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Talking Heads — Born Under Punches
Album: Remain in Light
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 635









Released: 1980
Length: 5:35
Plays (last 30 days): 1
Ahh!

Take a look at these hands.
Take a look at these hands.
The hand speaks. The hand of a government man.
Well I'm a tumbler. Born under punches.
I'm so thin.

All I want is to breathe (I'm too thin)
Won't you breathe with me?
Find a little space, so we move in-between (In-Between it)
And keep one step ahead, of yourself.

Don't you miss it, don't you miss it.
Some 'a you people just about missed it!
Last time to make plans!
And I'm a tumbler... I'm a Government Man.

Never seen anything like that before
Falling bodies tumble 'cross the floor (Well I'm a tumbler!)
When you get to where you wanna be (Thank you! Thank you!)
When you get to where you wanna be (Well, don't even mention it!)

Oh, take a look at these hands. They're passing in-between us.
Take a look at these hands!
Take a look at these hands. You don't have to mention it.
No thanks. I'm a Government Man.

And the heat goes on...And the (Wheeeep!) heat goes on
And the heat goes on (heeh heeh)...And the heat goes on
And the heat goes on (brbbrbbrb)...Where the hand has been (chtktktktk)
And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on (aaaaaiiiigh!)

And the heat goes on... (I got time!) And the heat goes on
And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on
And the heat goes on...Where the hand (Oooip!) has been
And the heat goes on...And the heat (hehuh hehuh hehuh hehuh) goes on...

I'm not a drowning man!
And I'm not a burning building! I'm a tumbler!
Drowning cannot hurt a man!
Fire cannot hurt a man. Not the Government Man.

All I want is to breathe (Thank you. Thank you.)
Won't you breathe with me?
Find a little space...So we move in-between (I'm so thin)
And keep one step ahead of yourself. (I'm catching up with myself)

All I want is to breathe (brehuh ehuh)
Won't you breathe with me (Hands of a Government Man)
Find a little space so we move in-between
And keep one step ahead of yourself. (Don't you miss it! Don't you miss it!)

And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on...
And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on...
And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on...
And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on...
And the heat goes on...Where the hands has been...
And the heat goes on...And the heat goes on...
And the heat goes on...
Comments (87)add comment
Just about to head down to the Boulder Theater to catch Stop Making Sense; it was a floor-stomping, aisle-dancing jam party on Halloween, and this time should also be wild! And the beat goes on...don't even mention it...don't you miss it!
(Wheeeep!)
The sound of genius (Byrne/Eno/Belew). Timeless, captivating, and thoroughly compelling IMHO. Their best album, among a few.
i just watched a funkadelics-parliment video

aha!
 Ahnyer_Keester wrote:

Don't you miss it, don't you miss it.Some of you people just about missed it.


Look at my hands, look at my hands
Push the skip button
tedious sound tedious voice .. . 
yeah. .... goes on.......
goes on
Byrne has the appeal of a jib head drum circle
(don't reply - just post your own comment)
 kingart wrote:

My college roommate played Psycho Killer about 7 times in a row and I threatened to kill him. 

...when he asked "quest que c'est?" assume you were about to give a demo?
This is possibly my favorite album they did

This song sounds like garbage on mediocre equipment, but it is transcendent in FLAC on good IEMs.
 coy wrote:

never grows old




I Agree!  GREAT TUNE!!  Thankx RP!   
 kingart wrote:
My college roommate played Psycho Killer about 7 times in a row and I threatened to kill him. 
 
So you're saying it nearly worked?
Don't you miss it, don't you miss it.Some of you people just about missed it.

My college roommate played Psycho Killer about 7 times in a row and I threatened to kill him. 
It's OK. But, say, 10 plays in a row and I'd be a candidate for hari kari seppuku leaping in front of a train a handful of 'Ludes. Anyone notice that Byrne's mug in the upper left looks like Silence of the Lambs Hannibal Lecter in his mask?
 
never grows old
TH = an almost automatic 1. And mute. Or shift over to KCRW. Have fun in my absence.
More punches is what this song deserves indeed, another glorious 1!
Cool, weird stuff.  Yet funky!
 MinMan wrote:
eno
  yes, but eno + byrne = genius squared.

 dmax wrote:
Imagine how old this song is (THIRTY YEARS), and therefore how groundbreaking.
 
