You guys, when Talking Heads go country its the most hilarious thing and it’s also the best. Because they are just so fucking proud of their elitism, they wear it on every track they play. I guess it’s why I like LCD Soundsystem too: they’re smarter then you and know it. It’s just that, as much music James Murphy has listened to, David and Tina have listened to WAY MORE.
So, let’s assume that David Byrne listened to outlaw country music. I’m going to say he listened to Merle Haggard, especially albums like Mama Tried. But also, Johnny Cash,maybe Hank WIlliams and Bill Monroe. Maybe I’m just projecting my own thoughts about country music here, but let’s say David Byrne viewed it as a forgotten mirror of the blues, the way poor white people dealt with the Depression. I’m not going to say that white culture is in any way forgotten or ignored or under-emphasized in this country, it’s dominant, it’s overwhelming, it’s more then it should be! But Bill Monroe isn’t looked at the same way B.B. King is, is all I’m saying. So David Byrne looks down from his ivory tower and is fascinated by country music, it’s plain dealings and direct contact with it’s audience and thinks, HOW CAN I MAKE THIS FOR GODLESS YOUNG PEOPLE IN 1986. So he comes up with this bizarre song, mocking God, mocking freedom, mocking everything considered Holy in County Music. That chorus is so good, but makes me so uncomfortable. It almost feels like giving up, but Goodman makes it seem so defiant, as it’s trying to say: freedom and justice are worthless without love. This is such a good song, you guys.
