LYRICS
1. HOME
The dimming of the light makes the picture clearer
It's just an old photograph
There's nothing to hide
when the world was just beginning
I memorized a face so it's not forgotten
I hear the wind whistlin'
Come back anytime
And we'll mix our lives together
Heaven knows- what keeps mankind alive
Ev'ry hand- goes searching for its partner
In crime- under chairs and behind tables
Connecting- to places we have known
(I'm looking for a)
Home- where the wheels are turning
Home- why I keep returning
Home- where my world is breaking in two
Home- with the neighbors fighting
Home- always so exciting
Home- were my parents telling the truth?
Home- such a funny feeling
Home- no-one ever speaking
Home- with our bodies touching
Home- and the cam'ras watching
Home- will infect what ever you do
We're Home- comes to life from outa the blue
Tiny little boats on a beach at sunset
I took a drink from a jar
& into my head
familiar smells and flavors
Vehicles are stuck on the plains of heaven
I see their wheels spinning round
& ev'rywhere
I can hear those people saying
That the eye- is the measure of the man
You can fly- from the stuff that still surrounds you
We're home- and the band keeps marchin' on
Connecting- to ev'ry living soul
Compassion- for things I'll never know
2. MY BIG NURSE
When the lake's on fire
With all the world's desires
When he shakes the stars above
When we lose the ones we love
When the seasons lose their grip
When the tightrope walker slips
I'm counting all the possibilities
When the past becomes the now
When the lost becomes the found
When we fall in love with war
When the angel fucks the whore
When the road we travel on
Takes us back where we came from
I'm counting all the possibilities
For dancing on this lazy afternoon
In the comfort of the world
In the arms of my big nurse
From the science of the heart
To each animal and plant
Compact, relaxed- intact, give thanks
I'm counting all the possibilities
For dancing on this lazy afternoon
3. I FEEL MY STUFF
I think I waited too long
I'm moving into the dollhouse
Some days we exercise
Some days we harmonize
Look away, look away, look away- oh yeah
Emily said she'd suddenly waken
Look at that guy with the government coupon
Yoo hoo, yoo hoo, gonna get you
Japanese chairs in somebody's concert
Telephone bills on the company paycheck
Who knew? Who knew? I do
Emily lost her mobile phone
Last night's dance on a bumpy road
I won't go out in the cold
Lebanese Chinese in my school
Imagine who can make you cool
Who's gonna pay for this call?
The cheapest dog, the hottest sun, the fiercest cat & the meanest gun
You got to hold the peelings in your hands, baby
It's a safety belt, it's a Christian crime, a rocket ship, it's a joke of mine
I took away the day that I'd be gone- shoot!
Lebanese take their sailors home
The broken stuff in the outer wall
I'm sticking out in the road
Memorize toilets, Chang Mai School
I like my song but I lost my cool
I need my laser, don't move
Put him in the ground where the Duchess grows
Where the word is true and the girls are strong
Gonna stuff it, step it, pick it, going bye
Take another life of a wretched soul
When they get too high where the bushes grow
& They rope it, squeeze it, push it side to side
The chicken shack, the rising sun,
the written word in a foreign tongue
You got to hold it all before it drops, baby
It's a little bit, it's a lot inside,
it's a bigger thing than YOU can hide
I took away the parts that need controlling
Hooligans jump in the budget sign
In the tropic zone, where the fix is fine
Gonna chase it, place it, face it with my eye
Stinky little bird in a dirty tree
Gonna figure out it's your lucky day
If ya smell it, sell it, tell it to my ear
Lowered in the ground where the Duchess grows
Where the word is true and the girls are strong
Gonna stuff it, step it, pick it, going bye
Take another life of a wretched soul
If they get too high where the bushes grow
& They rope it, squeeze it, push it side to side
(I'm sayin') I feel my stuff
I get enough
I come back to be stronger
I feel my stuff
I changed my luck
I come back to be stronger
4. EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
I ride on a perfect freeway
Many people on that road
I heard the sound of someone laughing
I saw my neighbors car explode
Just up ahead
Against the sky
Quicker than you blink your eye
Oh my brother, I still wonder, are you alright?
