Life During Wartime
Talking Heads
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Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons, Packed up and ready to go Heard of some grave sites, out by the highway, A place where nobody knows The sound of gunfire, off in the distance, I'm getting used to it now Lived in a brownstone, lived in a ghetto, I've lived all over this town This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, This ain't no fooling around No time for dancing, or lovey dovey, I ain't got time for that now Transmit the message, to the receiver, Hope for an answer some day I got three passports, a couple of visas, You don't even know my real name High on a hillside, the trucks are loading, Everything's ready to roll I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nighttime, I might not ever get home This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, This ain't no fooling around This ain't no Mudd Club, or C. B. G. B., I ain't got time for that now Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit? Heard about Pittsburgh, P. A.? You oughta know not to stand by the window Somebody see you up there I got some groceries, some peanut butter, To last a couple of days But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no headphones, Ain't got no records to play Why stay in college? Why go to night school? Gonna be different this time Can't write a letter, can't send no postcard, I ain't got time for that now Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock, We blended in with the crowd We got computers, we're tapping phone lines, I know that that ain't allowed We dress like students, we dress like housewives, Or in a suit and a tie I changed my hairstyle, so many times now, I don't know what I look like! You make me shiver, I feel so tender, We make a pretty good team Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving, You ought to get you some sleep Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks? They won't help me survive My chest is aching, burns like a furnace, The burning keeps me alive
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Written by: CHRIS FRANTZ, CHRISTOPHER FRANTZ, DAVID BYRNE, JERRY HARRISON, TINA WEYMOUTH
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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11 facts about this song
Band Formation"Life During Wartime" is a single released by the American rock band "Talking Heads". David Byrne, the lead vocalist, and songwriter of the band co-founded the group in 1975 with Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison.
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Release DateThe song "Life During Wartime" was released in 1979 as the first single from their album "Fear of Music".
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Song InspirationDavid Byrne, the songwriter, was inspired by the idea of a dystopian future where a guerrilla war is taking place. The song portrays this scene, referring to it as life during wartime.
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Genre"Life During Wartime" is an example of new wave and post-punk music, genres Talking Heads help popularize in the late 70s and 80s.
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Notable LyricsThe phrase "This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no fooling around" became particularly famous from this song. The line is seen as a critique of the frivolity and superficiality of the disco scene that was popular at that time.
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Live Version PopularityThe live version of the song, featured in the film and album "Stop Making Sense" in 1984, is arguably even more popular than the original recording. It includes an extended aerobic workout by David Byrne and additional lyrics.
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Theme of SongThe song's heavy theme is contrasted with its upbeat tempo, creating a unique tension that fans of Talking Heads have come to associate with the band's sound.
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Chart Performance"Life During Wartime" peaked at number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100 - it was more appreciated for its imaginative concept and unique sound than for its popularity as a chart-topper.
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Music VideoThere was no traditional music video made for the song. However, the "Stop Making Sense" performance with David Byrne running on the spot has since become an iconic visual representation associated with the song.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Phish and Pinhead Gunpowder, demonstrating its lasting influence and popularity.
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Cultural References"Life During Wartime" has been referenced in various forms of media and culture, from Stephen King novels to episodes of The Simpsons, indicating its influence and reach beyond just the music industry.
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Citation
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