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
Hey Now
Talking Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to popsicle
I want to space face
Buy me a cherry face now
Hey now!
Hey now!
Hey now now!
Hey now!
Hey now now!
I want to video
I want to rock and roll
Take me to the shopping mall
Buy me a rubber ball now
Hey now!
Hey now!
Hey now now!
Hey now!
Hey now!
Hey now now!
Every night sun goes down
And the people are staying at home
You can tell your momma & daddy
Leave those children alone
They know what they're doin'
They ain't runnin' away
Uncle John said, "Tell Aunt Mary
I got nothing to say"
(And she say:)
Hey now!
Hey now!
Hey now now!
Hey now!
Hey now!
Hey now now!
Ho---
Would the light come hitcha in the eye
Hey---
Gonna stop, gonna getcha by surprise!
Every night when the sun goes down
And the people are staying at home
You can tell your momma & daddy
Leave those children alone
They know what they're doin'
They ain't runnin' away
Uncle John said, "Tell Aunt Mary
I got nothing to say"
(And she said!)
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Ho---
Would the light come hitcha in the eye
Hey---
Gonna stop, gonna getcha by surprise
I am the king of the world
The boss of the boys & girls
You can live till a hundred and ten
If you listen to what I said
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
Hey now
Hey now
Hey now now
The Talking Heads’s song “Hey Now” is a non-sensical and upbeat track that doesn’t necessarily need to be “explained” in the traditional sense, as the lyrics have no clear meaning. This is a staple in proto-punk and art-rock music, where the lyrics can take on a stream-of-consciousness style and be just as important as the music itself. It seems as though David Byrne, the band’s frontman and lyricist, is simply throwing together various phrases and words that may sound good together and fit the overall vibe and energy of the music. One interpretation could be that the lyrics are a commentary on consumer culture, where the desire for material goods like bicycles, popsicles, rubber balls, and more outweighed the need for practical things like food, water, and shelter.
The verses of the song have a more structured and meaningful feel to them, with lyrics like “Every night when the sun goes down, and people are staying home, you can tell your momma & daddy, leave those children alone, they know what they’re doing, they ain’t running away.” This could be interpreted as a message to parents to loosen the reins on their children, who may be more capable than they think. Uncle John’s request to “tell Auntie Mary, I got nothing to say” could also be seen as a commentary on how pointless and unproductive communication can be, especially in uncomfortable or awkward situations. However, these interpretations are purely speculative, as the song itself is not meant to be taken too seriously or analyzed to death.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to bicycle
I want to ride a bike, to feel the wind in my hair and the freedom that comes with it.
I want to popsicle
I want to enjoy a delicious frozen treat, to savor the sweetness as it melts in my mouth.
I want to space face
I want to be transported to otherworldly realms, to explore the unknown and expand my mind beyond the mundane.
Buy me a cherry face now
Please get me something cool and refreshing, like a cherry popsicle or a cold drink, to satisfy my craving for pleasure and indulgence.
Hey now!
Listen up, pay attention, and get ready for something unexpected and exciting.
Every night sun goes down
As darkness falls, the world changes, the mood shifts, and people start to wind down from the day's activities.
And the people are staying at home
Most folks are settling in for the night, relaxing with their families or watching TV alone.
You can tell your momma & daddy
You can inform your parents of what's happening, though they may not be interested or understand.
Leave those children alone
Let the younger generation do as they please, experiment, and learn from their mistakes without interference or judgment.
They know what they're doin'
The kids are capable of making their own decisions, taking risks, and handling the consequences, and don't need constant supervision or guidance.
They ain't runnin' away
The children aren't trying to escape from anything or anyone, but rather exploring their world and growing up into responsible adults.
Uncle John said, "Tell Aunt Mary
A family member is concerned about what's going on, but wants someone else to deal with it or share the information.
I got nothing to say"
Another relative is not willing or able to mediate, intervene, or provide advice, and remains silent.
Hooo---
The sound of surprise or amazement, or a vocalization of a musical phrase or rhythm.
Would the light come hitcha in the eye
A sudden flash of light could catch someone off guard, dazzle or blind them, or reveal something unexpected or shocking.
Hey---
An exclamation or greeting that draws attention to something, or an expression of excitement or enthusiasm.
Gonna stop, gonna getcha by surprise!
Something unpredictable or thrilling is about to happen, and the listener should prepare for it or enjoy the rush.
I am the king of the world
I feel powerful and confident, able to conquer any challenge and rule my domain with authority and charisma.
The boss of the boys & girls
I have control and influence over the young and old, male and female, and can impress, inspire, or intimidate them with my words and deeds.
You can live till a hundred and ten
If you follow my advice, listen to my music, or adopt my lifestyle, you can live a long and fulfilling life, full of wonder and joy.
If you listen to what I said
The key to my success and wisdom lies in my words, which contain hidden meanings, insights, and truths that few others can comprehend.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind