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David Byrne — Glass, Concrete & Stone
Album: Grown Backwards
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2054









Released: 2004
Length: 4:11
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Now
I'm wakin' at the crack of dawn
to send a little money home
from here to the moon
is risin' like a discotheque
and now my bags are down and packed for traveling

Lookin' at happiness
keepin' my flavor fresh
nobody knows I guess
how far I'll go, I know
so I'm leavin' at Six O' Clock
meet in a parkin' lot
Harriet Hendershot
sunglasses on, she waits by this

Glass and concrete and stone
It is just a house, not a home.

Skin, that covers me from head to toe
except a couple tiny holes and openings
Where, the city's blowin' in and out
this is what it's all about, delightfully

Everything's possible
when you're an animal
not inconceivable
How things can change, I know

So I'm puttin' on aftershave
nothin' is out of place
gonna be on my way
Try to pretend, it's not only

Glass and concrete and stone
That it's just a house, not a home.
And its glass and concrete and stone

It is just a house, not a home
And my head is fifty feet high
Let my body and soul be my guide
Comments (170)add comment
Gee, David Byrne again, for about the 10th time this week.

Sorry for the sarcasm -nothing against DB, but there is so much amazingly great music that could be mixed in here at RP.  I´d like even more variety!  
I am not disputing their musical qualities and I think both are great in their way but i.m.o. Talking Heads and David Byrne are overplayed. I'm sorry fans!
Yuck what a buzzkill song.

This sucks.  And I like the Talking Heads.
Besides of glass, concrete and stone there are also some elements of "talking loud and clear" from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in this song.  No criticism at all to D. Byrne. Just happy to remember a song I had almost forgotten. Thanks, Mr. Byrne...
 jjbchansen159 wrote:

Really not crazy about Byrne's solo stuff.  



Agree. The combination of musicians in the THs was interesting, but I have yet to hear any of his solo work that lives up to those tunes. Sometimes you need other people to add some oomph to your work, like when he teamed with Eno for Bush of Ghosts.
 jjbchansen159 wrote:

Really not crazy about Byrne's solo stuff.  



That solo work encompasses most of David Byrne's catalog. It's a shame it doesn't appeal to you. It speaks to me. 
Really not crazy about Byrne's solo stuff.  
 Egrey wrote:

I think we can all agree that D. Byrne is good. However, I feel like I hear this song every day. Perhaps we can give this song a "rest?"



Whoa, Egrey! I don't begrudge anyone who likes D. Byrne but please don't characterize me as agreeing that D. Byrne is good.
 kcar wrote:
It might be better these days if he found someone to sing for him. 
 
It might not.
 h8rhater wrote:

1. A minority of listeners, with tedious complaints, who fail to see the genious in DB's music and want "us" to all know about their shortcomings.
2. "They" are free to boycott whatever they want.  We wouldn't.
 
He just played here in Eugene and it was the next best thing since the Stop Making Sense Tour! 12 musicians jamming, venue dancing, it was a blast!{#Bananajam}
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
I thought we were boycotting David Byrne and Talking Heads...


dwhayslett wrote:

Who is "we", and why would "we" do that? 

 
1. A minority of listeners, with tedious complaints, who fail to see the genious in DB's music and want "us" to all know about their shortcomings.
2. "They" are free to boycott whatever they want.  We wouldn't.

The lyric after the song title "Glass and concrete and stone, it's just a house, not a home" reminds me of one of the funniest wedding gifts I've ever seen.  

When my dad got married for the 3rd time, one of his business associates named Mr. Chen got him and my new step-mum (she's Canadian) a machine made wood carving with the words "LOVE IS WHAT MAKES A HOME A HOUSE" and a price tag of $4.99. 

Not only was the gift super funny because it was a Chinese knock-off of an otherwise cool gift with the idiom screwed up, Mr. Chen is a multi-millionaire who owns several apartment buildings in the Seattle area and flew back-and-forth to China at least once a month.  The idea that he bought a wedding gift in China to bring back to Seattle for my dad was very heartwarming; the fact that his rich ass paid less than $5 for a gift cheesier than a fondue party in Wisconsin AND the wording of the idiom was flipped so as to not have the intended meaning....well that is priceless. 

