Take Me to the River

Al Green and guitarist Mabon Hodges wrote it in 1973, and Green recorded it in 1974 for Al Green Explores Your Mind with producer Willie Mitchell. Talking Heads recorded their version in Nassau with Eno. Byrne at first resisted releasing a cover. Once convinced, Eno suggested playing it as slowly as possible and then added his own effects. The edit was released as a single and reached 26 on the Hot 100 in February 1979, also charting in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Pitchfork's Jill Mapes called it their first Top 40 hit and argued that Weymouth, not Byrne, is the cover's main power source, since the track is one big throbbing bass loop. Byrne wrote in the liner notes of Once in a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads that at least four versions were out at the same time: Foghat, Bryan Ferry, Levon Helm and Talking Heads.

Live

Live versions appear on The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads and on Stop Making Sense, where it runs 5:36 and closes the soundtrack album. Lorde covered it in 2024 for the Stop Making Sense tribute album.