David Byrne – Life During Wartime (2015) | Track profile | Dork

David Byrne – Life During Wartime (2015) | Track profile | Dork

Lyrics

Life During Wartime

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons

Packed up and ready to go

Heard of some grave sites out by the highway

A place where nobody knows

The sound of gunfire off in the distance

I'm getting used to it now

Lived in a brownstone, I lived in the ghetto

I've lived all over this town

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco

This ain't no fooling around

No time for dancing, or lovey dovey

I ain't got time for that now

Transmit the message to the receiver

Hope for an answer some day

I got three passports, couple of visas

Don't even know my real name

High on a hillside trucks are loading

Everything's ready to roll

I sleep in the daytime, I work in the nightime

I might not ever get home

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco

This ain't no fooling around

This ain't no mudd club, or C.B.G.B

I ain't got time for that now

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco

This ain't no fooling around

No time for dancing, or lovey dovey

I ain't got time for that now

Heard about houston? heard about detroit?

Heard about pittsburgh, PA?

You oughta know not to stand by the window

Somebody might see you up there

I got some groceries, some peanut butter

To last a couple of days

But I ain't got no speakers, ain't got no headphones

Ain't got no records to play

Why stay in college? why go to night school?

Gonna be different this time?

Can't write a letter, can't send a postcard

I can't write nothing at all

This ain't no party, this ain't no disco

This ain't no fooling around

I'd love you hold you, I'd like to kiss you

I ain't got no time for that now

Trouble in transit, got through the roadblock

We blended in with the crowd

We got computers, we're tapping phone lines

I know that ain't allowed

We dress like students, we dress like housewives

Or in a suit and a tie

I changed my hairstyle so many times now

Don't know what I look like

You make me shiver, I feel so tender

We make a pretty good team

Don't get exhausted, I'll do some driving

You ought to get you some sleep

Burned all my notebooks, what good are notebooks?

They won't help me survive

My chest is aching, burns like a furnace

The burning keeps me alive

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

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David Byrne’s 'American Utopia' concert film is returning to cinemas in 4K this summer

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28 Apr 2026 • 8:51 am

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21 Apr 2026 • 6:59 pm

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Want to know which acts you can watch at what time at Coachella weekend 2? Find them all, plus the UK times, here.

16 Apr 2026 • 9:36 am

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Political imagery and choreographed routines featured across a thirteen-song performance.

13 Apr 2026 • 11:53 am

Watch David Byrne perform ‘When We Are Singing’ on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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Worldwide tour dates begin this week starting in Vancouver

31 Mar 2026 • 8:01 pm

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17 Mar 2026 • 12:20 am

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Special vinyl editions release via Geffen Records with exclusive performances.

8 Jan 2026 • 5:18 pm

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18 Nov 2025 • 3:59 pm

Latitude Festival has unveiled its 20th edition lineup featuring David Byrne, Lewis Capaldi and more

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3 Nov 2025 • 11:08 am

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Plus Luvcat! Sigrid! Militarie Gun! bar italia! Del Water Gap! Loads more!

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14 Aug 2025 • 8:27 am

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17 Jul 2025 • 8:11 am

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10 Jun 2025 • 11:01 am

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15 Feb 2025 • 5:43 pm

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8 Mar 2022 • 5:56 pm

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The sci-fi action film by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert is set to release in the US on 25th March, with a soundtrack scored by Son Lux due on 8th April.

24 Feb 2022 • 1:06 pm