And it still sounds new. When I first heard it, it sounded like aliens at a disco.
 dmax wrote:
Imagine how old this song is (THIRTY YEARS), and therefore how groundbreaking.

 
Not really, since they´re using those typical 8-bit Nintendo-like sounds... Exactly THAT is what makes it sound old...

 fingerpin wrote:
genius.
  eno
genius.
 tanyaahogan wrote:
I love the sucko-barfo rating
my first use of it!

 

Plenty of TH and DB songs on RB, enjoy!
Actually all of the Dot Matrix bleeps are coming from Adrian Belew...and I heart Adrian Belew!
 Felix_The_Cat wrote:
hehe, don't want to be mean, this soounds like a dot matrix printer
 
Well, that's original criticism, even if I don't agree! :-)

Second best song on arguably their best album.  Such a great groove.

I don't get the T-Heads/David Byrne hate here.
Unique and always enjoyable. MORE candy for the ears!
 justin4kick wrote:

Brilliant! There's no other band that makes songs like this.


 
Bump! {#Dance}
Cool Happy
 kestrel wrote:

{#Puke}

 
{#Puke}
.....................................OMG this music make me act so juvenile.

 DaveInVA wrote:
My Gawd this sucks!


Mr Creosote says
 
{#Puke}

 handyrae wrote:
Dear God — Tori Amos followed by the Talking Heads! I hope at least Bill's gotten it out of his system for the day.
Damn! I missed Tori Amos!
Keep up the good work Bill. 



 derekd wrote:
I am always amazed to see how polarized the RP audience is on the Talking Heads. I think they're amazing. But I'm a musician. So perhaps I hear or appreciate different elements of the music than the average listener/.
 

Agreed, taking the time frame of the Talking Heads into consideration, their music broached territory that few were exploring. I still remember Time magazine naming David Bryne rock's 'Renaissance Man', his influence through music, spoken word and film gave many of us who appreciated this a great thrill. And yes, I can see RP and Mr. Bill gravitate towards the Heads and Byrne, it is what makes this station so endearing. And for those who just appreciate paint-by-numbers- pop, there is still the mute button for this duration of 5:49
 handyrae wrote:
Dear God — Tori Amos followed by the Talking Heads! I hope at least Bill's gotten it out of his system for the day.
 
RP does have a 'thing' for Talking Heads, but as the saying goes, even Homer nods. I just hit the mute as soon as Byrne's warbling hits my eardrums and give it a few minutes, then return to the normal excellent programming.

 Brooky wrote:


some people do get it and we are all better for it

Well said.
 



My Gawd this sucks!




 jjbix wrote:
more crappy noise from the egomaniac with a shitty voice
 

some people do get it and we are all better for it
I think someone should make a pinball machine that makes sounds like those on this song when the ball is banging around.  :)
I am always amazed to see how polarized the RP audience is on the Talking Heads. I think they're amazing. But I'm a musician. So perhaps I hear or appreciate different elements of the music than the average listener/.
 jjbix wrote:
more crappy noise from the egomaniac with a shitty voice
 

{#Lol}

.... but you love it, dontcha!? {#Wink}
 Felix_The_Cat wrote:
hehe, don't want to be mean, this soounds like a dot matrix printer
 
Maybe Hunter S. Thompson's dot matrix printer.   ; )

Brilliant! There's no other band that makes songs like this.


hehe, don't want to be mean, this soounds like a dot matrix printer
Dear God — Tori Amos followed by the Talking Heads! I hope at least Bill's gotten it out of his system for the day.

It's a bit strange to me to hear it here, because I have this one as a ringtone in my cell-phone.

I LOVE IT!


 greyfin10 wrote:
Would I be way off base if I guessed this is a track with Adrian Belew on it?
 
 coolpeople_rule wrote:
Never heard this song before from Talking Heads...but at first listen I could have sworn this was King Crimson!
 

You people should start a clique or something.

