Perfect World

Album: Little Creatures (1985)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Like many Talking Heads songs, the lyrics to "Perfect World" are rather abstract, in this case dealing with a relationship between a guy and a girl. Unlike most Talking Heads songs, the lyrics weren't written by frontman David Byrne.

    Early on, drummer Chris Frantz wrote some lyrics for the band, including "Warning Sign," which appeared on their second album. For their sixth album, Little Creatures, Byrne dug up some lyrics Frantz had written years earlier and used them for "Perfect World." Frantz calls the song "a mini love story."
  • This is a perfect world
    I'm riding on an incline


    Chris Frantz grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where there are two railways that go up steep hills and are known as "inclines" - the Duquesne Incline and the Monongahela Incline. "That's where I got the line, 'I'm riding on an incline,'" he told Songfacts.

    You'll also find a Pittsburgh reference in the 1979 Talking Heads song "Life During Wartime":

    Heard about Houston? Heard about Detroit?
    Heard about Pittsburgh, P.A.?
  • The band never performed this live because they had stopped touring by the time they released the album. This was directive of David Byrne, who felt the band didn't need to perform any more after releasing their 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.