Why “Once in a Lifetime” Is One of the Greatest Songs Ever Written

On this episode of Our American Stories, few pop songs sound like nothing that came before them. Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” is one of them, a hypnotic blend of rhythm, repetition, and existential wonder that has puzzled and inspired listeners for decades.

Music critics and musicians alike have called it a perfect song, praising its strange power and its lyrics, which feel both meaningless and deeply profound. Our own Greg Hengler traces how the song came together, why it resonated so strongly, and how it became one of the most enduring and influential tracks in modern music.

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