This could all be completely wrong but it's how I see this song in my head:
I look at this song as being an interpretation of the way your typical Westerner was looking at the world in 1980. It's a world that was "born under punches" (2 worlds wars, a depression, etc) and now all anybody wants is stability ("to breathe"). But the only way to really achieve stability is to be a "tumbler" because the world itself is not a stable place. I think a "government man" is sort of a characterization of someone who has found (or at least feels like they have found) such stability. I agree that the drowning and the fire are references to other Talking Heads songs, especially the burning building bit.
This could all be completely wrong but it's how I see this song in my head: I look at this song as being an interpretation of the way your typical Westerner was looking at the world in 1980. It's a world that was "born under punches" (2 worlds wars, a depression, etc) and now all anybody wants is stability ("to breathe"). But the only way to really achieve stability is to be a "tumbler" because the world itself is not a stable place. I think a "government man" is sort of a characterization of someone who has found (or at least feels like they have found) such stability. I agree that the drowning and the fire are references to other Talking Heads songs, especially the burning building bit.
@cfraserh ... and keep one step ahead of yourself
@cfraserh ... and keep one step ahead of yourself