clear from the hands that the government man is responsible for division, no need to state the obvious
No thanks, I'm a government man
The government man is unapologetically responsible for dividing and separating people
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
The chaotic situation continues
And the heat goes on where the hand has been
The government man's influence and power is felt in the midst of chaos
(I got time)
The singer has survived and persevered
And the heat goes on
The chaos and struggle continues
And the heat goes on and the heat goes on
Repeat of the previous line, indicating the continued struggle
I'm not a drowning man
The artist has survived and persevered through difficult situations
And I'm not a burning building! I'm a tumbler
The singer is still resilient and able to roll with the punches
Drowning cannot hurt a man
The singer has been through difficult situations and overcome them
Fire cannot hurt a man, not the government man
The government man is responsible for creating chaos and hurt
(Hands of a government man)
A repetition of the idea that the government man is responsible for division and chaos
(Don't you miss it! Don't you miss it!)
Repeat of earlier line, emphasizing the importance of human connection and survival
I'm catching up with myself
The singer is taking care of their own needs while continuing to persevere
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE, CHRIS FRANTZ, TINA WEYMOUTH, JERRY HARRISON, BRIAN ENO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind