Talking Heads — What A Day That Was
Album: Stop Making SenseAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 3403
Length: 6:25
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Well, I'm dressed up so nice
An' I'm doin' my best
Yes I'm startin' over..
Startin' over in another place
Lemme tell you a story
Big chief with a golden crown
He's got rings on his fingers
And then he walks up, up to the throne
He's makin' shapes with his hands
An' don't you dare sit down
Now don't you dare sit back
And don't you dare speak up!
And on the first day, we had everything we could hold
Ooh and then we let it fall
And on the second day, there was nothing else left to do
Ooh what a day that was.
There are 50,000 beggars
Roaming in the streets
They have lost all their possessions
They have nothing left to eat
Down come the bolts of lightning
Now an electrical storm
Starts a chain reaction
Go pull a fire alarm
I'm dreaming of a city
It was my own invention
And I put the wheels in motion
A time for big decisions
And on the first day, we had everything we could hold
Ooh and then we let it fall
And on the second day, there was nothing else left to do
Ooh what a day that was.
Oh a day that was
Ooh that's the way it goes
There's a million ways- to get things done
Three's a million ways- to make things work out.
Well I'm going right through
And the light came down
Well they're roundin' 'em up
from all over town
They're movin' forward and back
They're movin' backwards and front
And they're enjoying themselves
Moving in ev'ry direction
So if you feel like you're in a whirlpool
You feel like going home
And if you feel like talking to someone
Who knows the difference between right and wrong
And on the first day, we had everything we could hold
Ooh and then we let it fall
And on the second day, there was nothing else left to do
Ooh what a day that was.
We're go(in') boom boom boom
That's the way we live
And in a great big room and
That's the way we live.
An' I'm doin' my best
Yes I'm startin' over..
Startin' over in another place
Lemme tell you a story
Big chief with a golden crown
He's got rings on his fingers
And then he walks up, up to the throne
He's makin' shapes with his hands
An' don't you dare sit down
Now don't you dare sit back
And don't you dare speak up!
And on the first day, we had everything we could hold
Ooh and then we let it fall
And on the second day, there was nothing else left to do
Ooh what a day that was.
There are 50,000 beggars
Roaming in the streets
They have lost all their possessions
They have nothing left to eat
Down come the bolts of lightning
Now an electrical storm
Starts a chain reaction
Go pull a fire alarm
I'm dreaming of a city
It was my own invention
And I put the wheels in motion
A time for big decisions
And on the first day, we had everything we could hold
Ooh and then we let it fall
And on the second day, there was nothing else left to do
Ooh what a day that was.
Oh a day that was
Ooh that's the way it goes
There's a million ways- to get things done
Three's a million ways- to make things work out.
Well I'm going right through
And the light came down
Well they're roundin' 'em up
from all over town
They're movin' forward and back
They're movin' backwards and front
And they're enjoying themselves
Moving in ev'ry direction
So if you feel like you're in a whirlpool
You feel like going home
And if you feel like talking to someone
Who knows the difference between right and wrong
And on the first day, we had everything we could hold
Ooh and then we let it fall
And on the second day, there was nothing else left to do
Ooh what a day that was.
We're go(in') boom boom boom
That's the way we live
And in a great big room and
That's the way we live.
Comments (374)add comment
please, PLEASE, one single day without DB or TH. PLEASE!
ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE
GREAT TUNE!! I want a suit like his. It would be tons of fun to wear at wedding receptions. ...I would be king of the dance floor!
corina.popov wrote:
What is sane?
I somehow feel confident that being sane was never on his to-do list....
What is sane?
I somehow feel confident that being sane was never on his to-do list....
Jakethemuss wrote:
I can't imagine how much TH would constitute enough. Except most of the other stuff here is great too. It's all opportunity cost....
Not nearly enough TH played around are as far I'm concerned.
I can't imagine how much TH would constitute enough. Except most of the other stuff here is great too. It's all opportunity cost....
tedious byrne, what a bore
jjbchansen159 wrote:
I like Live in Pompeii
Maybe the best concert film ever.
