The Facts Of Life Lyrics
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.
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!?!