In 1980, Talking Heads released their fourth album, a real game changer in lyrics and music, called "Remain In Light" that includes this amazing track, "The Great Curve." It evokes spiritual beliefs that are based in feminine principles of creation and existence. Lead singer and lyricist David Byrne took a loose, stream-of-consciousness approach to writing material for this album and his ability shines in this piece.
I don't include links to songs I post here in the Poetry of Rock and Roll series in order to focus solely on the lyrics, but do yourself a favor and find this track somehow: you will hear the frenetic, poly-rhythmic sound rooting the narrative firmly in Africa. It is mind boggling.
The Great Curve
by Talking Heads, lyrics by David Byrne
Sometimes the world has a load of questions
Seems like the world knows nothing at all
The world is near but it's out of reach
Some people touch it but they can't hold on
She is moving to describe the world
Night must fall, darker, darker
She has messages for everyone
Night must fall, darker, darker
She is moving by remote control
Night must fall, darker, darker
Hands that guide her are invisible
Night must fall, darker, darker
The world has a way of looking at people
Sometimes we feel that the world is wrong
She loves the world, and all the people in it
She shakes 'em up when she start to walk
She is only partly human being
Divine, define, so say so, so say so
She defines the possibilities
Divine, define, so say so, so say so
Holding on for an eternity
Divine, define, so say so, so say so
Gone, ending without finishing
Divine, define, so say so, so say so
The world moves on a woman's hips
The world moves and it swivels and bops
The world moves on a woman's hips
The world moves and it bounces and hops
A world of light, she's gonna open our eyes up
A world of light, she's gonna open our eyes up
She gonna open, move and open, move
A world of light she's gonna open our eyes up
She is moving to describe the world
Night must fall, darker, darker
She has messages for everyone
Night must fall, darker, darker
She is moving by remote control
Night must fall, darker, darker
Hands that move her are invisible
Night must fall, darker, darker
Divine, to define, so say so
Night must fall, darker, darker
A world of light, she's gonna open our eyes up
A world of light, she's gonna open our eyes up
A world of light she's gonna open our eyes up
Wanna define so say so, so say so
Divine, define, so say so, so say so
Night must fall, darker, darker
She has got to move the world to move the world to move
The world
