LYRICS
1. Glass, Concrete & Stone
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, 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
2. The Man Who Loved Beer
To whom can I speak today
The brothers they are equal
But the old friends of today
They have become unlovable
To whom can I speak today
The gentleness has perished
And the violent man has come down on everyone
To whom can I speak today
The wrong which roams the earth
There can be no end to it
It is just unstoppable
Death is in my sights today
As when a man desires
To see home after many years in jail
February through December
We have such a tragic year
As separate as the fingers
Suddenly - as one - as the hand
And the violent man has come down on everyone
And the violent man has come down on everyone
3. Au Fond du Temple Saint
Au fond du temple saint
Paré de fleurs et d'or,
Une femme apparaît!
Je crois la voir encore!
Une femme apparaît!
Je crois la voir encore!
La foule prosternée
La regarde, etonnée,
Et murmure tous bas:
Voyez, c'est la déesse!
Qui dans l'ombre se dresse
Et vers nous tend les bras!
Son voile se soulève!
Ô vision! ô rêve!
La foule est à genoux!
Oui, c'est elle!
C'est la déesse
plus charmante et plus belle!
Oui, c'est elle!
C'est la déesse
qui descend parmi nous!
Son voile se soulève et la foule est à genoux!
Mais à travers la foule
Elle s'ouvre un passage!
Son long voile déjà
Nous cache son visage!
Mon regard, hélas!
La cherche en vain!
Elle fuit!
Elle fuit!
Oui, c'est elle! C'est la déesse!
En ce jour qui vient nous unir,
Et fidèle à ma promesse,
Comme un frère je veux te chérir!
C'est elle, c'est la déesse
Qui vient en ce jour nous unir!
Oui, partageons le même sort,
Soyons unis jusqu'à la mort!
4. Empire
In national elections
In songs raised on high
With stirring emotions
As tears fill our eyes.
In democratic fever
For national defense
I am a mountain
I am a mountain
I am a mountain
Like birds upon a fence
Like birds upon a fence
Young artists and writers
Please heed the call
What's good for business
Is good for us all
For as it is in Nature
So it is in life:
The weak among us perish
The weak among us perish
The weak among us perish
The strong alone survive
The strong alone survive
Voices like thunder
Decisions like steel
The past and the future
They belong to us all
From every mountain
The water and the land
The world that we've created
The world that we've created
The world that we've created
By working hand in hand
By working hand in hand
5. Tiny Apocalypse
Raise up - shake them lazy bones
Read the T-shirt but still don't understand
Comin' home with a little apocalypse
It comes, now do you have time for this?
A 3-tone carpet and a Jackie Chan spear
Lookin' at a hairdo and a belly full of beer
Well I ain't no poet, ain't got no rhyme
Well I got me a car and I don't know how to drive
In the event of a pressure loss
All our lines are busy now
I will be laughing out loud anyhow
Ev'ryday, a little apocalypse
Lay down, lay down next to this
Lookin' at the body well I don't even know his name
Call me in this morning was a friend of mine
Well the wind so strong, it's blown us all around
Wind so strong, nobody settle down
Ev'ryday another apocalypse
Had a TV but I don't know how deep it is
Please read the print advisory
Would you like to go ahead?
Dancin' wherever she goes - Tippytoes
Rhetorical
Memorial
Invisible
Incredible
Unstoppable
Emotional
Illogical
Sensational
Little sister gotta take her medicine
Baby brother, gonna do it all again
Runnin' fast but cannot catch the bus
Funny feelin', this is part of us
And you must take your medicine
Getting better everyday
Good for a limited time - Feelin' fine
We will return your things to you
When it's time for you to leave
So quiet nobody knows - Tippytoes
6. She Only Sleeps
She might dance all night
In a topless bar
Fool around, go too far
But I don't mind
You see things are not what they appear
'Cause she only sleeps with me.
She might drink a bit
Lose her way
Crash the car
But come out OK
And my friends might laugh
But they only know what they can see
And she only sleeps with me
Nights on Times Square
Live and on stage
High heels
She feels
That she's dancin' for me
And the little bird
Flies from tree to tree
To the highest branch
Where she thinks she's free
She can have it all
That's the reason you wouldn't believe
That she only sleeps with me
There's a porno book
In the library
Nothin' ever goes
Were it shouldn't be
And the world is queer
And the human is strangest of all
And she only sleeps, yeah, she only sleeps
Yeah, she only sleeps with me
7. Dialog Box
Picture this
Bumping lips
Everyone talks
Do a dialogue box
They shake and bake
Make a cranky face
They got rocks in the head
Got rocks in the bed
Pull the hood down
Grab the fold out
Is it too loud?
Is it all right?
Makin' contact
And you know that
Need a tight fit
To survive
Romeo
Said Juliette
Got a dialogue box
Hey look at me, that's my answer
All Sparkly white
Shiny bright
A genuine smile
The Renegade style
Gonna heat 'em up
And stir the pot
bake it a while
Then cool on the side
Tribulation
Revelation
Absolution
Prophesized
I'm a rich man,
I'm a poor man
But the main thing
I'm alive
Lost in Space
Cosmic haze
Beautiful wreck
Special effect
Clean and pure
Swift and sure
I'm ready to drop
In a dialogue box
Decoration
Innovation
My creation
Any size
If you try it
And you like it
You can have it customized
Gonna test ya
With a gesture
Do I feel ya?
Are ya scared?
In the darkness
In the details
At the movies
Or a play
All crinkled up
Delirious
Fall through the cracks
In a dialogue box
With a smiley bump
Gonna line 'em up
And the question I ask
Hey look at me
That's my answer
8. The Other Side Of This Life
I don't have any more problems
All of my worries are gone
Beautiful angels appear at my side
And corporate sponsors will act as my guide
Agents & analysts take me inside
The other side of this life
Beautiful people are walking
And beautiful people are we
Bright as the sunlight at noon ev'ry day
The people in nightclubs they all turn away
But when it's over we're returning to
The other side of this life
I made a church of your hair-do
And I made a shrine of your legs
I promised to love and to worship each day
I know that heaven is not far away
Management told me they're sure I will play
The other side of this life
Lookin' in the mirror
Peekin' 'round the corner
Where the grass is always greener
Peekin' through the curtain
I gotta have a peek in
It's genuine upholstered leather
Doctor I'm back for a visit
The symptoms are worse than before
Although it's spelled wrong, my name's up in lights
I feel so good, but you say it's all right
I'll pay the price if you help me to find
The other side of this life
The other side of this life
9. Why
I don't have any philosophy
Why do I know what I know?
I see the world in a coffee cup
And when I drink it down there I go
We have our own kind of universe
Sometime but not always true
How come? Wait! Maybe I think it is
The view is very nice and it's big through and through
I got skills and I got secrets, I can part my hair
I feel an empty space where love could be
In adjoining universes
Touching here and there
I stick my head outside and I can see - that
Particles spin 'round a nucleus
Planets encircle the sun
Further out there is the Milky Way
The coolest part of all cracks me up, Ev'rytime
Life isn't really miraculous
It had to happen this way
We had to meet in this checkout line
Explain it as a simple twist of fate
But we can't - be - sure
10. Pirates
A distant car, a quiet night
Like starin' at the ceiling
My sleepy eyes, you smell so nice
It's such a funny feeling
Got no idea, what time it is
Delightfully confusing
The trees outside, the morning light
Arrives, like pirates on parade
Surprise, it's pirates on parade
A ray of light, between the blinds
I lie there in a stupor
I hear a thud, and then a flush
Guess it must be the neighbors
I blink my eyes, I laugh inside
Imagine what they're saying
I see your shape and through the night
Here come, those pirates on parade
Ahoy, it's pirates on parade
Through the rough and stormy weather
On a search for buried treasure
There's an island to explore
Ev'ry wave that whispers softly
"Stay in bed, 'cause it's still early"
Dolphins frolic by the shore
And the phone never rings when the pirates are singing
Well there's 16 men on a dead man's chest
In this hallucination
The map we got, x marks the spot
We're following directions
The 7 seas, the balmy breeze
The pleasure of surrender
The end is nigh, the sun is high
It's late, for pirates on parade
Too late, for pirates on parade
Traffic noises down below me
A helicopter circles slowly
Monsters sink into the deep
Mountainous and downy billows
Float among those fluffy pillows
Maybe I'll go back to sleep
And the phone never rings when the pirates are singing
This wicked life
So what's in store behind that velvet curtain?
