Talking Heads Don't Worry About The Government (HQ)

[deadboydansmith089]

this is my happy song wow

[malachijung]

It sounds like creative non fiction writing. So good.

[foolishpen]

Ironic.

[fromMouq]

Whether or not the song is being ironic, he seems to be saying, hey, I'm living in my building, with the government and everything and everyone that supports me and that I appreciate all this work you do to make my life oh-so-cozy; I'm busy working, being part and helping other people, but if you come along, I'll be happy to accomidate you. It's a song about an ideal life under government, though if he is simply expressing this or sarcastically condemming it is your interpretation.

[gabysalter]

Isn't this sarcastic rather than ironic?

[apollothrowback]

@gabysalter Yes, but it seems that most people don't know the difference anymore.

[steve66oh]

In the news from TN, the fire dept showed up at a house fire and watched it burn to the ground ("Burning Down the House"...) because the homeowner had not paid his $175/year fire protection service fee.

In honor of that FD, I'm rewriting one line of this song - "Some civil servants are... like effing gangsters... They want payola to... turn on the puu-uu-umps..."

[Dragon4Fire]

@steve66oh @steve66oh - That was a major error from that particular FD, not because of government in general. A private FD could have just as easily done the same thing.

[steve66oh]

@Dragon4Fire - I wasn't making an argument for privatization, or against core public services... I was criticizing that one FD and the idea of a "fire protection service fee" on top of the tax that property owners pay.

[Dragon4Fire]

@steve66oh Ah, right-O then. We're in agreement there. Those firefighters should be held liable for property damage & moral negligence for letting the house burn. Also, this is a cool--ass song!

[weezer953]

The top two comments pretty much nailed it...just had to say how much I love this song :)

[inmotion86]

Not a song about anti-government paranoia, but about the annoyance of bureaucracy.

[UngratefulLiving420]

If he's speaking from the perspective of the government, what's the "building" he's referring to? Is it a metaphor? Love the talking heads, but at a certain point, Byrne always Stops Making Sense lol

[Sam5LC]

I think its about community. I think he's worried about people getting distant from their neighbors. It doesn't help society if people only care about their friends and "loved ones".

[probrojeffro]

Love the title.

[quidnick]

In Soviet Russia, the government don't worry about you!

[Chronomorte]

Another great song where they somehow combined simple, intellectual, paranoid, complex, wacky and funky all into one song. Salute!

[DmeshOnPS3]

"Don't Worry About The Government...Let The Government Not Worry About You!"

[johnmckinlay67]

This album charted at #97 in the US Billboard, and #60 in the UK.

THIS IS A CRIME !!!

[probrojeffro]

@johnmckinlay67 Many people worldwide in commas at that time. Probably,

[melollie316]

This brought back some awesome memories for me. Thanks so much for posting especially with the great audio.

[hairymarx]

The first two Talking Heads albums are masterpieces that have stood the test of time.

[thegrandwazoooo]

@hairymarx hahah and what TEST would that be ???

[hairymarx]

@thegrandwazoooo figure of speech, prat.

[Mrmadmouxe]

xxxxd!!THANKS 4 POST)mxto

[Rayth152]

They got the irony just right, it's really worked out well as we all now know.

[adamtzsch]

a lesson in irony

[ND7652]

@adamtzsch Sure as hell is .

[milesdavisistheman]

One of my favorite Talking Heads songs.Thanks for uploading it.