Talking Heads

Lyric guide

Born Under Punches

Read Born Under Punches lyrics by Talking Heads on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Talking Heads visibility11 visits Video on page

person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team

Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Talking Heads Canonical path: /talking-heads/born-under-punches Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes

Lyrics

Born Under Punches

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

Take a look at these hands

Take a look at these hands

The hand speaks

The hand of a government man

Well I'm a tumbler

Born under punches

I'm so thin

All I want is to breathe (I'm too thin)

Won't you breathe with me?

Find a little space so we move in-between (in-between it)

And keep one step ahead of yourself

Don't you miss it, don't you miss it

Some of you people just about missed it!

Last time to make plans!

And I'm a tumbler

I'm a Government Man

Never seen anything like that before

Falling bodies tumble 'cross the floor (well I'm a tumbler!)

When you get to where you wanna be (thank you! Thank you!)

When you get to where you wanna be (well, don't even mention it!)

Oh, take a look at these hands

They're passing in-between us

Take a look at these hands

Take a look at these hands

You don't have to mention it

No, thanks

I'm a Government Man

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

Where the hand has been

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on (I got time!)

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

Where the hand has been

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

I'm not a drowning man!

And I'm not a burning building!

I'm a tumbler!

Drowning cannot hurt a man!

Fire cannot hurt a man

Not the Government Man

All I want is to breathe (thank you, thank you)

Won't you breathe with me?

Find a little space so we move in-between (I'm so thin)

And keep one step ahead of yourself (I'm catching up with myself)

All I want is to breathe

Won't you breathe with me (hands of a Government Man)

Find a little space so we move in-between

And keep one step ahead of yourself

(Don't you miss it! Don't you miss it!)

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

Where the hand has been

And the heat goes on

And the heat goes on

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "Born Under Punches"?

Talking Heads performs "Born Under Punches", and this lyric page sits inside the Talking Heads catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Born Under Punches"?

Yes. The related section below points to (nothing But) Flowers and Creatures of Love with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Talking Heads?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Talking Heads's lyric pages.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room

0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation

Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments

Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

Sign in person_add

No listener comments on Born Under Punches yet.