Inventing Situations

Posted on May 13, 2008

Could there be any better anthem for the age of YouTube and the “cognitive surplus” than the Talking Heads’ “Found a Job”, from their 1978 album More Songs About Buildings and Food?

“Damn that television … what a bad picture!”
“Don’t get upset, it’s not a major disaster.”
“There’s nothing on tonight,” he said, “I don’t know what’s the matter!”
“Nothing’s ever on,” she said, “so I don’t know why you bother.”

We’ve heard this little scene, we’ve heard it many times
People fighting over little things, and wasting precious time
They might be better off, I think, the way it seems to me
Making up their own shows, which might be better than T.V.

(CHORUS)

Judy’s in the bedroom, inventing situations
Bob is on the street today, scouting out locations
They’ve enlisted all their family
They’ve enlisted all their friends
It helped save their relationship
And made it work again

Their show gets real high ratings
They think they have a hit
There might even be a spinoff, but they’re not sure ’bout that
So think of Bob and Judy; they’re happy as can be
Inventing situations, putting them on T.V.

(CHORUS)

Judy’s in the bedroom, inventing situations
Bob is on the street today, scouting out locations
They’ve enlisted all their family
They’ve enlisted all their friends
It helped save their relationship
And made it work again …