The night is gone
And the day is here
The stupid sun is shinin'
The moon reflects
Your hair's a mess
It's lovely imperfections
My crew and I
The clear blue skies
Sail on, with pirates on parade
Sail on, you pirates on parade
11. Civilization
Somewhere between the darkness and light
Faces all glow but its not too bright
Civilization, its all about knives and forks
Isn't she here? What time is it now?
Is this the right place? Do I fit with her crowd?
I'm gonna be a civilized man someday
Part of me wants to jump and shout
Part of me wants to tear it down
I thought you might prefer the cabernet
Civilization, its all about sex
Havin' a ball in a padded banquet
I'm gonna be that really cool guy someday
The waiter looks me over
Would you like cream or sugar?
I don't know - what was I supposed to say
She wonders if I'll notice
I should have brought some roses
Her plate is full, she hasn't eaten all day
Glasses collect we order some booze
She looks at me, I stare at her shoes
Mature situations, maybe a broken heart
Maybe I ought to pay the bill
Maybe she thinks I never will
A million things that cross a woman's mind
Just be yourself, well that's what they say
I barely know who I was yesterday
I'm gonna be that civilized guy someday
Good friends and conversations
The rise and fall of nations
A moments glory and they've had their day
And on my high school folder
I drew a big gorilla
Something familiar, something far, far away
Somewhere between the darkness and light
She touches my hand, she don't seem to mind
We can go home, we can be civilized
12. Astronaut
The Western lands
Day turns to Night
Immaterial play of light
It's very nice out here
Poked my hand in a hornet's nest
They flew out around my face
I guess it's just self defense
The camera pans
The focus shifts
The world is a hornet's nest
I learned my lesson well
I surf the net
And watch TV
There's peace in the Middle East
Feel like I'm an astronaut
Now I am an astronaut
13. Glad
I'm glad I've got skin, I'm glad I've got eyes
I'm glad I got hips, I'm glad I've got thighs
I'm glad I'm allowed to say the things I feel
I'm glad I got hair, glad I got ears
I'm glad I got lungs, I'm glad I got tears
Glad that I never ever know what's real
I'm glad I got lost
I'm glad I'm confused
I'm glad I don't know, what I like
I'm glad I got stoned
I'm glad I got high
I'm glad I found out I'm alright
I'm glad when the sex is not so great
I'm glad that I doubt, I know what they say
I'm glad when I get my girlfriends names confused
I'm glad I know how my life will end
I'm glad I don't have no common sense
I'm glad the things are wrong I thought I knew
I'm glad I'm a mess
I'm glad you don't mind
I'm glad you're better than me
I'm glad that I changed
I'm glad I'm not nice
I'm glad it's the way, it must be
I'm glad I can't see beyond myself
I'm glad when the conversation ends
It's good when it's bad, I'm glad it's not -
worrin' me
14. Un dì, Felice, Eterea
Un dì, felice, eterea,
Mi balenaste innante,
E da quel dì tremante
Vissi d'ignoto amor.
Di quell'amor ch'è palpito
Dell'universo, Dell'universo intero,
Misterioso, Misterioso altero,
Croce e, Croce e delizia
Croce e delizia, delizia al cor.
Misterioso, Misterioso altero,
Croce e delizia al cor.
Croce e delizia al cor.
Delizia, delizia al cor.
Delizia, delizia al cor.
Croce e delizia, delizia al cor
Croce e delizia al cor.
15. Lazy
I'm Lazy when I'm loving
I'm Lazy when I play
I'm lazy with my girlfriend, a thousand times a day
I'm lazy when I'm speakin
I'm lazy when I walk
I'm lazy when I'm dancin
I'm lazy when I talk
Open up my mouth
Air comes rushin out
Nothin doin nada never how you like me now?
Wouldn't it be mad, wouldn't it be fine
Lazy lucky lady dancin lovin all the time
Ohh , I'm wicked and I'm lazy
Ohh, Don't you want to save me?
I'm lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy
There's some folks they got money &
Some folks life is sweet
Some folks make decisions &
Some folks clean the street
Now, Imagine what it feels like
Imagine how it sounds
Imagine life is perfect and every thing works out
No tears are falling from my eyes
I'm keepin all the pain inside
Now don't you want to live with me?
I'm lazy as a man can be
Ohh , I'm wicked and I'm lazy
Ohh, Don't you want to save me
I'm lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy
Imagine there's a girlfriend
Imagine there's a job
Imagine there's an answer
Imagine there's a God
Imagine I'm a Devil
Imagine I'm a Saint
Lazy money, lazy sexy, lazy outta space
No tears are falling from my eyes
I'm keepin all the pain inside
Now don't you want to live with me?
I'm lazy as a man can be
Ohh , I'm wicked and I'm lazy
Ohh, Don't you want to save me
Lazy when I work
Lazy all the day
Screamin all you like but it only fades away
I'm lazy when I'm prayin
Lazy on the job
Gota lazy mind, a lazy eye, a lazy lazy bod
Hard men, Hard Lives, Hard keepin it all inside
Good times, Good God, I'm so Lazy I almost stop
Ohh , I'm wicked and I'm lazy
Ohh, Don't you want to save me
I'm lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy
Ohh , I'm wicked and I'm lazy
Ohh, Don't you want to save me
CREDITS
GROWN BACKWARDS CREDITS: All songs, unless otherwise noted:
Written by David Byrne and published by Moldy Fig Music (BMI)
Produced by David Byrne and Patrick Dillett
Recorded and mixed by Patrick Dillett at Kampo Studios, NYC
Strings recorded at Tequila Mockingbird, Austin, TX
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
Arrangements by Stephen Barber
Album coordination: Kara Finlay and Jess Frost
Design: Danielle Spencer & DB; Drawings by DB
Photos: Michael Wilson (cover); Matthias Clamer (back)
Management: Maine Road Management
Info: davidbyrne.com and nonesuch.com
The Tosca Strings are: Leigh Mahoney - violin Tracy Seeger - violin Jamie Desautels - violin Ames Asbell - viola Sara Nelson - cello Douglas Harvey - cello
Thanks to: Bob Hurwitz and David Bither, David Whitehead, Paul Dalen, Mauro, Paul, Ms. Lia Sweet, Nan Lanigan & Cathy DePriest at RZO, Malu, Stephen Frears, Stephen Barber, Yo La Tengo, Lambchop, Jessica Block, Gregg Schaufeld, Karina Beznicki, Eli Cane, Shawn O’Hea, Yves Marbrier and Christoph Kicherer, Louise Neri.
Nonesuch Records, a Warner Music Group Company, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104. (p) & © 2004 Nonesuch Records for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
1. Glass, Concrete & Stone [4:13]
David Byrne: vocals, nylon-string guitar Mauro Refrosco: marimba, percussion Jane Scarpantoni: cello David Hilliard: high hat Recorded & Mixed by: Mark Saunders at Loveshack Studio, NYC
2. The Man Who Loved Beer [2:41]
David Byrne: vocals, electric guitar Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refrosco: percussion The Tosca Strings John Mills: clarinet, bass clarinet, flute Freddie Mendoza: trombone, euphonium Mike Maddox: accordion Elaine Barber: harp Written by Donald Charles Book and Kurt Wagner Published by Pathetic Hindsight Music (BMI) and administered by Bug Music Basic tracks recorded at: Avatar, NYC Strings & horns recorded at: Tequila Mockingbird, Austin, TX
3. Au Fond du Temple Saint [4:49]
David Byrne: vocals Rufus Wainwright: vocals The Tosca Strings Pamelia Kurstin: theremin John Mills: clarinet, bass clarinet, flute Freddie Mendoza: trombone, euphonium Mike Maddox: accordion Elaine Barber: harp Stephen Barber: prepared piano Tom Burritt: marimba, tympani Written by Georges Bizet, from Les Pêcheurs de Perles (P.D.) Recorded at: Tequila Mockingbird, Austin, TX Rufus Wainwright appears courtesy of Dreamworks Records
4. Empire [4:12]
David Byrne: vocals, dobro Karen Mantler: organ Steve Swallow: bass Vincent Herring: alto saxophone Alex Foster: tenor saxophone Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone Earl Gardner, Lew Soloff: trumpet Ray Anderson, Keith O'Quinn: trombone Bob Routch: French horn (solo); Bob Stewart: tuba Recorded by Tom Mark at RPM Studio, NYC Arrangement by Carla Bley
5. Tiny Apocalypse [4:03]
David Byrne: vocals, Rhodes Barry Burns: spacey guitar, Rhodes Lisa Aferiat: violin Greg Lawson: violin Fiona Stephen: violin Georgia Boyd: viola Donald Gillan, Robert Irvine: cello Una McGlone: bass Johnny Quinn: drums Recorded by Tony Doogan at CaVa Sound Workshops, Glasgow Additional recording at Kampo, NYC
6. She Only Sleeps [2:57]
David Byrne: vocals, electric guitar Andy Waterworth: bass Ross Godfrey: keyboards Joe Cooper: percussion Paul Godfrey: sequencing Engineered by Pete Norris Recorded at Cheeba Central, London Mixed by Mark Saunders at Room with a View, NYC Produced by Morcheeba Productions and David Byrne
7. Dialog Box [3:30]
David Byrne: vocals, electric guitars Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refosco: percussion Jon Blondell: Trombone John Mills: baritone sax Steve Williams: drums Horn arrangement by Stephen Barber & John Mills Recorded at Avatar, NYC & Kampo, NYC Horns recorded at Congress House Studio, Austin, TX
8. The Other Side of This Life [4:00]
David Byrne: vocals, semi-nylon guitar Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refrosco: percussion, samples, kitchen implements The Tosca Strings Elaine Barber: harp Steve Williams: drums, cowbell Basic tracks recorded at Avatar, NYC String overdubs recorded at Tequila Mockingbird, Austin, TX
9. Why [2:54]
David Byrne: vocals, electric guitar, programming Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refosco: percussion The Tosca Strings Jon Spurney: keyboards Kenny Wollesen: drums Drums recorded at Skyline, NYC
10. Pirates [3:52]
David Byrne: vocals, acoustic guitar Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refosco: percussion The Tosca Strings Jon Blondell: trombone John Mills: baritone sax Kenny Wollesen: drums Drums recorded at Skyline, NYC Horns recorded at Congress House Studio, Austin, TX
11. Civilization [3:17]
David Byrne: vocals, acoustic guitar Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refosco: percussion Alan Ford: vacuum cleaner John Linnell: accordion Kenny Wollesen: drums, slit drum Drums recorded at Skyline, NYC
12. Astronaut [2:55]
David Byrne: vocals, electric guitar Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refosco: percussion Pamelia Kurstin: theremin Steve Williams: percussion
13. Glad [1:58]
David Byrne: vocals, nylon-string guitar Paul Frazier: bassw Mauro Refosco: percussion The Tosca Strings Jon Blondell: trombone John Mills: clarinet, bass clarinet Steve Williams: spaghetti percussion Horns recorded at Congress House Studio, Austin, TX
14. Un di Felice, Eterea [2:51]
David Byrne: vocals Jon Vercesi: Rhodes Sandra Park, Sharon Yamada, Soo Hyun Kwon, Katherine Fong: violins Dawn Hannay, David Creswell: violas Alan Stepansky, Jeremy Turner: cellos Shelly Woodworth: oboe , English horn Mark Nuccio: clarinet; Philip Myers: French horn John Patitucci: bass Written by Giuseppe Verdi, from La Traviata (P.D.) Arranged by Anthony Finno Recorded and mixed by Kevin Killen at Sound on Sound, NYC
15. Lazy [9:35] – Bonus Track
Written by David Byrne and X-Press 2 Published by Chrysalis Music (ASCAP) / Deconstruction Songs Ltd. (PRS), administered by BMG Music Publishing (PRS) / Moldy Fig Music (BMI) Arrangement by Stephen Barber based on arrangements by Dan Foster, Steven Hussey and Anu Pillai for Freeform Five David Byrne: vocals, electric guitar, keyboards, drum programming Paul Frazier: bass Mauro Refosco: percussion The Tosca Strings Patrick Dillett: background vocals Steve Williams: drum triggers