This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) by Talking Heads — ESL Song Worksheet | English Plans

SIDE A

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE (NAIVE MELODY)

Talking Heads · 1983

Listen carefully and fill in the missing words.

    

Verse 1
(1) is where I want to be
Pick me up and turn me round
I feel (2), born with a weak heart
I guess I must be having (3)

The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the (4), head in the sky
It's okay, I know nothing's wrong, nothing

Chorus
Hi yo, I got plenty of (5)
Hi yo, you got (6) in your eyes
And you're (7) here beside me
I (8) the passing of time

Never for money, always for love
Cover us and say goodnight
Say goodnight

Verse 2
Home is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there
I come home, she lifted up her (9)
I guess that this must be the (10)

I can't tell one from another
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time before we were born
If someone asks, this where I'll be, where I'll be

[Chorus]

Bridge
Hi yo, we drift in and out
Hi yo, sing into my mouth
Out of all those kinds of people
You got a face with a view

I'm just an (11) looking for a home, and
Share the same space for a minute or two
And you love me 'til my heart (12)
Love me 'til I'm dead

Eyes that (13) up, eyes look through you
Cover up the blank spots
Hit me on the (14)

Outro
And ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Hey
Ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
  

This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)

Talking Heads · 1983

ClassPlan.ai

Song Worksheets

Add the Adjective

For each noun from the song, add a suitable adjective. Think about the mood and meaning of the lyrics.

1. heart →

2. time →

3. eyes →

4. place →

5. home →

6. animal →

The Missing Verse

Write one more verse for this song. Match the style, rhythm, and emotional tone of David Byrne's lyrics.

Your verse should capture the feeling of finding comfort and belonging with someone special. Use simple, honest language like the original.

Did you know?

Read these facts about the song. Which one surprises you most?

🎵This song was written by all four members of Talking Heads and became one of their most beloved tracks from the album Speaking in Tongues.
⭐The song's gentle, romantic tone was unusual for Talking Heads, who were typically known for their more angular, experimental sound.
🎸David Byrne has said this is one of the few conventional love songs he ever wrote, describing it as his attempt at writing something sweet and sincere.
📀The phrase 'naive melody' in the subtitle reflects the song's deliberately simple, heartfelt musical structure compared to the band's usual complexity.
🎤The song has been covered by numerous artists including Arcade Fire, Shawn Colvin, and Miles Kane, showing its enduring appeal across genres.

Discussion & analysis

Discuss each question with your partner.

1What does 'home' mean to the singer in this song? Is it a place or a feeling?
2How does the singer describe love differently from typical pop songs?

3When have you felt like you found your 'place' with someone or somewhere?
4Why might simple, everyday moments be more meaningful than dramatic ones in relationships?

🥁 Play It! — Tap the Beat

A student taps the rhythm of a song on the desk — or hums the melody. No words. Class tries to identify the song. First correct guess wins a point for their team.