Lyrics, Part 1 (Naive Melody)

Last night it happened again. It’s no suprise, really, since I’ve learned it’s always happening when I’m listening to music. Still, it’s a strange self-revelation when I’m forced to notice the extent to which I’m not listening to a song like the people around me are.

This time it was at the Crystal Corner, when The Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” started playing on the jukebox. I can’t take credit for dropping the dollars to make it play, but it really is the perfect jukebox selection. It’s sufficiently chill for the hipsters, but friendly enough not to drive anyone from the bar. It’s a gentle tune, perfect for sitting and tapping a coaster to the beat, while also easy to dance to.

I was in the coaster-tapping mood, and began to zone out to the familiar groove, which, never really going anywhere, makes for easy mind-wandering. Noticing my thoughts had left the building, my friend on the next bar stool began to sing at me, miming some Byrne-like gestures: “Home is where I want to be, but I guess I’m already there.”

“Huh?” I asked. “I didn’t hear ya.”

I drifted away again, but snapped back when I noticed he was still singing: “Out of all those kinds of people, you got a face with a view.”

“What?” I asked again. He kept singing, and then it hit me like it always does. I had no idea what the hell the words to this song were. I’ve heard heard it a hundred times, but I just don’t hear music that way — especially , it seems, when it’s such a “naive melody.”

From an academic music theoretical perspective, ignoring the words isn’t something I condone. There’s a lot of political baggage stowed away in the overhead compartments above people who routinely privilege music over words (or, to be fair, vice versa), and the most enriching criticism of a song will usually explore the interplay between text and sound. Nevertheless, I won’t lie: when I listen to music, the text doesn’t distinguish itself from the rest of the sonic fabric. There are exceptions, of course, but they prove the rule, and perhaps shed light on why I’m particularly drawn to certain music.

Stay tuned for Parts 2-4.

Tags: lyrics, Music, Talking Heads