Laurie Anderson — Language Is a Virus From Outer Space

[Verse 1] 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 [Chorus] Language is a virus! (mmm) Language is a virus! Aaah-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh Aaah-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh [Verse 2] 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 [Chorus] Language is a virus! Language is a virus! Ahh-ahh Aaah-ooh, ah-ahh [Verse 3] 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? [Chorus] Language is a virus! Language is a virus! Ahh-ooh Ah-ahh-ooh [Verse 4] 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 [Chorus] Language is a virus! Language is a virus! Ah-aah-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh Ah-ahh-ooh, ah-ahh-ooh [Verse 5] 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!" [Chorus] Language is a virus!