Is there a political message in this song?

[Howard509]

talking heads: once in a lifetime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw54-rCIrPs

This song was featured in the movie W. I'm wondering if it serves as a critique of capitalism, of the materialism of the 1980s. The middle aged man in the song realizes that, when it's already too late, that he never achieved the bourgeois prosperity known as the American dream.

[BIG BROTHER]

Definetly political. The message interpretation depends I think on who you is listening it.

[Howard509]

This song reminds me of my father. It's kind of sad.



The verses of the song consist of David Byrne speaking rather than singing. With the lyrics "Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down," the song has a rather existential vibe to it, although it is usually interpreted to be a song dealing with the midlife crisis and the inevitable sacrifice of youthful ideals and dreams for conventional success:

And you may ask yourself
How do I work this?
And you may ask yourself
Where is that large automobile?
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful house!
And you may tell yourself
This is not my beautiful wife!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_in_a_Lifetime_(Talking_Heads_song)

[Howard509]

TALKING HEADS - ONCE IN A LIFETIME MUSIC VIDEO
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12spb_talking-heads-once-in-a-lifetime_music

David Byrne is a total genius. He's underrated.

This song was inspired by a preacher that David Byrne heard on the radio. It reminds me of Jesus' teaching that we should store treasure in heaven rather than on earth.