Talking Heads - The Big Country Lyrics






I see the shapes,
I remember from maps.
I see the shoreline.
I see the whitecaps.
A baseball diamond, nice weather down there.
I see the school and the houses where the kids are.
Places to park by the fac'tries and buildings.
Restaunts and bar for later in the evening.
Then we come to the farmlands, and the undeveloped areas.
And I have learned how these things work together.
I see the parkway that passes through them all.
And I have learned how to look at these things and I say,

[CHORUS]
I wouldn't live there if you paid me.
I couldn't live like that, no siree!
I couldn't do the things the way those people do.
I couldn't live there if you paid me to.

I guess it's healthy, I guess the air is clean.
I guess those people have fun with their neighbors and friends.
Look at that kitchen and all of that food.
Look at them eat it' guess it tastes real good.

They grow it in the farmlands
And they take it to the stores
They put it in the car trunk
And they bring it back home
And I say ...

[CHORUS]
I say, I wouldn't live there if you paid me.
I couldn't live like that, no siree!
I couldn't do the things the way those people do.
I wouldn't live there if you paid me to.

I'm tired of looking out the windows of the airplane
I'm tired of travelling, I want to be somewhere.
It's not even worth talking
About those people down there.

Goo Goo Ga Ga Ga
Goo Goo Ga Ga Ga





Other Lyrics by Artist

Rand Lyrics

Last Posts

Talking Heads The Big Country Comments
  1. A.... G....

    Those White people"s things, David??

  2. D.... S....

    Thank you!

  3. C.... G....

    Genius! Timeless understated eloquence David Byrne.

  4. T.... B....

    i wouldn't live that way if you paid me

  5. B.... S....

    Fly-over country

  6. W.... G....

    He sees people living real lives , and the shame of his broken existence prevents him from empathizing with anyone who isn’t a hip, urban, progressive.

    W.... G....

    You have a valid opinion but I cant agree with the "urban progressive" part. I don't always understand David's point of view but I know there is more to it than what you have described. Thanks man! I admit I may be misunderstanding him but he is a real major part of the last 3 decades.( at least in the music industry) THANKS TO THE TALKING HEADS!

    W.... G....

    Ah yes, the core of the progressive ideology: hating the flyover states.

  7. P.... S....

    One of the best tunes from this immortally great album!

  8. N.... A....

    Me: what a cute baby
    Baby: 4:30

  9. a.... ....

    TOO COOL!

  10. E.... I....

    Has to be the only song in history about land planning. Absolutely incredible song.

    E.... I....

    Ecologically Inclined oh no sirree! i believe brian eno, rush and arcade fire would like to have a word with u

    E.... I....

    Not now America is minority white.

  11. T.... A....

    Ga ga? She wasn't even thought of at the time of this recording.🙄

  12. r.... ....

    24 people are living in undeveloped areas.

  13. h.... ....

    Fine album. Coherent, relaxed and self-conscious.

  14. L.... E....

    This song the first time you heard it ...takes me to ?...I dunno ....some place I haven't been to before .

    L.... E....

    Sounds like Jersey to me.

    L.... E....

    @Annie Yuill " I wouldn't live there if you paid me to "

    L.... E....

    @Leon Erin Ar Ar

  15. G.... P....

    This song is the biography of my perception.

  16. T.... E....

    I wouldn't do the things, that those people do.

  17. S.... &....

    I see the shapes,
    I remember from maps.
    I see the shoreline.
    I see the whitecaps.
    A baseball diamond, nice weather down there.
    I see the school and the houses where the kids are.
    Places to park by the fac'tries and buildings.
    Restaurants and bar for later in the evening.
    Then we come to the farmlands, and the undeveloped areas.
    And I have learned how these things work together.
    I see the parkway that passes through them all.
    And I have learned how to look at these things and I say,
    I wouldn't live there if you paid me.
    I couldn't live like that, no siree!
    I couldn't do the things the way those people do.
    I couldn't live there if you paid me to.
    I guess it's healthy, I guess the air is clean.
    I guess those people have fun with their neighbors and friends.
    Look at that kitchen and all of that food.
    Look at them eat it' guess it tastes real good.
    They grow it in the farmlands
    And they take it to the stores
    They put it in the car trunk
    And they bring it back home
    And I say...
    I wouldn't live there if you paid me.
    I couldn't live like that, no siree!
    I couldn't do the things the way those people do.
    I couldn't live there if you paid me to.
    I'm tired of looking out the windows of the airplane
    I'm tired of traveling, I want to be somewhere.
    It's not even worth talking
    About those people down there.

    S.... &....

    Susana Pazó wouldn’t not couldnt

    S.... &....

    One of my favorite song by the Heads . Another etched into my brain. I sure miss the good old days back when this album came out. Traveling thru both kinds of space.

  18. D.... S....

    I really like this comprehensive description of what's going on down there

    D.... S....

    I remember from maps >B^)

  19. D.... R....

    Great seminal effort. Most original before they grew over-commercialized. Their true Byrne roots, et al.... Good shit!! Celts rule rock n roll, baby. Tell em Lennon sent ye!!!

  20. D.... K....

    So, sounds like they had good choices. So, which side wins By the way, I'd live there! And pay me , haha, what?,