“Life During Wartime” was released on Talking Heads third studio album, Fear Of Music, in the summer of 1979. This was the second of the string of three albums that Brian Eno produced for the band….and to me at least it’s one of the all-time absolute perfect matches of producer and artist.
This is the second video I’ve made for a Talking Heads song (see “Heaven” https://youtu.be/H506K66A3xo )…..hope to get some more finished later. The video features my FLAC rip from my original Talking Heads DVD-A’s….which remain the absolute greatest way to hear this band. Hope you enjoy.
From Wiki:
Fear of Music is the third studio album by American new wave band Talking Heads, released on 3 August 1979 on Sire Records. It was recorded at locations in New York City between April and May 1979 and was produced by the quartet and Brian Eno. The album reached number 21 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and peaked at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. Three songs were released as singles between 1979 and 1980: “Life During Wartime”, “I Zimbra”, and “Cities”. The record was certified Gold in the U.S. in 1985.
Fear of Music received favorable reviews from critics. Praise centered on its unconventional rhythms and frontman David Byrne’s lyrical performances. The record is often considered one of the best Talking Heads releases. It has featured in several publications’ lists of the best albums of all time. Britain’s Channel 4 named the record at number 76 in its 2005 countdown of The 100 Greatest Albums.
In 1985, NME named Fear of Music at number 68 in its writers’ list of the All Time 100 Albums. In 1987, Rolling Stone placed it at number 94 in its list of the best albums of the previous 20 years. In 1999, it was included at number 33 in The Guardian’s list of the Top 100 Albums That Don’t Appear In All The Other Top 100 Albums Of All Time. In 2004, Pitchfork Media featured the record at number 31 in its Top 100 Albums Of The 1970s list while, in 2005, Channel 4 ranked it at number 76 during The 100 Greatest Albums countdown.
I loved Talking Heads previous album, More Songs About Buildings And Food and was looking forward to their third release. Fear Of Music was an absolutely brilliant album, one of the most memorable albums during a period when numerous brilliant albums were being produced. I played it constantly that summer and fall and it is one of my two favorite Talking Heads albums (tied with 1985’s Little Creatures)….as well as one of my very favorite albums of the late 70’s- early 80’s…..and wow! how vividly
[Lyrics]
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 a postcard,
I can’t write nothing at all
This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco,
This ain’t no fooling around
I’d like to kiss you, I’d love you hold you
I ain’t got no time for that now
Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock
we blended with the crowd
We got computer, we’re tapping phone lines
I know 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 some sleep
Get you instructions, follow directions
Then you should change your address
Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day
whatever you think is best
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
Try to stay healthy, physical fitness
Don’t want to catch no disease
Try to be careful, don’t take no chances
You better watch what you say
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