LYRICS

1. Who

Who’ll be my Valentine?
Who’ll lift this heavy load?
Who’ll share this taxicab?
Who wants to climb aboard?

Who is an honest man? Who is an honest man?

Who’ll help a tired soldier?
Far from his own home town
Carry these men and women
Who get lost when the sun goes down?

Who is an honest man? Who is an honest man?

Who walks this dusty road?
Who always pulls their weight?
Who’s this? Inside-a me?
Who made a big mistake?

Who sees these constellations?
See them go spinning round
Carry these men and women
Who get lost when the sun goes down?

Who is an honest man? Who is an honest man?

With a graceful motion she sat down slowly
Drank a cup of co ee and she’ll fold her laundry
She begins to tell us all her life story
All around the table—ev’rybody starin’

Who shouts out hallelujah?
Who’s gonna sing out loud?
Carry these men and women?
Who get lost when the sun goes down?

Who’s getting out-a here?
Who thinks they’re wide-awake?
Who’s gonna be my friend?
All around the table—ev’rybody starin’

2. Weekend In The Dust

All the beautiful people—they did some work on your face
And in that struggle for freedom—everyone looks the same (that’s right)
And everybody is pregnant —and everybody’s in pain
We’re all pushin’ and shovin’—to make those human beings

Although they say you’re aristocracy (that’s what they say)
We all deserve to wear that crown

Sing-along—with the one who broke your heart (you know you do)
Sing-aloud—it will keep you safe and warm (that’s right)

In the Garden of Eden—on a hot summer day
We were totally naked—outside that small café
Am I the one you imagined—am I heaven or hell?
But no one else can compare to—the way you love yourself (you know you do)

I came to tell you on this bicycle
The trees and houses say hello

Sing-along—with the one who broke your heart (you know you do)
Sing-aloud—it will keep you safe and warm (that’s right)
I dreamed a dream—in the middle of the night (I guess I did)
I sing-along—to open up those teary eyes

Faster and faster—and no one’s holdin’ the wheel
Interstate highway—through those cities and fields
Your friends and family—they tell your secrets to me
S’not so impressive—until they all disappear

Sing-along—with the one who broke your heart (you know you do)
I dreamed a dream—wake up and there you are

3. Dinner For Two

There's a funny lightning
Threatening with striking
But it moves too quick for a picture

There's a funny lightning
‘Round the corner hiding
But I'm too smart just to catch it
With gloves and rubber

So I stay put right here
Watching the sky for tears
Let the fools and cowboys roar to wrecks

But if I should wake up and find my home's in half
Who is it? Blame nature, I guess I have to laugh
And if I should wake up and find my bed has moved
Six inches, six closer to the west

But this funny lightning
I wanna invite in
If I could learn how to teach it

I salt the corners of
My room because, because
A ghost can never be too careful

And if I should wake up and find my home's in half ?
Who did it? Oh nature, I hope you have a laugh
And if I should wake up and find my bed has moved
Twelve inches, twelve closer to my god

Whip crash there's a flash and I'm back to wanting more
The crack is movin’ up the wall
Whip crash there's flash and I'm back to wanting more
I can't help thinking this is war
(x2)

4. Ice Age

Oh diamond, how we've been?
Oh diamond, it's such a shame to see you this way
Freezing it out
Your own little ice age

Ice age
Ice age

Oh diamond, get out of bed
All of your tend
Seams are showing
And you're freaking me out
Freezing it out
Your own little ice age

Ice age
Ice age

Ice age
Ice age

We won't know how much we lost until your winter thaws
We won't know just what we lost until your winter thaws

Oh diamond, where have you been?
It's close to your bones
It's far from your shell
So feel it away, reason it out in your own little ice age

Thaw me out
Thaw me out

Thaw me out
Thaw me out

Thaw me out
Thaw me out

5. I Am An Ape

In a garden stands a statue of the man who won the war
His expression, tender yearning
Every nation near and far
Oh, sad and ancient father, sweet as honey, tough as leather
Running down the hill on christmas day
I am an ape
I stand and wait
A masterpiece
A hairy beast
I move so fast
I take a chance
And come up close
I'm not a ghost
Navigator, when you wake up and you step outside your door
Shoes and panties, washed and folded
Taking off your dirty clothes
This garden tells a story, amber close-up, faded glory
Running through the streets on christmas day
I am an ape
I stand and wait
A masterpiece
A hairy beast
Try not to laugh
Just take a chance
I visited inside your head