I like Live in Pompeii
The suit on the album cover: linen or silk?
bam23 wrote:
The band is just so much fun .....
Keep playing this band!
The band is just so much fun .....
Keep playing this band!
I say byrne this garbage! Soooo TEDIOUS
Uhm , yeah , and not much has changed. We can do better!
maboleth wrote:
What is sane?
Errr.... sometimes I wonder if David Byrne is sane. :)
What is sane?
drewd wrote:
Its being re-released in IMAX! Premiere at Toronto Film Festival in Sept. 2023.
Such a great movie! Check out those moves!!
Its being re-released in IMAX! Premiere at Toronto Film Festival in Sept. 2023.
horrible
drewd wrote:
Such a great movie! Check out those moves!!
The slippery guitar line on this is so lovely.
Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:
Seek help.
Too much David Byrne and Talking Heads here.
Sorry, fans!
Seek help.
Too much David Byrne and Talking Heads here.
Sorry, fans!
Sorry, fans!
damonlazer wrote:
I used the like Talking Heads. I still do, but I used to too.
LOL! I Agree! Same here!
I used the like Talking Heads. I still do, but I used to too.
LOL! I Agree! Same here!
Wikipedia says this was recorded December 1983, but released September 1984. Holy smoke... I wonder why they would wait so long on that release date. The music industry shifted HARD during that time away from the post-punk sound and became focused mostly on arena rock, new acts like Prince, Madonna, and Springsteen, and newer synthpop bands. This is part of the reason Talking Heads didn't do so well from 1984 onward. I remember they got moved almost immediately to the album oriented rock stations, who focused mostly on their older tracks.
xrdstv wrote:
... and I need to watch stop making sense?
... but realized that I love them?
... therefore I ceased to exist?
... but my lover took the CD?
So many possibilities. Please do tell!
I tell...you narcissit
... and I need to watch stop making sense?
... but realized that I love them?
... therefore I ceased to exist?
... but my lover took the CD?
So many possibilities. Please do tell!
I tell...you narcissit
tedious dbyrne and TH . .
Jelani wrote:
... and I need to watch stop making sense?
... but realized that I love them?
... therefore I ceased to exist?
... but my lover took the CD?
So many possibilities. Please do tell!
I used to like the Taking Heads...
... and I need to watch stop making sense?
... but realized that I love them?
... therefore I ceased to exist?
... but my lover took the CD?
So many possibilities. Please do tell!
Love this.
eileenomurphy wrote:
needs more bananas
GREAT!!!
needs more bananas
Jelani wrote:
I used the like Talking Heads. I still do, but I used to too.
I used to like the Taking Heads...
I used the like Talking Heads. I still do, but I used to too.
Jelani wrote:
I don't like Talking Heads
I love them!
I used to like the Taking Heads...
I don't like Talking Heads
I love them!
Maybe the best concert film ever.
GHoffmeyer wrote:
We do every day. I only hear TH songs that are awesome here.
Can we go a single DAY w/o another mediocre, overplayed TH “song”?
We do every day. I only hear TH songs that are awesome here.
Jelani wrote:
I used to hate them, but BillG wouldn't let me avoid them. Now I turn it up and groove out when they come on.
I used to like the Taking Heads...
I used to hate them, but BillG wouldn't let me avoid them. Now I turn it up and groove out when they come on.
GHoffmeyer wrote:
NO!! If you have a problem with that, hit the "skip button"!
Can we go a single DAY w/o another mediocre, overplayed TH “song”?
NO!! If you have a problem with that, hit the "skip button"!
I used to like the Taking Heads...
GHoffmeyer wrote:
I certainly hope not!
Can we go a single DAY w/o another mediocre, overplayed TH “song”?
I certainly hope not!
Can we go a single DAY w/o another mediocre, overplayed TH “song”?