And among the living, we are giving,
all through the night
From the milk of human kindness
From the breast we all partake
Hungry for a social contract
She welcomes you with dark embrace
(puts)
socks and shoes
Upon our feet
Little fishes swim upstream
Oh my brother, I still wonder, are you alright?
In the deepest silence, gold and diamonds,
all through the night
Everything that happens will happen today
& nothing has changed, but nothing's the same
and ev'ry tomorrow could be yesterday
& and ev'rything that happens will happen today
ev'rything that happens will happen today
and nothing has changed but nothing's the same
& ev'ry tomorrow could be yesterday
and ev'rything that happens could happen today
5. LIFE IS LONG
Ev'rybody says that the living is easy
I can barely see ‘cause my head's in the way
Tigers walk behind me-
they are to remind me that
I'm lost- but I'm not afraid
Soul to soul- A kiss and a sigh
Sawed in half- by the passage of time
Halfway home- from a window you see
Chains and bars- but I am still free
People on the outside-
I remember sweet times
This old rose- is always in bloom
Ev'ryone is happy- to be a baby daddy
Stone love- with nothing to lose
Life is long- if you give it way
So stay, don't go- ‘cause I'm fading away
Soul to soul- between you and me
Chain me down- but I am still free
Now I can say- those three little words
And ev'ry day- I'm dreaming a world
Soul to soul- a kiss and a sigh
Holding back- the waters outside.
Life is long- if you give it way
So stay, don't go- ‘cause I'm fading away
Soul to soul- between you and me
Chain me down- but I am still free
6. THE RIVER
I'm standing on the stage
I'm working in a restaurant
I make a decent wage- and I-
Will sing into the microphone
The river rise up
& flows above the interstate
beyond the schools and shops-
there's no way to communicate
The water's moving on
Beyond the lies and hypocrites
I'm thinking of a song
I need you to remember it
The forest is alive
It asks us to participate
We lifted up our eyes
To promise and reciprocate
We fell down on our knees
For ev'ry human being-
One sad day I will fly away
And one sad day I will tip toe away
Oooh
But a change is gonna come
Like Sam Cooke sang in '63
The river sings a song- to me-
On ev'ry St Cecilia's day
So when I was reborn
I went back to the restaurant
The river's moving on- from here-
To sing it's crazy symphony
I'll go home- where you are
right in front of me.
7. STRANGE OVERTONES
I wake up ev'ry morning
I hear your feet on the stairs
You're in the next apartment
I hear you singing over there-
This groove is out of fashion
These beats are 20 years old
I saw you lend a hand to
The one's out standing in the cold--
Strange Overtones
In the music you are playing
I'll harmonize
It is strong and you are tough
But a heart is not enough-
Put on your socks and mittens
It's getting colder tonight
A snowball in my kitchen
I watched it melt before my eyes-
Your song still needs a chorus
I know you'll figure it out
The rising of the verses
A change of key will let you out-
Strange overtones
Though they're slightly out of fashion
I'll harmonize
I see the music in your face
That your words cannot explain
Strange Overtones
In the music you are playing
We're not alone
It is strong and you are tough
But a heart is not enough-
8. WANTED FOR LIFE
Fill the suitcase up- did he stiff somebody?
Will he testify?- if you say you're sorry
Grown men laugh when they heard that lie
10 to 12- gonna hang them high
wanted for life
Hu hu- I'm wanted for life
Ran outside
The buildings dropped
Now he stole the crown
Do the buggers never stop?
Said- wait a minute pop
Hoo Hey-Wait a minute pop
Now upon this earth
We stand on dirt
Well I got tore down
But I'm still standing up
Ev'ry little drop
(I'm thankful for) ev'ry little drop
Torn and Frayed
Even though it's full a holes
Get cha where ya wanna go
Get cha where ya wanna go
Even though you're smarter than me
I'll write your autobiography
I'm using all the words up
I got my grammar in the 5 and dime
I'm givin' all the words up
Now I know the words are mine
If ya close your eyes- do ya picture money?
Did he change his mind? Does it keep you runnin'?
