“Once in a Lifetime” is a seminal song by the American mainstay band Talking Heads, released in 1980 as part of their fourth studio album, “Remain in Light.” The song is notable for its inventive blend of cornerstone, funk, and world music elements, and its thought-provoking lyrics that travel over themes of existentialism and the passage of time.
Written by the band’s frontman, David Byrne, along with partnership Brian Eno, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth, “Once in a Lifetime” consider Byrne’s appeal with the mundane presence of everyday life and the capricious of human experience.
The song’s lyrics depict a narrative journey of self-reflection and self-reflection, as the upholder grapples with the realization that life is temporary and filled with unexpected twists and turns. The famous chorus, “And you may find yourself / Living in a shotgun shack / And you may find yourself / In another part of the world,” has become representative of the song’s themes of confusion and displacement.
“Once in a Lifetime” was accompany by a creative music video steered by Toni Basil and David Byrne, featuring Byrne’s idiosyncrasy dance moves and unusual imagery. The video received heavy spin on MTV, helping to sling Talking Heads to mainstream success.
Over the years, “Once in a Lifetime” has become one of Talking Heads’ most continuing and much loved songs, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike. Its affect can be heard in the work of countless artists across various genres, cementing its status as a timeless classic in the annals of rock music history.
Lyrics
And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?”
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money’s gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
And you may ask yourself, “How do I work this?”
And you may ask yourself, “Where is that large automobile?”
And you may tell yourself, “This is not my beautiful house”
And you may tell yourself, “This is not my beautiful wife”
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money’s gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Water dissolving and water removing
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Under the water, carry the water
Remove the water from the bottom of the ocean
Water dissolving and water removing
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Leting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money’s gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
You may ask yourself, “What is that beautiful house?”
You may ask yourself, “Where does that highway go to?”
And you may ask yourself, “Am I right, am I wrong?”
And you may say to yourself, “My God, what have I done?”
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, after the money’s gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, look where my hand was
Time isn’t holding up, time isn’t after us
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was (I couldn’t get no rest)
Same as it ever was, hey let’s all twist our thumbs
Here comes the twister
Letting the days go by (same as it ever was, same as it ever was)
Letting the days go by (same as it ever was, same as it ever was)
Once in a lifetime, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground