LYRICS
1. A Long Time Ago
And in the land where I grew up
Into the bosom of technology
I kept my feelings to myself
Until the perfect moment comes
Then into your bloodstream I will go
Until I turn into a part of you
Flooding the garden of delights
That was a long long time ago
That was a long long time ago
It’s not the ending of the world
It’s only the closing of a discotheque
I used to go 3 times a week
That was a long long time ago
Yeah, that was a long long time ago
And that roaring that you hear
Is only the blood that circles constantly
No, it is not applause, my dear
No, that was a long long time ago
That was a long long time ago
In between stations I can hear
A million possibilities
It’s only the singing of the stars
That burned out a long long time ago
They burned out a long long time ago
2. Angels
There are no angels left in America anymore
They left after the second World War heading west
Stopping briefly in Japan during the ’60s
In Tienanman Square, during the last decade
They kept heading west to who knows where
What’re they after?
What’re they looking for?
A Messiah who never comes?
A virgin birth?
A perfect drunk?
A sign,
Any kind of sign
Anything that looks slightly out of the ordinary
Flying over fields & factories
Momma’s goin’ off her head
Daddy’s bringin’ home the bacon
Open up the pearly gates
Fruit of salty lubrication
Tangled up in arms & legs
I can barely touch the bottom
Now I’m workin’ up a sweat!
I’m ready now--
I’m ready now--
I can barely touch my own self
How could I touch someone else?
I’m just an advertisement
For a version of myself
Like molecules in constant motion
Like a million nervous tics
I am quivering with anticipation
Like the sunlight on their wings
I’m ready now--
(Don’t look back)
I’m ready now--
(I’m ready for this)
I’m ready now
The sensuous world — the smell of the sea
The sweat off their wings — the fruit from
the trees
The angel inside — will meet me tonight
On wings of desire — I come back alive
I’m ready --
I’m ready --
(I put the dogs outside)
I’m ready --
I’m ready --
(To take that ride)
I’m ready now --
I’m ready now --
(To take that wine)
I’m ready now --
But where are you?
3. Crash
I met my love at a funeral
Tired of goodbyes & burials
Friends I have known
Some I just met
Standing around
It’s hard to forget — now isn’t it?
The war started in Bethlehem
A quarrel between holy men
Rocket’s red glare
Night without end
Burning my eyes
It’s hard to forget — now isn’t it?
And if our cells are our destiny
I want to be free of biology
You are my friend
And I hurt you, too
It is not what
I intended to do
I saw my love by the restaurant
Diggin for home fries in a garbage can
Ice cream & cake
Sweetness & light
A bottle of wine
That would be nice — wouldn’t it?
4. A Self Made Man
We’re living in a dump
Trying to figure out what sex we are
Exchanging chromosomes
Trying to bargain for a better future
Well I’ll trade you my potential mental
illness for your bad teeth
How ’bout trading your sexy body for a
full head of hair
Well we can’t predict the future
But we’re trying to do the best that we can
My cards are on the table
I’m gambling ev’rything that I am
And some of us are hoping
To end up with a perfect life
I’ll trade you ev’rything that I got
For the chance to be someone else
And what you see is what you get
And what you get is what you choose
And what I am
What you see
Is exactly what I chose to be
And now we got a black market
A black market in designer genes
The most beautiful, most intelligent
Criminals you’ve ever seen
And now you’re payin’ top dollar
For what you used to get for free
They’ll stun you with their looks
And charm you with effortless ease
They’ve taken ev’rything from you
The way that you walk
The way that you smile
The sound of your voice
Don’t even know
Who you are
Who are you now?
Who are you now?
I’m a self made man, I’m a self made man
I’m a self made man (I’ve got nothing left to give)
I’m a self made man (I’ve got nothing left to lose)
On down the hallway
The freaks are waiting for you
Somebody calls me
The freaks are waitin’ for you
The clown will laugh in your face
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
The clown will laugh in your face
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
The clown will laugh in your face
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
5. Back In The Box
The sun shines on the living
The sun shines on the dead
The sun shines on you and me
Wherever we lay our heads
The sun shines on the evil
The sun shines on the good
It doesn’t favor righteousness
Although you wish it would
Oh Johnny, oh Johnny
Are you still awake?
Oh Johnny, oh Johnny
I’m terribly scared
And now I need an oasis
A place to hide from the day
I ’d like a little dark tiny room
Where the music plays
Maybe you just lost somebody
Maybe your whole world has changed
The sun don’t really care about that
It shines on anyway
Oh Johnny, oh Johnny
Are you still awake?
Oh Johnny, oh Johnny
I’m terribly scared
I’m goin’ back in the box
Back in the box
Back in the box again
Back in the box
Back in the box
Back in the box again
And now love’s terrifying
I cannot hide what I want
You cannot hear me or see me now
When I go back in the box
If I don’t make no decisions
I won’t make no mistakes
But through all these tiny holes
Well the light still gettin’ in
I’m going back in the box
Back in the box
Back in the box again
I’m going back in the box
Back in the box
Back in the box again--
6. Sad Song
You may think I look sad
But I am just sleeping
It’s my facial expression
I’m probably dreaming
Would you like to be sad?
Would you like me to teach you?
Well, you can learn to be sad
But you must practice like I do
You must follow directions
And learn it right from the start
There isn’t a short cut
It must come from your heart
There are those who are happy
There are those who are wise
But it’s the truly sad people
Who get the most out of life
You may think I look sad
But I am just sleeping
It’s my facial expression
I’m probably dreaming
7. Nothing At All
Lord knows we’ve become scientific
It’s nothing special at all
Sometimes ev’rything gets big
And nothing is small
We can live here ev’ryday
We can be here whenever we play
And the knife is near at hand
I cut myself to see who I am
Reach inside but I still can’t touch
the policeman inside
Baby Jesus, Holy Moses!
He can stop on a dime
I guess there’s just too many supposes
For me to put out that fire
Skin so soft...feels so...light
Guess I’ll stay home tonight
From the Rockies to the Rio Grande
A big ol’ shadow falls across the land
Had some money, but it’s not enough
to keep me in line
We made love in a shower of stars
I had a vision in my backyard
Saw a car drive across the sky
Behind the wheel look there! it’s you and I
Looks like we’re gonna get outa ourselves tonight
Looks like --
What do you suppose?
Was it nothing at all?
What do you suppose?
Was it nothing at all?
Those good times, good times, good times we had
Were they nothing at all?
Did I sleep a little too late?
Or am I awake?
Shake your body till the fear is gone
Like it was nothing at all
It’s so easy, so easy, so easy
Hey it’s nothing at all
So easy, so easy, so easy
Hey it’s nothing at all
8. My Love Is You
Some men desire a princess
And others lust for a temptress
Well I don’t need one a those ’cause
My love is you
My love is you
Some men replace their mamas
And some want a young Baiana
I have no use for those ’cause
My love is you
And my love is you
Sometimes dear
You tell me I’m an asshole
Sometimes you’re an asshole too
Even though we’re filled with
imperfections
I don’t think any less of you
I’m primitive & selfish
I’m childlike & I’m helpless
Well I got that way because of
My love for you
My love is you
My love is you
9. Lilies of the Valley
Momma she had complications
There’s nothing very strange ’bout that
Nuns said “We can’t kill that baby.
We’ll have to let your mother die”
We are all just lilies of the valley
We neither reap nor sow
We need to get our hands a little dirty
To make our gardens grow
Way too many people on this island
Getting way too crowded on this boat
Need someone to bail some water
If we’re gonna keep this thing afloat
I like a little sugar in my coffee
I don’t mean Sweet ’n Low
You don’t know what you want until you
find it
I believe you’ll tell me so
I need a little water in my garden
I need a little sunlight on my head
I need someone to cover me with kisses
When I’m all alone & scared
We are all just lilies of the valley
We neither reap nor sow
We need to get our hands a little dirty
To make our gardens grow
I like a little sugar in my coffee
I don’t mean Sweet ’n Low
Ahh...like to cover me with kisses
To make my garden grow.
