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Phish.netBurning Down the House
Burning Down the House has not been seen in 826 Phish shows.
It was last played: 1998-08-12.
It was played at 0.05% of live shows.
It has been performed live 1 time(s).
Music/Lyrics: Byrne/Frantz/Harrison/Weymouth
Original Artist: Talking Heads
Original Album: Speaking in Tongues (1983)
Vocals: Trey (lead), All (backing)
Debut: 1998-08-12
Historian: Mark Toscano
One of Talking Heads’ most recognizable songs, this tune can be heard everywhere from Revenge of the Nerds to Bonnie Raitt concerts to suburban garages to downtown karaoke jukeboxes. The members of Phish are clearly huge Talking Heads fans and have covered them many times: the complete Remain in Light album played on 10/31/96 and the retention of “Crosseyed and Painless” from that album in its repertoire, as well as covers of "Cities," "Psycho Killer," and “Burning Down the House.”
Watch Burning Down the House on YouTube Talking Heads, "Burning Down the House"
On 8/12/98 the band played a hometown show for Fishman in Vernon, NY (near Syracuse), and treated the crowd to a sizzling “Burning Down the House,” "YEM" combo encore. Perhaps a special one-time treat, this performance contained a localized lyric change that had the fans at Vernon Downs feeling right at home: “Vernon Down the House!” This encore sent fans off on the road to Lemonwheel with a collective ear-to-ear grin.
Lyrics:
© Bleu Disque Music Co, Inc. c/o Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Watch out... you might get what you're after
Cool baby... strange but not a stranger
I'm an ordinary guy
Burning down the house
Hold tight... wait 'til the party's over
Hold tight... we're in for nasty weather
There has got to be a way
Burning down the house
Here's your ticket pack your bag
Time for jumpin' overboard
Transportation is here
Close enough but not too far
Maybe you know where you are
Fightin' fire with fire
All wet... yeah you might need a raincoat
Shakedown... thieves walking in broad daylight
Three hundred sixty five degrees
Burning down the house
It was once upon a place sometimes I listen to myself
Gonna come in first place
People on their way to work say baby what did you expect
Gonna burst into flame
My house... it's out of the ordinary
That's right... don't want to hurt nobody
Some things sure can sweep me off my feet
Burning down the house
No visible means of support and you have not seen nothing yet
Everything's stuck together
I don't know what you expect staring into the TV set
Fighting fire with fire
Burning down the house!
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