I envisioned the song as an expression of liberation, to break free from whatever was holding you back. As for the rest of the lyrics, there are no hidden meanings. I simply combined aphorisms and nonsequiturs that had an emotional connection. Frantz and Weymouth recalled where the titular phrase came from, as well as its influence on the music. We loved all kinds of music, especially funk. Burn down the house! The rest, as they say, is history.

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Skip to main content. Burning Down the House. Talking Heads. From the Album Speaking in Tongues. Listen Now. Your Amazon Music account is currently associated with a different marketplace. Additional taxes may apply. By placing your order, you agree to our Terms of Use. Customer reviews. How are ratings calculated?
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During the jam, he kept yelling 'Burn down the house! The initial lyrics were considerably different, however. In an interview on NPR's " All Things Considered " aired on December 2, , David Byrne played excerpts of early worktapes showing how the song had evolved from an instrumental jam by Weymouth and Frantz. Once the whole band had reworked the groove into something resembling the final recording, Byrne began chanting and singing nonsense syllables over the music until he arrived at phrasing that fit with the rhythms—a technique influenced by former Talking Heads producer Brian Eno : "and then I [would] just write words to fit that phrasing
Burning Down the House has no physical manifestation, as it is a pure ability, but is linked to a special location and several items. Its most defining features are a grand piano complete with a seat standing at the center over a large carpet and a Lichtenstein W print on the wall. Although it doesn't give Emporio any combat ability, Burning Down the House's power to make him see and use the ghostly objects and items allows him to assist Jolyne throughout Stone Ocean.