Language Is a Virus from Outer Space - Laurie Anderson

I saw this guy on the train

And he seemed to have gotten stuck

In one of those abstract trances

And he was going ugh… ugh… ugh…

And Geraldine said

You know, I think he’s in some kind of pain

I think it’s a pain cry

And I said — if that’s a pain cry

Then language is a virus

Language is a virus!

(mmm)

Language is a virus!

Aaah-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh

Aaah-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh

Well I was feeling really rotten the other day

I was feeling washed up

And I said to myself

I know what I’m gonna do

I’m gonna take myself out

So I went to the park and I sat down

And I said — boy is this ever fun

I’m really having fun now

I’m having the time of my life, now

And then this little dog ran up

And this dog had ears like a drop-leaf table

And I said — boy is this ever…

Fun

Language is a virus!

Language is a virus!

Ahh-ahh

Aaah-ooh, ah-ahh

Well I was talking to a friend the other day

And I was saying…

I wanted you

And I was looking for you

But I couldn’t find you

And he said — hey!

Are you talking to me?

Or are you just practicing

For one of those performances of yours?

Language is a virus!

Language is a virus!

Ahh-ooh

Ah-ahh-ooh

You know, I don’t believe there’s such a thing

As the Japanese language

I mean, they don’t even know how to write

They just draw pictures of these little characters

And when they talk, they just make sounds

That more or less sync up with their lips

Language is a virus!

Language is a virus!

Ah-aah-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh

Ah-ahh-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh

Well I walked uptown

And I saw a sign — Today’s lecture:

Big Science and Little Man

So I walked in and there were all these salesmen there

With a big pile of electronics

And they were singing — phase, lock, loop!

Neurological Bonding

Video Disc

They were saying — we’re gonna link you up

We’re gonna phase you in

They said — think of it this way

Picture a Christmas tree

With lots of little sparkly lights

And each light is totally separate

But they’re all sort of hanging off the same wire

Get the picture?

And I said — count me out

And they said — we’ve got your number

And I said — count me out!

You gotta count me out!

Language is a virus!