Such a great movie! Check out those moves!!
joejennings wrote:
We're goin' boom boom boom!!! That's the way we live!!!
pomalley wrote:
Ditto
Just bumped to a solid 9... I mean, what was I thinking.
Ditto
We're goin' boom boom boom!!! That's the way we live!!!
aneal300 wrote:
I agree! We're goin' boom boom boom...............
The Heads are still one of the most fun bands for me.
I agree! We're goin' boom boom boom...............
GREAT!!!
Just bumped to a solid 9... I mean, what was I thinking.
This song is one of the highlights of The Catherine Wheel soundtrack, but was a bit spare in that recording. Here, the song is amped-up and funk-ified to the max. Lots of haters here at RP, but this gets a 10 from me.
Maybe the best concert film ever.
The Heads are still one of the most fun bands for me.
aspicer wrote:
Saw/heard that show...A dozen or so huge speaker cabinets hangin' from the
catwalks...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
From David Byrne's Opus work IMHO - The Catherine Wheel soundtrack for Twyla Tharp.
Saw/heard that show...A dozen or so huge speaker cabinets hangin' from the
catwalks...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Aud wrote:
Me too - twice in one week! 7th row in Hartford, backstage in New Haven.
Just incredible.
Saw them for The Big Suit tour.
Fantastic!
Fantastic!
Me too - twice in one week! 7th row in Hartford, backstage in New Haven.
Just incredible.
Saw them for The Big Suit tour.
Fantastic!
Fantastic!
maboleth wrote:
He is, we're the crazy ones :D
Errr.... sometimes I wonder if David Byrne is sane. :)
He is, we're the crazy ones :D
Full on theme song for 2016-2020. Read the lyrics!
Aspergers hits the dancefloor
This track has a great feel, with much character in the drum syncopation, the lead singer’s vocal thesaurus’s, and low harmonic in the background.
7/10. As it’s still too techno for my taste, just saying
"Big chief with a golden crown
He's got rings on his fingers
And then he walks up, up to the throne
He's makin' shapes with his hands
An' don't you dare sit down
Now don't you dare sit back
And don't you dare speak up!"
Foreshadowing of Trump?
He's got rings on his fingers
And then he walks up, up to the throne
He's makin' shapes with his hands
An' don't you dare sit down
Now don't you dare sit back
And don't you dare speak up!"
Foreshadowing of Trump?
this one song in the lyrics gives me pause:
Who knows the difference between right and wrong
Who knows the difference between right and wrong
aspicer wrote:
Saw the show...With a string of boxcar-sized speakers hanging from the catwalks...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
From David Byrne's Opus work IMHO - The Catherine Wheel soundtrack for Twyla Tharp.
Saw the show...With a string of boxcar-sized speakers hanging from the catwalks...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
I got to see the Atlanta concert from this tour (which the movie was made) at the Fox theater. One of the best concerts ever. And, I've been to a lot over the last 45+ years!
Anything from Stop Making Sense digs up memories of good times in high school.
maboleth wrote:
We have all wondered that
Errr.... sometimes I wonder if David Byrne is sane. :)
We have all wondered that
Errr.... sometimes I wonder if David Byrne is sane. :)
IIRC Twyla Tharp played DB some baroque music and said she wanted something like that for a dance score..
From David Byrne's Opus work IMHO - The Catherine Wheel soundtrack for Twyla Tharp.
The Catherine Wheel. I think I still have the original vinyl. This and Big Blue Plymouth are probably some of the best songs DB has ever written. The dancing banana keeps a perfect beat relative to this song.
Not nearly enough TH played around are as far I'm concerned.
Watched this movie again two nights ago.
DAMN. This part was so kinetic (although I hate when Byrne runs around the stage)
DAMN. This part was so kinetic (although I hate when Byrne runs around the stage)
It is quite a spectacle on the Demme film.
Shesdifferent wrote:
Yes. And that's Double-AA-OK with us here.
Somehow I just know that if I listen to RP for at least an hour I will hear a Talking Heads or Peter Gabriel song. 
Yes. And that's Double-AA-OK with us here.
I ate a nice big chicken and bean burrito for lunch, and I just expressed my disapproval of this track. Perhaps more musical than the music.
jtherieau wrote:
Cool! I never did see the choreography. I saw Twyla Tharp when they toured with another show (prior to Catherine Wheel IIRC). Always really loved the score, even more than TH.
This was already mentioned by aspicer back in 2013, but I'll post this anyway:
This song was part of an original musical score commissioned by Twyla Tharp for her dance project "The Catherine Wheel" which premiered September 22, 1981 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. The choreography may seem a little dated now but Byrne's music holds up well, imho.
You can view it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L83KTSOFNM (What a Day That Was at 1:01:50)
This song was part of an original musical score commissioned by Twyla Tharp for her dance project "The Catherine Wheel" which premiered September 22, 1981 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. The choreography may seem a little dated now but Byrne's music holds up well, imho.
You can view it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L83KTSOFNM (What a Day That Was at 1:01:50)
Cool! I never did see the choreography. I saw Twyla Tharp when they toured with another show (prior to Catherine Wheel IIRC). Always really loved the score, even more than TH.
bendame wrote:
Well I'll see your 10 and lower it by 9
Giving it a 10 just to balance all the in the dark haters.
Well I'll see your 10 and lower it by 9
This was already mentioned by aspicer back in 2013, but I'll post this anyway:
This song was part of an original musical score commissioned by Twyla Tharp for her dance project "The Catherine Wheel" which premiered September 22, 1981 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.
Twyla always had the best dancers.
You can view it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L83KTSOFNM (What a Day That Was at 1:01:50)
This song was part of an original musical score commissioned by Twyla Tharp for her dance project "The Catherine Wheel" which premiered September 22, 1981 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.
Twyla always had the best dancers.
You can view it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L83KTSOFNM (What a Day That Was at 1:01:50)
Skydog wrote:
Awesome!!
or Doors, Who, Led Zep & P Floyd
Awesome!!
Shesdifferent wrote:
Don't forget U2.
Somehow I just know that if I listen to RP for at least an hour I will hear a Talking Heads or Peter Gabriel song.
Don't forget U2.
Oh. Talking Heads. There's a change.
I am a big TH-fan but Bernie Worrell's synths on this album are often annoying.
Shesdifferent wrote:
or Doors, Who, Led Zep & P Floyd
Somehow I just know that if I listen to RP for at least an hour I will hear a Talking Heads or Peter Gabriel song.
or Doors, Who, Led Zep & P Floyd
bendame wrote:
Ditto! What happened here?
Giving it a 10 just to balance all the in the dark haters.
Ditto! What happened here?
Giving it a 10 just to balance all the in the dark haters.
I think, from now on, all TH songs are going to get a 1 rating from me. I am SO sick of hearing them.
OMG((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Not the greatest Talking Heads track, but come on people, this is Talking Heads, which means it's still near to great.
Axelito wrote:
i switched on RP on my phone and switched it off again after 3 seconds of this so called music.
*stillshakingofshock*
Listening to this song is the simple proof that you don't need to die to be in hell...
i switched on RP on my phone and switched it off again after 3 seconds of this so called music.
*stillshakingofshock*
treatment_bound wrote:
THIS is why we listen to RP. A really deep cut from The Heads off their awesome movie album...where else are you gonna' hear it?
THIS is why we listen to RP. A really deep cut from The Heads off their awesome movie album...where else are you gonna' hear it?
jagdriver wrote:
FYT
Too bad you can't fix your own disorders so easily.
FYT
Too bad you can't fix your own disorders so easily.
Listening to this song is the simple proof that you don't need to die to be in hell...
Steely_D wrote:
FYT
I loathe the barely controlled chaos of this tune.
FYT
I love the barely controlled chaos of this tune.
Somehow I just know that if I listen to RP for at least an hour I will hear a Talking Heads or Peter Gabriel song 
Somehow I just know that if I listen to RP for at least an hour I will hear a Talking Heads or Peter Gabriel song.
un choc en 1980 toujours d'actualité
This track and LP was from one heck of a tour!
Live Music is better: bum,per stickers should be issued.
Live Music is better: bum,per stickers should be issued.
rare_trees wrote:
Agreed one of the highest quality vinyl pressings of the mid 80's
for sure their BEST recording!
thanks Bill
This album is a 9 out of 10. Even in the 1980's! The more the Federal Government investigates its police-state-self, the more stop making sense applies!
Agreed one of the highest quality vinyl pressings of the mid 80's
for sure their BEST recording!
thanks Bill
If you are not outraged, you haven't been paying attention.
This album is a 9 out of 10. Even in the 1980's! The more the Federal Government investigates its police-state-self, the more stop making sense applies!
HOW TERRIBLE!
TH feel like an "inside job" - we're going boom-boom-boom, that's the way we live!
The American way of life - any day is 9/11
TH feel like an "inside job" - we're going boom-boom-boom, that's the way we live!
The American way of life - any day is 9/11
Blah.
moodfood wrote:
Definitely agree!!
YAY - this band put on a crazy good show back in the day. 
Definitely agree!!
Great song from a great band.
YAY - this band put on a crazy good show back in the day.
great way to start the morning....gets an 8 from me
aspicer wrote:
I am surprised its rated this high! PSD from me, but the trouble is PSD doesn't seem to be working....oh well silence is better than TH anyday
It is amazing to me that this average is a 5.9?! Wow....given how much MUCH more mediocre music is ranked much more highly. Say much much?! 
I am surprised its rated this high! PSD from me, but the trouble is PSD doesn't seem to be working....oh well silence is better than TH anyday
Lets go back to oi va voi
one of the very few songs by the heads that did not work for me, at all ;-(
Kids.
aspicer wrote:
aspicer wrote:
It is amazing to me that this average is a 5.9?! Wow....given how much MUCH more mediocre music is ranked much more highly. Say much much?!
Nausea Rock. Let's hurl a party!
It is amazing to me that this average is a 5.9?! Wow....given how much MUCH more mediocre music is ranked much more highly. Say much much?!
Toujours au top Talking Heads for ever !
So glad to hear this on RP. My favorite track from Stop Making Sense!
I'll second that emotion.
aspicer wrote:
aspicer wrote:
I HIGHLY recommend anyone out there who likes TH's to check out The Catherine Wheel soundtrack (by Byrne for Twyla Tharp's dance production). It is simply brilliant! Not unlike Gabriel's "Passion" soundtrack - and yes very different - both brilliant!
photolew wrote:
.."that's what he said"..
Can never get enough of the Heads........
.."that's what he said"..
I HIGHLY recommend anyone out there who likes TH's to check out The Catherine Wheel soundtrack (by Byrne for Twyla Tharp's dance production). It is simply brilliant! Not unlike Gabriel's "Passion" soundtrack - and yes very different - both brilliant!
Can never get enough of the Heads........
fredriley wrote:
You beat me by a few seconds. It's tough to suppress the Byrne-recoil effect, even after all these years it's still a bit paralyzing
Cheers to you !
Edward
It's nice to know that, even in middle age, my reflexes remain quick and sharp. I must have hit mute after the third note of this, which is pretty damn good for an old git ;-)
Byrne on, mute on - eat your heart out, Pavlov :o)
Byrne on, mute on - eat your heart out, Pavlov :o)
You beat me by a few seconds. It's tough to suppress the Byrne-recoil effect, even after all these years it's still a bit paralyzing
Cheers to you !
Edward
please, PLEASE, one single day without DB or TH. PLEASE!
But, but, but... they're very fashionable. Very trendy. Very kitschy.
Ooooh. I bet this song will create a new trend!