San Diego, that's why I left you!
amazing stuff from those Talking that had something to say.
Now SF
Would I be way off base if I guessed this is a track with Adrian Belew on it?
{#Bananasplit}{#Bananasplit}{#Bananasplit}{#Sunny}{#Bananasplit}{#Bananasplit}{#Bananasplit}
Never heard this song before from Talking Heads...but at first listen I could have sworn this was King Crimson!
What a great song from one of the best records they produced! They were awesome live! {#Bounce}As to the negative comments towards the T Heads— like they say in this song -some just dont get "it" lol Enjoy!

more crappy noise from the egomaniac with a shitty voice
Got this album for $1.99 as an Amazon download. Excellent. I think this is my favorite song on the album now. Used to be Once in a Lifetime, which is excellent also. Very good album, why didn't I buy it when I was in high school?
A fantastic song from a fantastic CD.
gotta turn up the bass....
throw on those headphones..
excellent.
Well, if I have to hear a TH song, at least it's not one I've heard a million and a half times
Endlessly boring. 
{#Bananasplit}
ARGHHH 2 days without RP and what it;s playing when i can back? DB OF COURSE .... what a curse ...

OScar 
Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
my only upload that I give a 10.
Sweeet!!
"dont' you miss it! don't you miss it....some of you people just about missed it"

{#Eh}
Clap

Couldn't resist. Here are two more smokers from the Rome 1980 show!
I had to register to say thanks for the video links. I've been a TH fan for years and saw the SMS tour and was blown away. These video's move it to a whole other level. Belew is unbelievable. I know some will never be convinced of what a jolt these guys were at a time when the airwaves were filled with Journey and REO, but if you're on the fence at least give these videos a watch. Great stuff.
Which song is more funky: "Born Under Punches" or "Houses In Motion" ? "Houses" gets my vote, though I love both.
The Talking Heads just weren't the same after Brian Eno stopped producing their albums. Compare "Remain in Light" with "Little Creatures" sometime...
Couldn't resist. Here are two more smokers from the Rome 1980 show! Cities (home of Elvis and the ancient Greeks): (click here) Crosseyed and Painless (facts are useless in emergencies): (click here)
pope183 wrote:
live in Rome 1980 with Adrian Belew on you tube (click here)
This clip is truly outstanding. Monster funk bass solo! The other clips from the same show are also outstanding. I enjoyed the Stop Making Sense live concert movie, but the performances in the Rome 1980 show absolutely DESTROY anything and everything in the SMS movie, and most of Talking Heads' studio work as well. Hopefully there will be a DVD some day so I can see and hear this awesome show with proper sound and video ... and crank it up!
Houston, we have lift off!
I love this group,lets hear more please..........
TMTH. (Too much Talking Heads.)
the Heads have sooooo much great stuff, it's sad that you only hear it on RP. The rest of commercial radio just recycles the pablum.
Great to hear more from this album on RP, IMO Talking Heads' masterpiece. Thanks!
pope183 wrote:
live in Rome 1980 with Adrian Belew on you tube (click here)
- how to re-discover the heads - most excellent! I'd love to get a cd / dvd quality copy of that concert.
Uncle_Fenester wrote:
This album was mind-blowing when it came out. Like nothing that had come before. And it still sounds great today.
Brian Eno's influence on Talking Heads in the 1980s was similar to his influence on PG's Genesis with "The Lamb..." "King's lead hat" indeed!
Work it. Some of you people just about missed it.
live in Rome 1980 with Adrian Belew on you tube (click here)
Dobber wrote:
Sweet!! Very funky. I also like Phish's cover of this song.
A bit much so for me, but still pretty cool.
The hands of a government man...
I always thought the talking heads was kind of the 80s psychedelic music.
Sweet!! Very funky. I also like Phish's cover of this song.
This album was mind-blowing when it came out. Like nothing that had come before. And it still sounds great today.
now we just need "the Great Curve".
Brilliant!
This song is awesome. Never heard it... it's been a while for that.
my only upload that I give a 10. Sweeet!! "dont' you miss it! don't you miss it....some of you people just about missed it"