“It's a bit like sympathetic magic in a way: the usual Western presumption that 'primitive' rituals mimic what they desire to achieve--that phallic objects might be believed to increase male potency and playacting rainfall might somehow bring it about. I am suspicious of such obvious connections and I suspect that the connections among things, people, and processes can be equally irrational. I sense the world might be more dreamlike, metaphorical, and poetic than we currently believe--but just as irrational as sympathetic magic when looked at in a typically scientific way. I wouldn't be surprised if poetry--poetry in the broadest sense, in the sense of a world filled with metaphor, rhyme, and recurring patterns, shapes, and designs--is how the world works. The world isn't logical, it's a song.”

Share & Save

Meaning

Not documented yet.

When It Was Said

Not documented yet.

Who It Was Said To

Not documented yet.

Historical Context

Not documented yet.

Source

Not documented yet.

Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

Did They Really Say It?

Not documented yet.

Did You Know?

Not documented yet.

About David Byrne

American musician and artist of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, best known for his work as the frontman of the influential new wave band Talking Heads. His music blends avant-garde experimentation with accessible pop sensibilities, while his solo work explores themes of alienation, creativity, and urban life through unconventional songwriting and production.

More from David Byrne (161 quotes) →
"It's a bit like sympathetic magic in a way: the usual Western presump…" — David Byrne | Daily Quotes