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A Long Time Ago Lyrics
And in the land where I grew up
Into the bosom of technology
I kept my feelings to myself
Until the perfect moment comes
Then into your bloodstream I will go
Until I turn into a part of you
Flooding the garden of delights
That was a long long time ago
That was a long long time ago
It's not the ending of the world
It's only the closing of a discotheque
I used to go three times a week
But that was a long long time ago
Yeah, that was a long long time ago
And that roaring that you hear
Is only the blood that circles constantly
No it is not applause my dear
No, that was a long long time ago
That was a long long time ago
Ooh, oh ooh
In between stations I can hear
A million possibilities
It's only the singing of the stars
That burned out a long long time ago
They burned out a long long time ago
Ooh, oh ooh
Into the bosom of technology
I kept my feelings to myself
Until the perfect moment comes
Until I turn into a part of you
Flooding the garden of delights
That was a long long time ago
That was a long long time ago
It's only the closing of a discotheque
I used to go three times a week
But that was a long long time ago
Yeah, that was a long long time ago
Is only the blood that circles constantly
No it is not applause my dear
No, that was a long long time ago
That was a long long time ago
A million possibilities
It's only the singing of the stars
That burned out a long long time ago
They burned out a long long time ago
Song Info
Submitted by
[inactive Account] On Apr 13, 2004
More David Byrne
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This rather aloof and dispassionate sounding song I find oddly affecting. A perfect intro to an album that found Byrne in an unusually dark, reflective mood. The third verse seems particularly relevant now, with the upcoming closing of CBGB's, cradle of Talking Heads, The Ramones, and other early punk bands.
"the singing of the stars" - the static you hear on the dial between radio stations is the leftover radiation from the Big Bang, but it's a parallel with the singing of (music) stars on the stations, who might be long gone but whose recorded songs create the impression that they're still alive and singing.
This ties in with the fourth verse, about the blood in one's ears sounding like applause (this can be an indication of high blood pressure); things sound better and more interesting than they currently are. I don't know how to tie in the first three verses, though.
It is about CBGB's. Well more about how the fact of its closing and how it is affecting him.