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.
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I Want to Live
Talking Heads Lyrics
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that isn't there
I want to live
I roll over and you're not there
I'm only standing on the shore
I had some friends but I want more mmmmm
I see the future and it's all mine
Want to be perfect, I'm taking my time
I try to be right in whatever I say
Deeper feelings recur again & again & again & again
A complex spiral leads me to spin...
I want to live
To see the earth turn one more time
I want to live
To feel a hand that isn't mine
I'm only standing on the shore
I had some fun but I want more
I'll try not to act like I'm so far away
I try to be right in whatever I say
Deeper feelings recur again & again & again & again
A complex spiral leads me to spin...
Mmmm...
The Talking Heads' song "I Want to Live" expresses a sense of longing for human connection and experiences, as the singer conveys a yearning to live life to the fullest. The lyrics are filled with images of loneliness and isolation with lines like "I roll over and you're not there," and "I'm only standing on the shore." The singer craves not just any friendship or touch, but deeper connections that are absent from their life.
All throughout the song, the singer muses on their own imperfections and their aspiration to self-improvement. Even as they take their time to strive towards perfection, they acknowledge their distance from others, appearing to struggle with communicating intimately with those around them. The repetition of "Deeper feelings recur again & again & again & again / A complex spiral leads me to spin..." highlights the singer's deep introspection and their endless cycle of struggling to connect with others, further emphasizing the themes of isolation and yearning.
Overall, "I Want to Live" speaks to the human desire for companionship, love, and fulfillment, even as those things seem elusive at times. The singer expresses a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty, yet simultaneously reflects a desire for growth, learning, and ultimately, hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to live, to feel a face
that isn't there
The singer desires to experience new things and desires a change in their life, but they feel unfulfilled and disconnected from the people around them.
I want to live
I roll over and you're not there
The singer longs to feel alive, but is haunted by the emptiness and absence they feel after losing someone they cared about.
I'm only standing on the shore
I had some friends but I want more mmmmm
The singer feels stuck in place and unsatisfied with their current relationships and social circles, and craves more meaningful and fulfilling human connections.
I see the future and it's all mine
Want to be perfect, I'm taking my time
The artist sees potential for growth and improvement in their future, but understands the necessity of patience and self-reflection in order to become the best version of themselves.
I'll try not to act like I'm so far away
I try to be right in whatever I say
The artist recognizes their tendency to feel distant and disconnected from others, and makes a conscious effort to be present and active in their interactions to avoid pushing people away.
Deeper feelings recur again & again & again & again
A complex spiral leads me to spin...
The singer experiences intense and recurring emotions, but struggles to understand or process them, often feeling trapped in a cycle of confusion and discomfort.
I want to live
To see the earth turn one more time
I want to live
To feel a hand that isn't mine
I'm only standing on the shore
I had some fun but I want more
Overall, the singer wants to experience more of life - to witness its beauty and awe-inspiring moments, to feel the touch of others, and to break out of a sense of stagnancy or tedium, in order to fully embrace the adventure of existence.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID BYRNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind