Burning Down The House

by Talking Heads

Loading song
Fetching song
1
—
Play in Full ModesMore Songs for Kids
Lyrics

Watch out,

you might get what you’re af ter.

Cool ba bies,

strange but not a stran ger.

I’m an (F)or di nar y (G)guy (Am7)burn ing down the house.

Hold tight,

wait ’til the par ty’s o ver.

Hold tight,

we’re in for nas ty weath er.

(G)Some Three There has (F)got to be a (G)way, (Am7)burn ing down the house.

No (G5)Here’s your tick et, pack your bags, some (F5)time for jump ing o ver board,

trans por ta tion is here.

er.

(G5)Close e nough but not too far, star (F5)may be you know where you are, fight ing fi re with fi re.

All wet,

hey, you might need a rain coat.

Shake down,

dreams walk ing in broad day light.

(G)Some things hun dred (F)six ty five de (G)grees, (Am7)burn ing down the house.

No (G5)It was once up on a place, and (F5)times I lis ten to my self,

gon na come in first place.

er.

(G5)Peo ple on their way to work, star (F5)ba by, what did you ex pect?

Gon na burst in to flame.

re.

(Am7)Burn ing down the house.

Burning Down The House by Talking Heads — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Burning Down The House” by Talking Heads in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 104 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Burning Down The House" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Burning Down The House"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Burning Down The House" use?
Just 5 chords: Am7, F, Fpow, G, Gpow. Take it one section at a time.
What other Talking Heads songs work for kids?
Try "AND SHE WAS". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.