3:39
True Stories, 1986
Written by David Byrne
This is an interesting song because of who wrote and performed it. Musically, it's a sort of watered-down version of the Talking Heads' quirkiness. I think with this song, Byrne set out to write a more pop-oriented, MTV-like version of the Heads' sound (and clearly succeeded). Lyrically, it's pretty recondite and just absurdist fun; I'm not sure of it, but I have a vague memory of reading that Byrne thought lyrics to pop songs were not important and just a way to keep the listener paying attention to the music. I mean, it starts off with "I'm wearing fur pajamas / I ride a hot potato." You might argue that it sort of touches on satire of '80s fixation on financial excess ("So check out mister businessman / He bought some wild, wild life"), but it's pretty thin if so.