I think it was re-gifted to another recently wed friend of my dad as a gag gift...and hopefully re-re-gifted....and so on....

Because this song reminds me of this hilarious gift I'm bumping my otherwise 7 rating to an 8.  LONG LIVE RP!!


 chyk5 wrote:

Agreed, It's just unfortunate the same can't be said for the rest of the album. 

 
I can say it for the rest of the album;  all good stuff.

Thanks Radio Paradise, who else would pull out these nuggets from time to time?  Nobody.
 Typesbad wrote:
David Byrne's voice is annoying.  It wasn't so bad when when he was backed by the energy and great rhythms of the rest of the Talking Heads.  But anything with minimal instrumentation and a flowing melody is going to be problem with him.

 
{#Clap}

Thank you. From what I can remember, Byrne's actual singing was limited in TH: he spoke lyrics more. It might be better these days if he found someone to sing for him. 
Yuck
 CHuLoYo wrote:
An unappreciated jewel 

 
Agreed, It's just unfortunate the same can't be said for the rest of the album. 
An unappreciated jewel 
 joempie wrote:

I wish. They had some relevance, and it's not bad, but 2 of their songs per day just goes to show that Bill has got a crush on it. That's his good right, as it's his radio station, but for me it's a valid reason to switch to a different channel every day. I wouldn't mind one of their songs per week, but here it's completely overrepresented imho.

 
Bill has his reasons to play his faves and you have yours to leave.  See ya!  {#Wave}
Came to comment and saw I said the exact same thing word for word two months ago. Good god I do love it though.
Poignant 
God I love this tune. Absolute gem.
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
I thought we were boycotting David Byrne and Talking Heads...

 
I wish. They had some relevance, and it's not bad, but 2 of their songs per day just goes to show that Bill has got a crush on it. That's his good right, as it's his radio station, but for me it's a valid reason to switch to a different channel every day. I wouldn't mind one of their songs per week, but here it's completely overrepresented imho.
 LaurieinTucson wrote:
I thought we were boycotting David Byrne and Talking Heads...

 
Who is "we", and why would "we" do that? 
Wow All the way down to the last line a suspension.
I thought we were boycotting David Byrne and Talking Heads...
Surprised you're playing David Byrne considering how his company is upping broadcasting rates as indicated by the letter on the front page of the RP website.
Thank you psd gods! left this Byrne-blech for actual kick-ass funk fromJohn Mayall, super righteous "Television Eye" 1970
David Byrne's voice is annoying.  It wasn't so bad when when he was backed by the energy and great rhythms of the rest of the Talking Heads.  But anything with minimal instrumentation and a flowing melody is going to be problem with him.
wasn't this in some movie?
Dude's good on many levels...

Also enjoys keeping their flavor fresh


 chelsiaann wrote:
This song. Head phones. Amazing.
I never heard this song until a few months ago on RP. I went home and downloaded it almost immediately then, like a teenager, listened to it on repeat for an hour. Then I told one of my former students about it and it was an instant win with him.
Long live David Byrne. A weirdo I like.

 

{#Propeller}  A weirdo I like too.  VIVA WEIRDOS!  {#Lol}
This song. Head phones. Amazing.
I never heard this song until a few months ago on RP. I went home and downloaded it almost immediately then, like a teenager, listened to it on repeat for an hour. Then I told one of my former students about it and it was an instant win with him.
Long live David Byrne. A weirdo I like.
As much as I don't like David Byrne, I don't mind this song too terribly much. I wish it were instrumental nonetheless.
I guess the ratings distrubtion says it all,,, that more people enjoy David Byrne that dislike him...Great plays on RP, and always enjoy learning the names of bands I have not yet discovered, and am happy that RP is there to educate us all... Each day listening to RP is a surprise and a most enjoyable eclectic mix of artists and music styles. Well Done..
Imagine how talented the rest of the Talking Heads must have been, to make this guy sound good?
For the longest time, I thought the line was "Meet in a parking lot, Having a hendershot", and I wondered what that was.   EDIT - oh, wait, I already said that!  DELETE DELETE DELETE...
We like, haven't heard the rest of the album.


This song is from one of the worst CDs I've ever bought. Terrible.
Horribly horrific, as usual. Switching to classical CD because I don't need my life to be worse than it already is. 

not a fan of this bit...

Love this album, love this song. 

9


 fredriley wrote:
I'd love to wake at the crack of dawn, but I doubt that Dawn would like it :o)

I'll get me dirty mac...
 
Fred - depends on what you DID after you woke at the crack of dawn.  Right there with you, grabbing me coat...

Oh.  It's David Byrne.  Hitting the mute switch.  Let me know when the 90-year-old tone-deaf woman stops singing.  So funny, the previous post seemed to echo my same sentiments.  I hadn't read it first.  :P


 joeychick wrote:
uugggghhhhh, Every single time I listen to RP, David Byrne is always on the airwaves. I used to like him, but there's way too much of him on RP. headphones off for the next 5 mins.
 
Yep. I've not been listening to RP very much these past few months, as there is little that's new to my ears anymore. Time was when I'd be chasing down 80% of everything I heard here... those were the days.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm sitting at the computer and happened to glance at what's next so I could quickly mute my sound system.
Very nice on this quiet, foggy early morning at work... {#Meditate}
 nalle wrote:

Beklagar SweTex men inte f-n är detta briljant, bara tråkigt. Hälsningar från moderlandet?
 
Brilliantly boring ? {#Ask}
I'd love to wake at the crack of dawn, but I doubt that Dawn would like it :o)

I'll get me dirty mac...
uugggghhhhh, Every single time I listen to RP, David Byrne is always on the airwaves. I used to like him, but there's way too much of him on RP. headphones off for the next 5 mins.
Is this good  or  not so good ? Hmmmmm  i  think   mayyybeeee..... not so good.
RP's forever love affair with David Byrne and Talking Heads.....
For, literally, years now, every time I heard this song, I vaguely wondered what "having a hendershot" meant!  "define: hendershot" gave me nothing from Google, so I looked up the lyrics "Harriet Hendershot" - it's a name!

Brilliant?{#Yes}
 stevebeaver wrote:
David Byrne isn't my cup of tea, in fact I gave this a 2. That said there is a place for this here. There is plenty of music that doesn't do it for me. Doesnt mean it has no value or is crap. If somebody listens and enjoys it or gets happy or has a dark day made a bit bright, then the song has fulfilled its purpose. Unless it is Toby Keith. That sh!t has got to go!
 


Yup, what he (she) said.
On he contrary, I think this is one of his better recent efforts.
 photolew wrote:
Not my favorite DB song
 
Mine neither. But then, I equally detest all TH/DB tracks.


 stevebeaver wrote:
. . . Unless it is Toby Keith. That sh!t has got to go!
 
{#Roflol} I guess the tractor-pull crowd has to listen to something!

David Byrne isn't my cup of tea, in fact I gave this a 2. That said there is a place for this here. There is plenty of music that doesn't do it for me. Doesnt mean it has no value or is crap. If somebody listens and enjoys it or gets happy or has a dark day made a bit bright, then the song has fulfilled its purpose. Unless it is Toby Keith. That sh!t has got to go!
 SweTex wrote:
Brilliant as always.
 
Beklagar SweTex men inte f-n är detta briljant, bara tråkigt. Hälsningar från moderlandet?
 DaveInVA wrote:

Stop your spewing, troll. If you can't handle people not having the same taste in music as you maybe you should leave instead of attacking people here, pal.

 
Ah, Dave... there you are.  I was afraid that hovel may have fallen in on you.


 h8rhater wrote:

Start your barfing, pal.

 
Stop your spewing, troll. If you can't handle people not having the same taste in music as you maybe you should leave instead of attacking people here, pal.

 DaveInVA wrote:
Oh  no, not more of this crap...
 
Start your barfing, pal.

Brilliant as always.
Not my favorite DB song
Was Uakti involed in this track?
{#Puke}
Ya know, this really isn't that bad, its more chill then his other stuff. I kinda like it.
Oh  no, not more of this crap...
 jjbix wrote:
. . . another dose of puke!
 