10. You & Eye
You & I — may kill ourselves
You & I — go straight to hell
Where they have barbeque & beer
Better than they do up here
And you know all the words to the songs
Yeah--we smoke cigarettes
We dance with the dead
They’re soft to the touch
We drink way too much
And Darling, I think you’ll like it here
You might like it here
U & I — we ain’t no saints
You & eye — we can see our fates
We’ll be the faces in the clouds
We’ll be a gospel singer’s shout
We’ll be the lights from an airplane
at night
Hey yeah--I can’t stay in my skin
I been in here too long
But I know where to find, a really good
time
And darlin’ I think you’ll like it here
You might like it here
I’m gonna fall in love
With ev’ryone I meet
And ev’ryone I see
And ev’rything I touch
And ev’rything I feel
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way--
It’s supposed to be?
I’m the look upon your face
The water on your lawn
The light from distant stars
The wreckage of a plane
The space between your teeth
The itch you cannot scratch
The mentally unfit
The pimple on your lip --
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way --
I’m the ice cube in your glass
A busted Cadillac
The garden of delight
The joker in your deck
It ain’t in what I feel
No, it ain’t in what I say
And the pleasure of a kiss
It never fades away --
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way --
It’s supposed to be?
Isn’t that the way --
You & I --
11. Strange Ritual
A man sits in a field — contemplating his crops
In his mind he travels all over the world
Mmm--I see hairstyles
Scenes of beauty
Scenes that disgust me
I see me --
I felt awe
Felt disgust
I felt bliss
I felt lust
It’s — not unusual
Saw people in a remote village proudly
wearing their-- digital watches
Saw a young Indonesian girl --
possessed by the spirit of Mutant Ninja Turtles
Saw — palatial estates, with crumbling decorations--
and human furniture
I saw hairstyles
Meanwhile
There’s a strange ritual
Got a strange ritual, it’s wearin’ me down
Saw a skyscraper made out of abandoned car parts
Saw a legislature of women courted by corporate lobbyists
Saw body parts made out of precious gems --and rare metals
Saw a man on a barstool — who hadn’t moved — in 32 hours
He’s lost in love
He’s lost in love
All hope is gone
A french corporation that doesn’t make anything
An ambulance driver — wakes up in a Dairy Queen
A town in which even the people who live
there can’t remember its name
Yeah, I see
Yeah I see — I see what you mean
Yeah I saw hairstyles
Meanwhile
There’s a strange ritual
He’s got a strange ritual
He keeps to himself
Mmm — got a strange ritual
He keeps to himself
“Excuse me, sir
Excuse me, sir
You can’t stand there
You can’t stand there”
Excuse me sir (excuse me sir)
Excuse me sir (excuse me sir)
You can’t stand there (you can’t stand there)
You can’t stand there (you can’t stand there)
I saw things
Things out in the fields
I saw things
Things out in the fields
And I look at myself
What do I know?
I saw things come into my room
It’s not unusual
I saw hairstyles
Meanwhile
There’s a strange ritual
Got a strange ritual
He keeps to himself
Yeah, we got a strange ritual
We keep to ourselves
He’s lost in love
He’s lost in love
All hope is gone
All hope is gone
All hands on deck
All hands on deck
He’s lost in love
He’s lost in love
We’re lost in love
We’re lost in love
All hope is gone
All hope is gone
We’ve got a strange ritual
We keep to ourselves
We’ve got a strange ritual
We keep to ourselves
We’ve got a strange ritual
We keep to ourselves
We’re lost in love
We’re lost in love
We’re lost in love
We’re lost in love
12. Buck Naked
Running naked down the state highway
Runnin’ naked in the middle of the day
Runnin’ naked like a tom cat’s behind
Runnin’ naked but the cat don’t seem to mind
Give me your heart
I’ll give you mine 1st
Give me your time
I’ll give you my trust
(And we’re) buck naked now
Like when we were born
When will we find out
Why does it take so long
And we’re buck naked now
And we’re buck naked now
And we’re buck naked now
In the eyes of the lord
Running naked like the day when I was born
We’re all naked in the land where I come from
I’m a long long way from New York City now
We’re all naked if you turn us inside out
And we’re buck naked now
We ain’t got no clothes
Bare assed for sure
In the eyes of God
Naked in my heart
Naked in my soul
Well, how does it feel
Does anybody know
(Well we’re) naked inside
You’re naked too
Well there’s nothing to fear
And there’s nothing we can do
(And we’re) buck naked now
Buck naked now
Buck naked now
In the eyes of the Lord
CREDITS
Produced by Arto Lindsay; Susan Rogers; David Byrne.
Recorded by Susan Rogers at Clinton Studios, Nov-Dec. 1993.
Assistant engineer: Mark Agostino.
Additional overdubs at Skyline Studio.
Assistant engineer: Hiro Ishihara.
Mixed by Michael Brauer at Quad and Sony Studios, Mar. 1994
Assistant engineer: Bruck Dawitt.
Except for *, mixed by Susan Rogers at Skyline Studio.
Mastered by Bub Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Me., Mar. 1994.
Technical Coordination: Mark Edwards.
Production Coordination: Steve Cohen.
Incidental Inclinations: Yale Evelev.
Management: Original Artists / Linda Goldstein.
Photos: Jean Baptiste Mondino.
Art direction/design: Robert Bergman-Ingar/Art w/o Borders Co NYC
Thanks to: Tim Carr, Sarah Caplan, Adelle Lutz, Kevin Walsh at Gibson Guitars, Jack Kontney at Shure, Brothers Microphones, D'Addario Strings, Valerie Naranjo, Ford, Rudy& Lynn, Steve at Matt Umanov and Heather Higgins.
Todd Turkisher plays Zildjian cymbals, Remo drum heads, Vic Firth drum sticks and Mapex drums.
Gina eats Nature's Recipe lamb and rice maintenance diet.
Bones by Nylabone. Bed by Pet Palace, NYC.
All songs by David Byrne.
All songs copyright 1994 Moldy Fig Music, BMI.
1. A Long Time Ago
vocals, guitar & synthesizer: David Byrne
bass: Paul Socolow
doumbeck, frame drum, & surdo: Todd Turkisher
talking drum & slit drum: Valerie Naranjo
2. Angels
vocals, backing vocals, guitars, bells, & balafon: David Byrne
bass & backing vocals: Paul Socolow
drums & roto toms: Todd Turkisher
tambourine: Valerie Naranjo
3. Crash
vocals & guitar: David Byrne
bass & backing vocals: Paul Socolow
drums & samples: Todd Turkisher
vibraphone: Bill Ware
percussion samples & kat: Valerie Narajo
4. A Self-Made Man
vocals, backing vocals, electric & lap steel guitars: David Byrne
bass: Paul Socolow
percussion: Todd Turkisher & Valerie Narajo
marimba: Bill Ware
5. Back in the Box
vocals, backing vocals & guitar: David Byrne
bass & backing vocals: Paul Socolow
drums & trash can:Todd Turkisher
sampled percussion: Valerie Narajo
guitar: Art Lindsay
shaker & coil chime: Bashiri Johnson
6. Sad Song
vocals & guitars: David Byrne
bass: Paul Socolow
drums: Todd Turkisher
backing vocals: Bebel Gilberto & Paul Socolow
guitar: Arto Lindsay
farfisa: John Medeski
conga & shaker: Bashiri Johnson
7. Nothing At All
vocals, backing vocals & guitar: David Byrne
electric bass and backing vocals: Paul Socolow
drums: Todd Turkisher
organ: John Medeski
marimba: Valerie Naranjo
vibraphone: Bill Ware
8. My Love is You*
vocals & guitar: David Byrne
upright bass: Paul Socolow
drums: Todd Turkisher
tuba: Marcus Rojas
shaker: Valerie Naranjo
9. Lilies of the Valley
vocals & guitar: David Byrne
bass: Paul Socolow
drums: Todd Turkisher
vibraphone: Bill Ware
shaker: Bashiri Johnson
temple block: Mark Agostino
10. You & Eye
vocals, guitar & clavinet: David Byrne
basses: Paul Socolow
drums: Todd Turkisher
backing vocals: Dolette McDonald & Paul Socolow
percussion: Sue Hadjopoulos
congas & bongos: Bashiri Johnson
11. Strange Ritual
vocals & guitar: David Byrne
bass: Paul Socolow
drums: Todd Turkisher
backing vocals: Bebel Gilberto & Paul Socolow
farfisa: John Medeski
marimba: Bill Ware
drone: Mark Edwards
snore loop: Gina
12. Buck Naked
vocals and acoustic guitar: David Byrne
acoustic bass: Paul Socolow
organ: John Medeski
marimba: Bill Ware