The blind men sing
The girls gone wild
The statute's clear
And they emphasized
wanted for life
hoo hoo I'm wanted for life
So, Swing that stick
Throw that rock
Inch by inch
Goin step by step
Yeah- wait a minute pop
Wait a minute pop
Now Upon this earth
We stand on dirt
We got torn down
But I'm still standing up
Every little drop
(I'm thankful for) ev'ry little drop
Torn and frayed
My testimony's full of holes
Get me where I wanna go
Get cha where ya wanna go
Pardon me sir
I don't live here no more
But see that's the way it goes
I'm moving on a gravel road
Pardon me sir
I don't live here no more
Maybe that's the way it goes
I guess that that's the way it goes
Pardon me sir
I don't live here no more
I'm moving on a gravel road
Maybe that's the way it goes
9. ONE FINE DAY
Saw the wandrin' eye- inside my heart
Shouts and battle cries- from ev'ry part
I can see those tears- ev'ry one is true
When the door appears- I'll go right through-oooh
I stand in liquid light- like ev'ryone
I built my life with rhymes- to carry on
And it gives me hope- to see you there
The things I used to know- that one fine
One fine day
One fine day
In a small dark room- where I will wait
Face to face I find- I contemplate
Even though a man- is made of clay
Ev'rything can change- one fine-
One Fine Day...
Then before my eyes- Is standing still
I beheld it there- a city on a hill
I complete my tasks- one by one
I remove my masks- when I am done
Then a piece of mind- fell over me
In these troubled times- I still can see
We can use the stars– to guide the way
It is not that far- one fine…
One fine day
One fine day...
10. POOR BOY
A truck parked this morning- outside the groc'ry store
Friends face the future- they're wearin' summer clothes
Great cosmic forces- like fallin' dominoes
I love talking funny- it's the only song I know
Sweet smart and sexy- the day my life began
Burnt out and damaged- I dragged my body home
This slice is runny- it's dripping down my clothes
Flies stick to honey- it's the only game they know
Poor Boy-I walk into the river in my hat and shoes
Poor Boy-I'm sittin at the table with a knife and spoon
Live fast die happy- don't let your panties show
I trust market forces- it's the only song they know
So come and rock my soul- where sin and sorrow lie
White horses carry me- unto the other side
Poor Boy-I'm livin in a country where my thoughts are cold
Poor Boy-I'm waitin for the harvest of the seeds I sow
a flower in the night- with thoughts of days gone by
I've got to ring that bell- and I'll be satisfied
Poor Boy- I'm wearin silver slippers and a long white gown
Poor boy- I picture in my mind the day the walls come down
Poor Boy- I'm livn in a country where I'm never free
Poor Boy- I'm writing down the names of all the things I see-
11. THE LIGHTHOUSE
I'll build a house- of water
I'm searching high- and low
Underneath the waves
Where they hit the rocky shore
Out by the lighthouse
Heard nature say
“I'm sorry-
for stones and trees down below
for those who tumble in God's name
to an early grave
into the sea and foam
like ships tossed in a storm”
and I'm standing all alone
out by the lighthouse
I'll build a house- of paper
Covered with words I can read
She had to teach me what to say
And every year we stayed
Out by the lighthouse
I'll build a house- so level
With 7 walls- long and true
The day we raised that roof up high
Unto the fading light
We sang the whole night through
& no one needed proof
& I could see the moon
out by the lighthouse
CREDITS
Produced by Brian Eno & David Byrne
Additional production by Leo Abrahams
All songs written by Brian Eno & David Byrne
Brian is published by Opal Music, London (PRS), except in N. America & Canada by Upala Music, Inc (BMI)
David is published by Moldy Fig Music, Inc (BMI)
“Strange Overtones” co-written by Leo Abrahams / Peacefrog (ASCAP)
(c) & (p) Todomundo Ltd. / Opal Ltd. 2009
All songs mixed by Patrick Dillett at Kampo Studios, NYC
Brian and David's stuff was recorded at their home studios.
Live drums recorded by Leo Abrahams and Cherif Hashizume at Cafe Music Studios — except “My Big Nurse”, “Never Thought”, “The Painting” and “Life” recorded by Robert Harder at Harder Sound.
