Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Talking Heads and the Iraq War

LIFE DURING WARTIME
Slightly modified from the Talking Heads 1987 original on their "Stop Making Sense" album. Kinda scary how this song describes what's going on right now in Iraq.

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
packed up and ready to go
Heard of some gravesites, 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 the 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, couple of visas,
don't even know my real name.
High on a hillside, trucks are loading.
Everything's ready to roll.
I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime.
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 Baghdad? Heard about Tikrit?
Heard about Diwa-ni-yah?
You oughta know not to stand by the window;
somebody might 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 love you hold you, I'd like to kiss you.
I ain't got no 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 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
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.
Get your 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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