If you trespass in this garden to a place you should not go
If you step out from the shadows, see the city fall in awe
I am an ape
I stand and wait
A masterpiece
A hairy beast
No need to hide
Come on inside
I will not last
I too shall pass

6. The Forest Awakes

The forest awakes
A desert at dawn
A mountain at night and the rhythm moves on
The people awake
They're marching along
The streets are alive with a terrible song
Forwards and backwards in every direction
The abs' perpetual motion
The shifting of light on the banks of the river
I'm free, but I'm keeping my clothes on

I'm marching along the street where you live
I'm calling your name
The song is a gift
The song is a road
A road is a face
A face is a time and a time is a place
A place of relief and a time of confusion
The heart is a simple equation with beautiful words and with beautiful people
A song is a face, is a mountain

A fruit that falls before it's grown
I heard a sound and a bird has flown
It breaks to pieces above the forest
A million particles born today

Out beyond the blue horizon air cannot escape
Underneath the weeping willow I can see your face
Free-form, climbing all over me
Creatures great and small
Doctors pulling them out of you
Hideous, virtuous, both of us
Come in my kitchen when it rains outside
Sweet inspiration sneaks up from behind

Forest is true, I know for a fact
The bigger the front then the bigger the back
My heart beating still through the perilous night
The bombs burst in the air but my hair is alright
The shifting of light on the trees and the houses
I drown in an ocean of perfume
The strangeness of words
How the meaning keeps changing but somehow the beauty will find you

7. I Should Watch TV

I used to think that I should watch TV
I used to think that it was good for me
Wanted to know what folks were thinking
To understand the land I live in
And I would lose myself
And it would set me free

This is the place where common people go
A global franchise, one department store
Yes, there were many awkward moments
I had to do some self-atonement
Well, if I opened up
Well, it would set me free

I know, I like
Behold and love this giant
Big soul, big lips
That's me and I am this
Everybody is a touched up hairdo
Everybody's in the passing lane
Had a reason that she touched all channels
The weird things that live in there

I took a walk down to the park today
I wrote a song called, 'Just Like You and Me'
I heard the jokes from the sports reporter
The rival teams when they faced each other
The more I lost myself, the more it set me free

How am I not your brother?
How are you not like me?
Everybody's in the hotel lobby
I'm living in here, yes, I am
I feel it moving in my arms and fingers
Touch me and feel happy

It's good to lose and it's good to win sometimes
It's good to die and it's good be alive
Maybe someday we can stand together
Not afraid of what our eyes might see
Maybe someday understand them better
The weird things inside of me

8. Lazarus

Hey, hey, Lazarus, working your backbone, swinging your shovel
Hey, hey, Lazarus, gold in your river, there forever
One of these days I'm gonna bring the hammer down (Cool water)
I'm working hard but my heart is wearing out (Cool water)

Hey, hey, Lazarus, working your backbone, swinging that axe home
Hey, hey, Lazarus, gold in your river, there forever
The captain's bell, it swings from side to side (Cool water)
High on this hill, I'm working all the time (Cool water)

My hammer comes down hard on everyone (Cool water)
I bring it down until my work is down (Cool water)
Hey, hey, Lazarus, water won't do
Too deep was the stain

Paleolithic hunters sang this song (Cool water)
To give them strength to work the whole day long (Cool water)
I am the tramp slummed in your doorway
I didn't come to set you free

One of these days when all my work is done (Cool water)
I'm gonna rest in the lap of Abraham (Cool water)
You will not see my face come morning
I didn't come to set you free

9. Optimist

Waiting, but I don't mind
I'm all bus stops and heat
I'm neon in your daylight
I'm the optimist of 30th Street
How it is is how it oughta be

I got anything but moneyed esteem
Drinks on Condè Nast
I'm the optimist of 30th Street
How it is is how it oughta be

I spy Vivian Girls on the Up, Upper East
There's no reason to be upset
There's no reason to not expect
There's no room for emptiness
No tea or sympathy
No room for emptiness on a Never Empty Street

10. Lightning

There's a funny lightning, threatening with striking but it moves too quick for a picture
There's a funny lightning 'round the corner hiding but I'm too smart just to catch it with gloves and rubber
So I stay put right here, watching the sky for tears
Let the fools and cowboys roar to wrecks

But if I should wake up and find my home's in half
Who is it?
Blame nature
I guess I have to laugh
And if I should wake up and find my bed has moved six inches, six closer to the west

But this funny lightning I wanna invite in if I could learn how to teach it
I salt the corners of my room because, because a ghost can never be too careful

And if I should wake up and find my home's in half
Who did it?
Oh nature, I hope you have a laugh
And if I should wake up and find my bed has moved twelve inches, twelve closer to my god

Whip crash there's a flash and I'm back to wanting more
The crack is movin' up the wall
Whip crash there's flash and I'm back to wanting more
I can't help thinking this is war

Whip crash there's a flash and I'm back to wanting more
The crack is movin' up the wall
Whip crash there's flash and I'm back to wanting more
I can't help thinking this is war

11. The One Who Broke Your Heart

All the beautiful people, they did some work on your face
And in that struggle for freedom, everyone looks the same (That's right)
And everybody is pregnant and everybody's in pain
We're all pushing and shoving to make those human beings
Although they say you're aristocracy (That's what they say) we all deserve to wear that crown
Sing along with the one who broke your heart (You know you do)
Sing it loud, it'll keep you safe and warm (That's right)

In the garden of Eden on a hot Summer day, we were totally naked outside that small cafe
Am I the one you imagined?
Am I heaven or hell?
But no one else can compare to the way you love yourself (You know you do)
I came to tell you on this bicycle
The trees and houses say, “Hello”
Sing along with the one who broke your heart
Sing it loud, it will keep you safe and warm (That's right)
After you dream in the middle of the night (I guess I did)
I sing along to open up those spirit eyes

Faster and faster, no one's holding the wheel
Interstate highway through those city and fields
Your friends and family, they tell your secrets to me
It's not so impressive until they all disappear

Sing along with the one who broke your heart (You know you'll do it)
After that dream where you got that man you love

12. Outside Of Space And Time

My love, your house has many rooms
The kitchen's filled with food
I'll find a place inside
The dreams that pass across your face come from a secret place
Everyone close your eyes
It's true, I am a shaky ladder
Intergalactic matter, outside of space and time
But who is standing on your street?
These buildings are not real
Matrix are useless here
“It's true”, that's what a lover hears
It's what a fool believes
It's not too late to try
Someday I'll step out from the shadows
Intergalactic matter, outside of space and time
Dirty feet broke your teeth
Somewhere out beyond the stars, a funny face
Some lost in space, are we?
Everyone's enlightened everyday
You may each know nirvana when you comb your hair
I know we'll join this cosmic Saturn
Intergalactic matter
Where we will meet tonight?
Spiraling out of sight
Outside of space and time

CREDITS

David Byrne & St. Vincent — Love This Giant

All songs written by David Byrne & Annie Clark, except [12] written by David Byrne, [4] written by Annie Clark, and [6] written by David Byrne, Annie Clark & Walt Whitman
David Byrne is published by Moldy Fig Music, Inc. (BMI)
Annie Clark is published by BMG Chrysalis (ASCAP)
All songs produced by David Byrne & Annie Clark
All songs co-produced by Patrick Dillett & John Congleton

All songs mixed by Patrick Dillett
All songs recorded by Patrick Dillett, except [1] recorded by Patrick Dillett and John Congleton
Additional engineering by Yuki Takahashi and Jon Altschuler
All Brass recorded at Water Music Studios, Hoboken, NJ
All additional elements recorded at Patrick Dillett’s Studio, New York, NY
All Brass arrangements by Tony Finno, except [3] arranged by Kelly Pratt, [2] arranged Lenny Pickett, and [6] arranged by Ken Thompson and Tony Finno
All brass contracted by Garo Yellin, except [11] contracted by Alex Kadvan, and [2] contracted by Lenny Pickett
All songs mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC

All Vocals and Guitars by David Byrne & Annie Clark
All Drum Programming: John Congleton
Synth Bass: Annie Clark [4, 5, 7, 10]
Piano: Annie Clark [3]
Percussion Programming: David Byrne [6, 7, 11]
Omnichord: David Byrne [9]
Bass: Paul Frazier [1, 12]
Drums: Anthony LaMarca [1]
Percussion: Mauro Refosco [6, 7, 9]
Saxophone: Jack Bashkow [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10], Tom Timko [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10], Steve Elson [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10], Lenny Pickett [2], Alex Foster [2], Stan Harrison [2], Ron Blake [2], Bob Magnuson [6], Cochema Gastelum [11], Stuart Bogie [11], Ian Hendrickson-Smith [11], Martin Perna [11]
Trumpet: Gareth Flowers [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12], Josh Frank [4, 5, 7, 10, 12], Mike Gurfield [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12], Kelly Pratt [3, 9], Dominic Derasse [3, 6, 8], Earl Gardner [2], Jonathan Powell [2], Ravi Best [2], David Guy [11], Jordan McLean [11]
French Horn: Chris Komer [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12], Jacquelyn Adams [1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12], Eric Davis [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12], R.J. Kelley [3, 8, 9, 13], Lawrence Di Bello [6], Patrick Milando [6], Rachel Drehmann [6, 8]
Clarinet: Evan Smith [1, 5], Jack Bashkow [9], Tom Timko [9], Steve Elson [9]
Trombone: Brian Mahany [3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12], Jeff Caswell [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12], Kenneth Finn [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10], Mike Seltzer [4, 12], William Lang [3, 6], Steve Turre [2], Ryan Keberle [2], Ozzie Melendez [2], Aaron Johnson [11], Michael Williams [11]
Euphonium: Kenneth Finn [3], Tom Hutchinson [3]
Tuba: Marcus Rojas [2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12], Kyle Turner [3, 6], Randy Andos [2], Bob Stewart [11]

Cover Photo by Richard Burbridge
Prosthetics by Gabe Bartalos
Cover Type Design by Steve Powers
Package Design by Knowawall
Package Art by Catalina Kulczar, Juan Marin, LeeAnn Rossi, and Noah Wall. Special thanks to Gabe Bartolos for plaster molds from cover shoot prosthetics.

Artist Management by David Whitehead at Maine Road (DB) www.maineroadmanagement.com, David “Boche” Viecelli, Alex Kadvan and Marisa Brown at Lever and Beam (AC) www.leverandbeam.com
Production Management by Frank Hendler
Art Supervision by LeeAnn Rossi
Press by Carla Sacks and Krista Williams at Sacks & Co www.sacksco.com, and Matt Hanks and Carrie Tolles at Shorefire www.shorefire.com
Business Management by Ms. Lia Sweet, Nan Lanigan and Ilene Bashinsky @ RZO (DB)

Annie Clark would like to thank: The Clark Family, David Byrne, Boche Billions, Alex Kadvan, Marisa Brown, Jared Tankel, Frank Hendler, LeeAnn Rossi , Tony Finno, Nico Muhly, Patrick Dillett, John Congleton, Richard Burbridge, The Dap-Kings, Antibalas, Lenny Pickett, Kelly Pratt, Garo Yellin, David Kostiner and Jon Blaufarb.

David Byrne would like to thank inspirational brass groups: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Gil Evans, Banda Cittá Ruvo di Puglia playing Italian Opera Arias, Banda Ionica, the arrangements of Jaques Morelenbaum, McCollough Sons of Thunder, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Asphalt Orchestra, Duke Ellington, James Brown, The Horny Horns (P-Funk), and Extra Action Marching Band… As well as Matthew Barney, and Susannah Lupert @ Housing Works.

March Radio David Byrne Radio Presents: Nigeria!

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