What Are Words For? (6/23)

[Railyn]

Well, my 30th birthday is looming large on the horizon, and it's given me
more than many chances to sit and think about life in general. Where I've
been, where I'm going, what I've seen, etc. I don't mean to get all philosophical, but it's all about choices. We know the beginning, and we know the basic ending, but the stuff along the way is what makes it
worthwhile.

With that thought, I bring you:


ROAD TO NOWHERE
By Talking Heads
Album: Little Creatures
Author: D. Byrne

Well
we know where we're goin'
but we don't know where we've been.
And we know what we're knowin'
but we can't say what we've seen.
And we're not little children
and we know what we want.
And the future is certain
give us time to work it out.

We're on a road to nowhere
come on inside.
Takin' that ride to nowhere
we'll take that ride.
I'm feelin' okay this mornin'
and you know.
We're on the road to paradise
here we go
here we go.

We're on a road to nowhere
come on inside.
Takin' that ride to nowhere
we'll take that ride.
Maybe you wonder where you are
I don't care.
Here is where times is on our side
take you there
take you there.

We're on a road to nowhere -
We're on a road to nowhere -
We're on a road to nowhere -

(softer)
There's a city in my mind
come along and take that ride
and it's all right
baby it's all right.

And it's very far away
but it's growing day by day
and it's all right baby
it's all right.

Would you like to come along
you can help me sing this song
and it's all right baby
it's all right.

They can tell you what to do
but they'll make a fool of you
and it's all right baby
it's all right.

(louder)
There's a city in my mind
come along and take that ride
and it's all right
baby it's all right.

And it's very far away
but it's growing day by day
and it's all right baby
it's all right.

Would you like to come along
you can help me sing this song
and it's all right baby
it's all right.

They can tell you what to do
but they'll make a fool of you
and it's all right baby
it's all right.

We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere
We're on a road to nowhere

We're on a road to nowhere.

My opinion in a nutshell: Life can be like a road to nowhere - it has a definate beginning, a definate ending, and you can see all kinds of stuff along the way.

Favorite Line: "They can tell you what to do but they'll make a fool of you"

[m c dornan]

Seems to me the point of a "road to nowhere" is that it DOESN"T have a definite ending, and probably not too much to look at along the way.

[Dawn]

Good choice! I'm not familiar with this song, but these lyrics are great!

As you say, we know how our lives have begun and that they will someday end, but the years in between are determined largely by the choices we make. The line "they can tell you what to do but they'll make a fool of you" could be interpreted as a caution against letting other people make our decisions for us. We need to hold firm to what we want out of life.

[H2IZCOOL]

That first verse is a little strange. There are MANY songs (and other forms of poetry/prose etc.) that say the exact opposite. We know where we've BEEN, but we don't know where we're GOING.

Why would a road to nowhere be the opposite? Is it because we have to forget where we've been in order to be willing to continue on a path that we know will lead us nowhere?
(I'm getting a headache)

[heyabbott]

H2IZCOOL said:

That first verse is a little strange. There are MANY songs (and other forms of poetry/prose etc.) that say the exact opposite. We know where we've BEEN, but we don't know where we're GOING.

Why would a road to nowhere be the opposite? Is it because we have to forget where we've been in order to be willing to continue on a path that we know will lead us nowhere?
(I'm getting a headache)

The way I interpret that part of the lyric for myself is that as humans we tend to want to look forward, and can't relate how what we have done in the past has impacted our present or our future. We have at least a vague idea of what we want to do with our lives, even if we don't have all the details worked out. As students, we want to get out into the workforce. As adults, we look forward to getting married and having children.

We know where we are going - we all know that ultimately we will all die.

We don't know where we've been - we can't understand what has happened in our lives, or how it has shaped us.

Anyway, that's just my humble little opinion.

[Railyn]

m said:

Seems to me the point of a "road to nowhere" is that it DOESN"T have a definite ending, and probably not too much to look at along the way.

That's an interesting take on it. I never really looked at it that way. That's why I wanted to do something like this. Songwriting is subjective at times, and open to interpretation. I like to hear differing opinions.

To me, the road to nowhere starts and then ultimately, you just run out of road. I asked my mom, who is pretty good with this kind of stuff (and she likes this song) and she said her take on it was that the road to nowhere is infinate, and probably ends up back at the beginning (the cycle of life).

I consulted David Byrne's opinion, since he wrote it, and he said that he wanted to make a peppy and joyful song about death, since it's always looming somewhere off on the horizon. That being said by both you and I, the rest is really open to interpretation, and the possibilities are many.

Thanks for the differing viewpoint!

[Railyn]

Dawn said:

Good choice! I'm not familiar with this song, but these lyrics are great!

As you say, we know how our lives have begun and that they will someday end, but the years in between are determined largely by the choices we make. The line "they can tell you what to do but they'll make a fool of you" could be interpreted as a caution against letting other people make our decisions for us. We need to hold firm to what we want out of life.

I really need to make you a cd! ;D

I take for granted sometimes that people don't live in my little corner of the world here. This song got heavy airplay and was in heavy rotation on MTV, but not everyone is familiar with everything that I am.

It is a really cool song. Happy and peppy and upbeat with a great driving drum background.

They are one of my top 10 favorite groups of all time. Caught somewhere between punk and new wave, they kind of have their own style that not everyone likes.

[Railyn]

H2IZCOOL said:

That first verse is a little strange. There are MANY songs (and other forms of poetry/prose etc.) that say the exact opposite. We know where we've BEEN, but we don't know where we're GOING.

Why would a road to nowhere be the opposite? Is it because we have to forget where we've been in order to be willing to continue on a path that we know will lead us nowhere?
(I'm getting a headache)

I always agreed, H2, that the opening (which is sung a cappella and in harmony) was a little off what the rest of the song was. I consulted with David Byrnes notes, and he said he threw it on at the end of the sessions because he felt the song lacked something.

However, Heyabbot has a great take on it's possible meaning.

Thanks for answering! ;D

[Railyn]

heyabbott said:

The way I interpret that part of the lyric for myself is that as humans we tend to want to look forward, and can't relate how what we have done in the past has impacted our present or our future. We have at least a vague idea of what we want to do with our lives, even if we don't have all the details worked out. As students, we want to get out into the workforce. As adults, we look forward to getting married and having children.

We know where we are going - we all know that ultimately we will all die.

We don't know where we've been - we can't understand what has happened in our lives, or how it has shaped us.

Anyway, that's just my humble little opinion.

That's a really great take on that! I had never thought of that before, and looking back on the video, I think you hit the nail right on the head!

If you haven't seen it, he's jogging down the road, looking ahead at all the things along the roadside, including a dancing couple, etc. The drummer and bass guitar player in this band are married, and it shows them aging together, and other imagery.

Thanks for helping to clear that up!

[heyabbott]

Railyn said:

That's a really great take on that! I had never thought of that before, and looking back on the video, I think you hit the nail right on the head!

If you haven't seen it, he's jogging down the road, looking ahead at all the things along the roadside, including a dancing couple, etc. The drummer and bass guitar player in this band are married, and it shows them aging together, and other imagery.

Thanks for helping to clear that up!

Haven't seen the video in a long time, but it does fit my interpretation! Cool, huh?