I love that Bill continues to ignore the haters.
I know it's not the greatest song ever written but why the over-the-top vitriol?


This ideal vision is easy for David Byrne to promote because he is rich and well-known, and whatever he does gets a certain amount of recognition because of his excellent reputation for making music.

Music is about community. But, the community will be very small if the distribution network does not pay the artists. Byrne may resent the executives at Warner Bros., but they did distribute his music at one point, and they did pay him. Perhaps they should have paid him more.

I'm not seeing how the internet is paying for startup bands. Neither does it seem adequate for them to sell their own CDs at shows.  Am I missing something? 

floydoftherocks wrote:

From - https://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/archives/2007.php#june_07

There was another piece in the Times today about yet another 20 percent drop in CD sales. (Are they running the same news piece every 4 months?) Jeez guys, the writing's on the wall. How long do the record execs think they'll have those offices and nice parking spaces? (Well, more than half of all record A&R and other execs are gone already, so there should be plenty of parking space). They, the big 4 or 5, should give the catalogues back to the artists or their heirs as a gesture before they close the office doors, as they sure don't know how to sell music anymore. (I have Talking Heads stuff on the shelf that I can't get Warner to release.) The "industry" had a nice 50-year ride, but it's time to move on. Luckily, music remains more or less unaffected — there is a lot of great music out there. A new model will emerge that includes rather than sues its own customers, that realizes that music is not a product in the sense of being a thing — it's closer to fashion, in that for music fans it tells them and their friends who they are, what they feel passionately about and to some extent what makes life fun and interesting. It's about a sense of community — a song ties a whole invisible disparate community together. It's not about selling the (often) shattered plastic case CDs used to come in.
{#Crowded}
 


tedious self indulgent crap

 
slowhand wrote:
wonderful.
 


wonderful.

From - https://www.davidbyrne.com/radio/archives/2007.php#june_07

There was another piece in the Times today about yet another 20 percent drop in CD sales. (Are they running the same news piece every 4 months?) Jeez guys, the writing's on the wall. How long do the record execs think they'll have those offices and nice parking spaces? (Well, more than half of all record A&R and other execs are gone already, so there should be plenty of parking space). They, the big 4 or 5, should give the catalogues back to the artists or their heirs as a gesture before they close the office doors, as they sure don't know how to sell music anymore. (I have Talking Heads stuff on the shelf that I can't get Warner to release.) The "industry" had a nice 50-year ride, but it's time to move on. Luckily, music remains more or less unaffected — there is a lot of great music out there. A new model will emerge that includes rather than sues its own customers, that realizes that music is not a product in the sense of being a thing — it's closer to fashion, in that for music fans it tells them and their friends who they are, what they feel passionately about and to some extent what makes life fun and interesting. It's about a sense of community — a song ties a whole invisible disparate community together. It's not about selling the (often) shattered plastic case CDs used to come in.
{#Crowded}
 audiolizard wrote:
Beautiful.
 
Every once in awhile David Byrne hits a home run, this is nice.

MUTE
 jjbix wrote:

 . . . another dose of puke!

 
{#Umbrella}

PU
 Shesdifferent wrote:
Here comes the daily dose of David Byrne
 

 . . . another dose of puke!


{#Notworthy}


 Shesdifferent wrote:
Here comes the daily dose of David Byrne
 
{#Headache}

 mamashannon wrote:

David B is a genious and everyone should own Talking Heads and David's albums. Real talent.
 
{#No}


horstman wrote:
Still hear a lot of Eno in this.

Eno made The Talking Heads great and he makes David Byrne step up from being merely OK. I can't really remember DB doing anything memorable after TH.

One of my favorite "RP" type songs.
Here comes the daily dose of David Byrne
DB /// eww -  don't flame me please ... .. actually this song is good since he is not whining so much ...

Beautiful.
reminds me a little of a singer called Andrew Bird
Great song.  I would like to hear it a little more often.
Skin, that covers me from head to toe except a couple tiny holes and openings Where, the city's blowin' in and out this is what it's all about, delightfully Everything's possible when you're an animal not inconceivable How things can change, I know Animal, sweet animal.
horstman wrote:
Sure can hear a lot of Eno in this.
Still hear a lot of Eno in this.
joanbcn wrote:
Thanks Bill, for being a TH and DB fan. For young musicians: listen and learn
You got it. All artists need to strive to be original no matter the medium.
Oh man! I kind of like this song and it's DB. He's starting to sound a little bit like Richard Thompson on estrogen.. Maybe that's not such a bad thing.
those guys could sing, byrne suckstrainer454 wrote:
You have to be kidding, right? What about Led Zeppelin? Don't think Page sang any of their songs ...
Isn't this the song for the new Walgreens commercials?
jjbix wrote:
Seems to be a common theme . . I am unaware of any other band in which only one bad singer sings every song. YUCK!
You have to be kidding, right? What about Led Zeppelin? Don't think Page sang any of their songs ...
Interesting
Still not as good as the Talking Heads, though.
renlat wrote:
Sorry to say that, but David Byrne and TH play way much too often on RP.
Seems to be a common theme . . I am unaware of any other band in which only one bad singer sings every song. YUCK!
quite likeable I'm going to try to upload something from the "Catherine Wheel" and "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts". Haven't had much luck with my uploads lately though.
bobrk wrote:
I've always loved the way this one builds.quote> Agreed!
I've always loved the way this one builds. He's great live, highly recommended.
Thanks Bill, for being a TH and DB fan. For young musicians: listen and learn
This song is also at the end of a sordid little movie called 'Dirty Pretty Things'...a disturbing look at illegal aliens in the UK selling their internal organs for fake passports to the US. This song is great! This album is one of my new favs.
I adore this song, and I love the movie it reminds me of . . . In Good Company. Slam it if you will, I still thought it was a great film.
trekhead wrote:
Nothin' wrong with a little chair music. Making the 'O' with my mouth makes NO difference at all , however. Apart from giving away my SBD's...
TMI!
Hey, I like this WAAAAY better than the TH songs I've been hearing here!
Like the lack of over-the-top register on this one. And the theramin tuned cello.
renlat wrote:
Sorry to say that, but David Byrne and TH play way much too often on RP.
Bill loves Byrnin down the house.
David B is a genious and everyone should own Talking Heads and David's albums. Real talent.
bobrk wrote:
Jeez, you people are whining about 'Heads songs every 10? When I turned my wife onto TH and DB, she filled the CD player in the car with 6 TH/DB CDs and left it that way for months and months on end. It was great!
Wow, been a while for this one. Thanks for playing it! The whole album is great
Not a huge fan of Byrne and the Heads, but just about any time I hear one of their songs I say, "Hey, that's pretty good." So, maybe I'm becoming a TH/DB fan? Could it be I'm already there? Wow. Who'd have imagined? Time for some introspection.
Jeez, you people are whining about 'Heads songs every 10? When I turned my wife onto TH and DB, she filled the CD player in the car with 6 TH/DB CDs and left it that way for months and months on end. It was great!
Sure can hear a lot of Eno in this.
renlat wrote:
Sorry to say that, but David Byrne and TH play way much too often on RP.
Hear hear, maybe he has stock in RP?
I have been thoroughly enjoying this run of songs for the past half hour at least. So perfect. Something about this song really touches me. He is so personal with his music. I imagine he is talking about his divorce. And moving out of his brownstone. And NYC. Glass, concrete and stone.
Sorry to say that, but David Byrne and TH play way much too often on RP.
I love the Byrne! Mad props forsomeone we consider a Rhode Island native(we don't have many!)
Only 10 degrees of separation between Talking Heads' head on the playlist! Playing favourites, Bill?
He puts on a great show live--funky versions of old TH hits and lots of his solo stuff accompanied by a tight combo and a string (!) section, essentially the same group you hear here. I've seen him 3 times in the last 4 or 5 years and he's been amazing each time.
"Let my body and soul be my guide" yesyes! love the byrne, love him. love himmmmmm.