Burning Down the House

Talking Heads

About Burning Down the House

"Burning Down the House" is a song by new wave band Talking Heads, released in July 1983 as the first single from their fifth studio album Speaking in Tongues.


Year:
2015
114 

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Get them out
Ah

Watch out, you might get what you're after
Cool babies, strange but not a stranger
I'm an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

Hold tight, wait 'til the party's over
Hold tight, we're in for nasty weather
There has, got to be a way
Burning down the house

Here's your ticket pack your bags
Time for jumpin' overboard
Transportation isn't here
Close enough but not too far,
Maybe you know where you are
Fightin' fire with fire, huah

All wet, hey you might need a raincoat
Shakedown, dreams walking in broad daylight
Three hundred, sixty five degrees
Burning down the house

It was once upon a place sometimes, I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work say baby what did you expect
Gonna burst into flame
Go ahead

Burning down the house
My house, is out of the ordinary
That's right, don't want to hurt nobody
Some things, sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house

No visible means of support and you have not seen nothin' yet
Everything's stuck together
I don't know what you expect staring into the TV set
Fightin' fire with fire, huah

Yea
Burning down the house
Burning down the house
Burning down the house

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Talking Heads

Talking Heads was an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne (vocals and guitar), Chris Frantz (drums), Tina Weymouth (bass) and Jerry Harrison (keyboards and guitar). Auxiliary musicians also regularly made appearances in concert and on the group's albums. The New Wave style of Talking Heads combined elements of punk, art rock, avant-garde, pop, funk, world music, and Americana. Frontman and songwriter David Byrne contributed whimsical, esoteric lyrics to the band's songs, and emphasized their showmanship through various multimedia projects and performances. more »

7 fans

Written by: David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Song Release and Album
"Burning Down the House" is a song by the American new wave band Talking Heads, released in July 1983 as the first single from their fifth studio album "Speaking in Tongles".
Peak Chart Position
The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became their highest-charting hit in the United States.
Grammy Nomination
The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1984.
Music Video
The video for "Burning Down the House" was one of the first to be heavily promoted on MTV, fueling the song's success.
Song Origin
The song originated from a jam, including a chorus of "burning down the house" where frontman David Byrne improvised lyrics.
Inspiration for Title
The song's title supposedly came from a chant by Parliament-Funkadelic frontman George Clinton, who would shout "Let’s burn down the house!" during concerts.
Live Version
A live version of "Burning Down the House" was included on the Talking Heads' 1984 concert film "Stop Making Sense".
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered "Burning Down the House", including Tom Jones and The Cardigans, whose version became a hit in 1999.
Unconventional Lyrics
Like many Talking Heads songs, "Burning Down the House" doesn't have a clear meaning in its lyrics. It's not literally about burning down a house, but rather about intense passion or upheaval.
1984 US Elections
During the 1984 US Elections, Walter Mondale used the song as his campaign theme, without obtaining permission from the band.
Song Use in Pop Culture
"Burning Down the House" continues to be widely used in popular culture including movies, advertisements, and television shows, such as the series finale of The Walking Dead.
Critical Acclaim
Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Burning Down the House" at number 51 on its list of "The 100 Best Songs of the Eighties".

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    Burning Down the House

    6.2M
    52,869     1,590

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1983

    Billboard #9


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