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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Psycho Killer
Talking Heads Lyrics
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I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax
I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire
Don't touch me, I'm a real live wire
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh, oh, oh, oh
Ay-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ooh
You start a conversation, you can't even finish it
You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed
Say something once, why say it again?
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh, oh, oh, oh
Ay-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Ce que j'ai fait, ce soir-là
Ce qu'elle a dit, ce soir-là
Réalisant mon espoir
Je me lance vers la gloire, okay
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
We are vain and we are blind
I hate people when they're not polite
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh, oh, oh, oh
Ai-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ooh
The lyrics of Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" reveal the inner turmoil of someone suffering from a severe anxiety disorder. The singer is experiencing significant psychological distress and feels tense, nervous, and uncomfortable in their own skin. Unable to sleep, they describe their bed as being "on fire," indicating that they feel trapped and overwhelmed by their own anxiety.
The chorus features the phrase, "Psycho Killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?", which translates to "Psycho Killer, what is it?" This phrase is designed to provoke a sense of unease in the listener and makes them question the actions of the singer. The singer is struggling to communicate effectively, falling back on phrases like "fa-fa-fa-fa" and "run away" to get their point across.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on their own behavior and the futility of their quest for validation. They describe their attempts to achieve fame and glory ("Je me lance vers la gloire") and touch on the themes of vanity and blindness. The repeated refrain of "I hate people when they're not polite" highlights the singer's frustration with the social expectations that contribute to their anxiety.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't seem to face up to the facts
I am trying to avoid or deny the truth about something
I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax
I am feeling anxious and unable to calm down
I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire
I am experiencing intense emotions, like fear or anger, that are disrupting my ability to rest
Don't touch me, I'm a real live wire
I am overwhelmed and on edge, so please don't aggravate me further
You start a conversation, you can't even finish it
You initiate a discussion, but then fail to see it through to completion
You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything
You are being verbose without providing any meaningful information
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed
I prefer to remain silent when I have nothing of substance to contribute
Say something once, why say it again?
Why repeat something that has already been said?
Ce que j'ai fait, ce soir-là
What I did that evening
Ce qu'elle a dit, ce soir-là
What she said that evening
Réalisant mon espoir
Realizing my hope
Je me lance vers la gloire, okay
I am pursuing glory for myself
We are vain and we are blind
As humans, we are self-centered and often oblivious to our shortcomings
I hate people when they're not polite
I become hostile toward others who are impolite or discourteous
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
I am a dangerous individual, so you'd better flee from me as fast as you can
Ai-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ooh
Expressing emotions or stress through vocalization
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind