Ever since I learned Byrne was an avid cyclist this song took on a few more meanings to me. I notice parallels between this and the dinner table scene in "True Stories". I feel like its sort of a critique of America (obviously the eponymous big country) and its infrastructure and culture. I can see him critiquing both the suburban ethic of safety, security, family as well as the actual logistics of everyone having a car driving down parkways and getting food from super-markets. The sprawl of America seems to be a flaw that db is decrying. As for his tongue in cheek jabs at suburbia I think he may be telling the truth when he suggests that he'd be unable to live there.
Ever since I learned Byrne was an avid cyclist this song took on a few more meanings to me. I notice parallels between this and the dinner table scene in "True Stories". I feel like its sort of a critique of America (obviously the eponymous big country) and its infrastructure and culture. I can see him critiquing both the suburban ethic of safety, security, family as well as the actual logistics of everyone having a car driving down parkways and getting food from super-markets. The sprawl of America seems to be a flaw that db is decrying. As for his tongue in cheek jabs at suburbia I think he may be telling the truth when he suggests that he'd be unable to live there.