The song “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads is a classic example of their innovative and eclectic style, blending influences from Afrobeat, funk, new wave, and art pop. The song was released in 1981 as the lead single from their fourth album, Remain in Light.
The lyrics of the song are inspired by the sermons of evangelical preachers and the existential questions that David Byrne, the lead singer and lyricist, faced after his father’s death. The song explores the themes of identity, choice, and awareness as the narrator reflects on his life and wonders how he ended up in his current situation. He questions the meaning and value of the material possessions and achievements that he has accumulated, such as a “beautiful house”, a “beautiful wife”, and a “large automobile”. He also realizes that he has been living on “autopilot”, following the expectations and norms of society without fully understanding why. He feels detached from his own life, as if he is watching it from a distance.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “letting the days go by”, which suggests a sense of passivity and resignation, as well as the inevitability of change and the flow of time. The song also uses water imagery, such as “water flowing underground” and “into the blue again”, to symbolize the subconscious forces that shape our lives and the possibility of renewal and transformation.
The song is a masterpiece of musical and lyrical innovation and a critique of the consumerist and conformist culture of the 1980s. It challenges the listener to examine their own life and choices and question the assumptions and beliefs they take for granted. It also invites the listener to embrace life’s uncertainty and complexity and find their own meaning and purpose.
Key takeaways
Some possible key takeaways and learnings from the song “Once in a Lifetime” by Talking Heads are: