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
Two Note Swivel
Talking Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Elbows and waist
How can you be in two places at once?
You twist yourself all ot of shape
Whoop, there it is, do it again
The world is fiction
Special effects
You can't believe what's coming next
Balls of fire
Whoop, what are we living for?
Coming once
He's coming strong
He don't believe he could ever be wrong
He come to run
I came to stand
Pick it up, do it again
I got my __
Im on TV
Wait a second, wait and see
A big __
A funny sound
Whoop, there it is, now its gone
The Talking Heads song "Two Note Swivel" is an enigmatic and surreal piece that is open to interpretation. The first verse begins by referencing various body parts, such as shoulders, knees, elbows, and waist. These body parts seem to be taken out of context and disconnected from the rest of the body. The lyrics then ask how it's possible to be in two places at once, twisting oneself out of shape. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling pulled in different directions or losing a sense of self-identity.
The next lines indicate that the world is fiction and full of special effects, and that it's impossible to predict what's coming next. Sparks of light and balls of fire create a sense of chaos and unpredictability. The repeated phrase "whoop, there it is" creates a jarring effect, almost like a sudden revelation or conclusion. The chorus seems to question the purpose of it all - "whoop, what are we living for?"
The second verse introduces a character who is confident and assertive, coming on strong and believing he could never be wrong. He is contrasted with the singer, who "came to stand" rather than run. It's unclear what the singer is "picking up" and doing again. The next lines suggest that the singer is on TV and experiencing some sort of transformation or realization. However, the final lines of the song leave everything open-ended, with a big blank space and a funny sound.
Overall, "Two Note Swivel" is a surreal and cryptic song that touches on themes of identity, chaos, and transformation. It seems to challenge the listener to make sense of the disjointed images and phrases, and to question what it all means.
Line by Line Meaning
Shoulders and knees
The physical movements or actions we make every day that can define us and also limit us.
Elbows and waist
The subtle nuances of communication that can be easily unnoticed or ignored.
How can you be in two places at once?
The paradoxes of life that challenge our understanding of reality and our ability to cope with it.
You twist yourself all out of shape
The mental and emotional contortions we go through trying to make sense of a complex and ever-changing world.
Whoop, there it is, do it again
The repetitive cycles that we can fall into, often without realizing it, as we try to navigate our lives.
The world is fiction
The idea that much of what we believe to be reality is actually constructed and shaped by our own perceptions and experiences.
Special effects
The superficial and sometimes deceptive ways in which we may try to present ourselves to others or hide our own vulnerabilities and flaws.
You can't believe what's coming next
The sense of unpredictability and uncertainty that can accompany life, and our attempts to control or anticipate it.
Sparks of light
The brief, fleeting moments of joy, inspiration, or insight that we may experience, but that can also be easily overshadowed by the challenges and mundanities of everyday life.
Balls of fire
The intense emotions that can consume us and drive us forward, but that can also be at odds with reason or common sense.
Whoop, what are we living for?
The existential questions that can haunt us, as we try to find a sense of meaning or purpose in our lives.
Coming once
The anticipation and excitement of an upcoming event, that can motivate us or distract us from our everyday worries.
He's coming strong
The sense of momentum or progress that can be energizing, but that can also lead to overconfidence or recklessness.
He don't believe he could ever be wrong
The stubbornness or arrogance that can prevent us from recognizing our own mistakes or limitations, and that can cause conflicts with others.
He come to run
The drive or ambition that can propel us forward, but that can also be at odds with more contemplative or reflective goals.
I came to stand
The sense of stability or resolve that can help us weather difficult times or make difficult decisions, but that can also lead to inaction or stagnation.
Pick it up, do it again
The sense of repetition or continuity that can provide structure or consistency to our lives, but that can also be monotonous or tedious.
I got my ___
The sense of identity or purpose that we may derive from our possessions, relationships, or accomplishments.
Im on TV
The desire for recognition or validation that can motivate us to pursue certain goals, but that can also be superficial or self-centered.
Wait a second, wait and see
The caution or patience that we may exercise when faced with uncertainty or ambiguity, and the need to gather more information before making decisions or taking action.
A big ___
The moments of surprise or shock that can jolt us out of our complacency or routine, and force us to reconsider our assumptions or beliefs.
A funny sound
The small, unexpected details or imperfections that can reveal the humanity or humor in a situation, or that can undermine our attempts at seriousness or control.
Whoop, there it is, now its gone
The fleeting or ephemeral nature of many of life's experiences and opportunities, and the sense of loss or regret that can follow when we realize they have passed us by.
Contributed by Lucy L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.