This is a song from the Talking Heads hugely influential album "Talking Heads 1977", which was released, strangely enough, in 1977.
I have frequently heard it suggested that this song is a cleverly ironic assault on people's blind acceptance of authority. The period that it was written in, namely the heyday of punk, with all of the anger at authority and society that the movement encapsulated, might lend some credence to that assessment. But personally, I have never interpreted it that way.
Far from finding this a statement of cynicism and irony, I have always felt that this song is honest, literal, and straightforward to the point of charming naivety. To me it has always seemed to say, "Don't waste your life worrying about the government - get on with the everyday details of your life, the things here at hand that you can change: find somewhere to live that you feel good about, get involved in your work, appreciate your friends and loved ones." And David Byrne's vocals have seldom sounded warmer to me than when he sings, "Don't you worry 'bout me, I wouldn't worry about me".
Whatever the true sentiment of the lyrics, this is a well-crafted, tuneful song that is definitely worth taking the time to listen to, particularly if you are unfamiliar with early Talking Heads music.
Don't Worry About The Government
I see the clouds that move across the sky
I see the wind that moves the clouds away
It moves the clouds over by the building
I pick the building that I want to live in
I smell the pine trees and the peaches in the woods
I see the pinecones that fall by the highway
That's the highway that goes to the building
I pick the building that I want to live in
It's over there, it's over there!
My building has every convenience
It's gonna make life easy for me
It's gonna be easy to get things done
I will relax along with my loved ones
Loved ones, loved ones visit the building,
take the highway, park and come up and see me
I'll be working, working but if you come visit
I'll put down what I'm doing, my friends are important
Don't you worry 'bout me
I wouldn't worry about me
Don't you worry 'bout me
Don't you worry 'bout me
I see the states, across this big nation
I see the laws made in Washington, D.C.
I think of the ones I consider my favorites
I think of the people that are working for me
Some civil servants are just like my loved ones
They work so hard and they try to be strong
I'm a lucky guy to live in my building
They all need buildings to help them along
It's over there, it's over there!
My building has every convenience
It's gonna make life easy for me
It's gonna be easy to get things done
I will relax along with my loved ones
Loved ones, loved ones visit the building
Take the highway, park and come up and see me
I'll be working, working but if you come visit
I'll put down what I'm doing, my friends are important
I wouldn't worry 'bout
I wouldn't worry about me
Don't you worry 'bout me
Don't you worry 'bout ME