Live brass and percussion recorded by Patrick Dillett at Kampo Studios, NYC
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
Design by Sagmeister Inc., New York
Illustration by Stephan Walter
Artist management by David Whitehead at Maine Road (DB), and Jane Geerts at Opal Office (BE)
Production Coördination by Frank Hendler
Digital Archaeology by Peter Chilvers
Press by Sacks & Co. (N. America), Chapple Davies (Europe)
Digital marketing and commerce by Topspin
STANDARD & DIGITAL PACKAGE:
HOME
David — vocals, guitar solo
Brian — bass, backing vocals, electric drums, kaoss pad, keyboards, guitars
Leo — acoustic guitars, percussion
Seb Rochford — live drums
MY BIG NURSE
David — vocals
Brian — bass, organ, steinberg virtual guitar, electric guitar
Leo — acoustic & electric guitar, piano, percussion
Steve Jones — fast pulls guitar
Seb Rochford — live drums
I FEEL MY STUFF
David — vocals
Brian — basses, electric drums, inhuman piano, guitar, keys, brass, backing vocals, traps
Leo — guitar, solo guitar
Tim Harries — melody bass
Phil Manzanera — drone guitar
Seb Rochford — live drums
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS
David — vocals
Brian — bass, keyboards, water guitars, stellar voice
Leo — piano, coin guitar
LIFE IS LONG
David — vocals
Brian — bass, backing vocals, strings, programming, omnichord piano, guitar
Leo — guitar, upright piano, percussion
Steve Jones — rhythm guitar
Dan Levine, Dave Mann, Barry Danielian, Paul Shapiro — brass
Brass arrangement by Dan Levine
THE RIVER
David — vocals
Brian — guitars, bass, keys, backing vocals
Leo — hurdy gurdy, baritone guitar
Mauro Refosco — murky pandeiro, cricket shaker, reco reco, peddler's rattle
STRANGE OVERTONES
David — vocals, rhythm guitar
Brian — backing vocals, organ solo, omnichord, keys, programming
Leo — guitars, bass, stylophone, programming
Steve Jones — delay guitar
Robert Wyatt — frame drum solo
Seb Rochford — live drums
Mauro Refosco — bongo, conga, tambourine
WANTED FOR LIFE
David — vocals
Brian — bass, backing vocals, snout keyboard, guitar, electric drums
Leo — guitars, bass, backing vocals, percussion
Seb Rochford — live drums
Dan Levine, Dave Mann, Barry Danielian, Paul Shapiro — treated brass
ONE FINE DAY
David — vocals
Brian — bass, backing vocals, steinberg virtual guitar, electric guitars, programming
Leo — acoustic guitar, bass
Steve Jones — melody guitar
Seb Rochford — live drums
Mauro Refosco — zabumba, cahon, tamborim, conga, shaker
POOR BOY
David — vocals, guitars
Brian — bass, electric drums, programming, guitars, keyboards, brass
Leo — high bass
Seb Rochford — live drums
THE LIGHTHOUSE
David — vocals, guitars, ebow guitars, clavinet, piano, surdu, percussion
Brian — bass, guitar treatments, keys, programming
Leo — bass, thunder guitar
Seb Rochford — live drums
BONUS TRACKS:
NEVER THOUGHT
David — vocals, ebow guitars
Brian — bass, lead & rhythm guitars, programming, inhuman piano, backing vocals
Leo — ebow, acoustic guitar, piano, percussion
Robert Wyatt — handsonic drum
Melanie Hall QC — female backing vocals
WALKING ALONG THE RIVER
David — vocals, piano
Brian — bass, electric guitars, keyboards, electric drums, omnichord, percussion, backing vocals
Seb Rochford — live drums
Darla and Irial Eno — vocals
THE EYES
David — vocals
Brian — guitars, keys, omnichord, piano, backing vocals
Leo — reverse guitars, bass
THE PAINTING
David — vocals
Brian — guitar, shakers, programming, keys
Leo — guitars, bass, glockenspiel, solo guitar
Seb Rochford — live drums
Mauro Refosco — zabumba, timbal
Brian thanks: Jane Geerts, Anthea, Irial Eno and Darla Eno, Peter Chilvers
David thanks: Ms Lia Sweet and Nan Lanigan at RZO, Danielle Spencer and Sarah Resnick at Todomundo, Cindy, Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng