This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Monkey see and monkey do
Ma king babies, eating food
Smelly things, pubic hair
Words of love, in the air
Sparks fly, shoo ting out
Ma king sure that everything is working
I can't turn you down
We are programmed happy little children
Matter over mind
We can not resist so I won't fight it
Love is a machine
Love is a machine without a driver
The facts of life
The facts of life
A masterpiece
Biology
Smokey water
Air conditioned
Boys 'n' girls
And automation
Chromosomes
Designer jeans
Chimpanzees
And human beings
Machines of love
Machines of love
Strong in body, strong in mind
A love machine with the facts of life
The facts of life
The facts of life
So much sex 'n' violence
Must be a bad design
We're stupid to be fighting
Every night
The monsters we create
They welcome us aboard
The best in advertising
From coast to coast
The girls and boys combine
Like monkeys in the zoo
The clouds have silver linings
Looks pretty good
People fall in love like in fairy tales
I'm not sure I like, what they can do
I'm afraid that God has no master plan
He only takes -- what he can use
Factory life, ice cream and pie
Factory life
Someday we'll live on Venus
And men will walk on Mars
But we will still be monkeys
Down deep inside
If chimpanzees are smart
Then we will close our eyes
And let our instincts guide us
Oh oh oh oh no
Ma king babies, eating food
Smelly things, pubic hair
Words of love, in the air
Sparks fly, shoo ting out
Ma king sure that everything is working
I can't turn you down
We are programmed happy little children
Matter over mind
We can not resist so I won't fight it
Love is a machine
Love is a machine without a driver
The facts of life
The facts of life
A masterpiece
Biology
Smokey water
Air conditioned
Boys 'n' girls
And automation
Chromosomes
Designer jeans
Chimpanzees
And human beings
Machines of love
Machines of love
Strong in body, strong in mind
A love machine with the facts of life
The facts of life
The facts of life
So much sex 'n' violence
Must be a bad design
We're stupid to be fighting
Every night
The monsters we create
They welcome us aboard
The best in advertising
From coast to coast
The girls and boys combine
Like monkeys in the zoo
The clouds have silver linings
Looks pretty good
People fall in love like in fairy tales
I'm not sure I like, what they can do
I'm afraid that God has no master plan
He only takes -- what he can use
Factory life, ice cream and pie
Factory life
Someday we'll live on Venus
And men will walk on Mars
But we will still be monkeys
Down deep inside
If chimpanzees are smart
Then we will close our eyes
And let our instincts guide us
Oh oh oh oh no
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
The Facts of Life Lyrics as written by David Byrne Chris Frantz
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Plastic Bag
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“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
This song is about how society has conceptually elevated itself above nature; yet, our animalistic tendencies are present in everything we do. This contradiction is our undoing and is the cause of our modern suffering.
For example, human-kind has devised the abstract idea of love, fear, gods, souls, and currency. These abstract ideas have led to human devaluing systems like capitalism. Machines of love: humans are apparently special/precious, yet we subject others to terrible situations for individual gain. Even Christianity involves a god as a boss who has a business to run, so people better perform well when evaluations comes around.
It's a common David Byrne theme to point out that humans are really stupid and so we better not fool ourselves (and each other) thinking we are special.
@puzzud Yes.
One of my favorite Talking Heads songs. Seems to be a lament of the notion that "love" (and other human behavior) is nothing more transcendent than a simple and uncontrollable biochemical reaction which is probably no different than any other animals experience.
Lyrics that always haunt me in this song, and which I have no great explanation for, are "I'm afraid that God has no master plan. He only takes ... what he can use".
Where is the line about taking the good with the bad? Something about taking them both and then there you have the facts of life? I think these lyrics are wrong.
Genetic programming. natural selection. existentialism meeting biological determinism. Not sure whether to let our instincts guide us or not, but he's saying we don't have much choice . .. there they are, and they don't necessarily mean anything.
The key song on Naked - and the most explicit message on the album. I analyzed the whole set already in my giant comment for Blind, but I agree that this song more or less about how our genetic programmıng and instincts express themselves irrationally no matter how advanced our technology or philosophy may get. The interesting part is in the last verse, especially the last 2 lines:
Someday we'll live on Venus And men will walk on Mars But we will still be monkeys Down deep inside If chimpanzees are smart Then we will close our eyes And let our instincts guide us Oh oh oh oh no
Byrne's advice to us latter day primates is so deeply ambivalent that he instantly negates the advice to trust our instincts - leaving us wondering as to the alternative. If there is one.
I can't BELIEVE nobody has commented on this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, so musically it's nothin' special, but the lyrics are the best! Humans aren't that different from animals, most biologists agree. We make babies and eat food (and shop at malls, unfortunately).
Whoa...another comment the same night!!!! Do I attract the smarties, or what!?!
Whoa...another comment the same night!!!! Do I attract the smarties, or what!?!