THE FATHER OF THE THE FATHER OF THE MOVEMENT MOVEMENT

WILLIAM WRDSWORTHWILLIAM WRDSWORTH

1770-18501770-1850

HOTLINKHOTLINK

Wordsworth’s nature poetry is Wordsworth’s nature poetry is infused with nostalgia for a simple infused with nostalgia for a simple rustic world that he imagines to be rustic world that he imagines to be disappearing.disappearing.

This world he perceives to be “truer” This world he perceives to be “truer” reality than that of industrial society. reality than that of industrial society. But we are left with the feeling that it But we are left with the feeling that it is only the fact that the world is only the fact that the world Wordsworth evokes is “lost” that Wordsworth evokes is “lost” that makes it more meaningful to him.makes it more meaningful to him.

Talking HeadsTalking Heads

The versatile artist David Byrne, leader The versatile artist David Byrne, leader of the American group Talking Heads of the American group Talking Heads inverts Wordsworth’s perspective, inverts Wordsworth’s perspective, imagining a very different nostalgia. imagining a very different nostalgia.

In “Nothing but Flowers” it is not the In “Nothing but Flowers” it is not the unspoiled nature, but the splendours of unspoiled nature, but the splendours of the post-industrial society which are the post-industrial society which are evoked on the group’s album evoked on the group’s album Naked(1988)Naked(1988)

Like Adam and EveLike Adam and Eve

The song presents us with two The song presents us with two characters who find themselves in characters who find themselves in paradise “like Adam and Eve” in paradise “like Adam and Eve” in Eden , surrounded by waterfalls and Eden , surrounded by waterfalls and flowers. However, we soon flowers. However, we soon realisethat this return to nature is the realisethat this return to nature is the results of the decline and collapse of results of the decline and collapse of industrial civilisation.industrial civilisation.

Lost in natureLost in nature

The couple faced with the The couple faced with the monotonous abundance of nature monotonous abundance of nature begin to miss their beloved begin to miss their beloved motorways, billboards, Pizza Hut, in motorways, billboards, Pizza Hut, in short all the commodities and short all the commodities and conveniences of contemporary conveniences of contemporary America.America.

The scriptsThe scripts Here we standHere we stand

Like an Adam and an EveLike an Adam and an EveWaterfallsWaterfallsThe Garden of EdenThe Garden of EdenTwo fools in loveTwo fools in loveSo beautiful and strongSo beautiful and strongThe birds in the treesThe birds in the treesAre smiling upon themAre smiling upon themFrom the age of the dinosaursFrom the age of the dinosaursCars have run on gasolineCars have run on gasolineWhere, where have they gone?Where, where have they gone?Now, it's nothing but flowersNow, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factoryThere was a factoryNow there are mountains and riversNow there are mountains and riversyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnakeWe caught a rattlesnakeNow we got something for dinnerNow we got something for dinnerwe got it, we got itwe got it, we got it

There was a shopping mallThere was a shopping mallNow it's all covered with flowersNow it's all covered with flowersyou've got it, you've got ityou've got it, you've got it

If this is paradiseIf this is paradiseI wish I had a lawnmowerI wish I had a lawnmoweryou've got it, you've got ityou've got it, you've got it

Years agoYears agoI was an angry young manI was an angry young manI'd pretendI'd pretendThat I was a billboardThat I was a billboardStanding tallStanding tallBy the side of the roadBy the side of the roadI fell in loveI fell in loveWith a beautiful highwayWith a beautiful highwayThis used to be real estateThis used to be real estateNow it's only fields and treesNow it's only fields and trees

Where, where is the townWhere, where is the townNow, it's nothing but flowersNow, it's nothing but flowersThe highways and carsThe highways and carsWere sacrificed for agricultureWere sacrificed for agricultureI thought that we'd start overI thought that we'd start overBut I guess I was wrongBut I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lotsOnce there were parking lotsNow it's a peaceful oasisNow it's a peaceful oasisyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

This was a Pizza HutThis was a Pizza HutNow it's all covered with daisiesNow it's all covered with daisiesyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,I miss the honky tonks,Dairy Queens, and 7-ElevensDairy Queens, and 7-Elevensyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

And as things fell apartAnd as things fell apartNobody paid much attentionNobody paid much attentionyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,I dream of cherry pies,Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookiesCandy bars, and chocolate chip cookiesyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

We used to microwaveWe used to microwaveNow we just eat nuts and berriesNow we just eat nuts and berriesyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

This was a discount store,This was a discount store,Now it's turned into a cornfieldNow it's turned into a cornfieldyou got it, you got ityou got it, you got it

Don't leave me stranded hereDon't leave me stranded hereI can't get used to this lifestyle I can't get used to this lifestyle