Religious Leaders Declare “Once in a Lifetime” Was a Prophecy for The Trump Apocalypse of America

In a stunning revelation this week, a growing coalition of religious leaders have come together to announce that The Talking Heads’ iconic 1980s album “Same as It Ever Was”—specifically the track “Once in a Lifetime”—was, in fact, an ancient prophecy foretelling the rise of Donald Trump and the subsequent era of chaos that would follow.

The discovery, which came during an impromptu Bible study session in a nondescript suburban church, has sparked heated debates among religious scholars, rock historians, and conspiracy theorists. 

“This is clearly divine intervention,” said Reverend Joshua Finch of the National Council of Prophetic Ministries. “David Byrne’s lyrics, specifically the phrase ‘same as it ever was,’ are eerily prescient in describing the cyclical, repetitive nature of history—an endless loop of surreal events we all seem to get stuck in, over and over. It’s as if he was writing about the 2016 and 2024 election, the rise of Trump, and the inexplicable surrealism of a political rampage that feeds on anti-Truth.”

The song’s unsettling chorus—“How did I get here?”—is said to resonate deeply with many Americans, especially those who, in the aftermath of Trump’s presidency, found themselves questioning the reality of the country’s political landscape.

“Once in a lifetime, you don’t want to miss it,” continues the song, a line many are now interpreting as a veiled warning about the dangers of ignoring the bizarre forces at play in contemporary American politics.

The theory gained momentum earlier this month when Reverend Finch held a “Same As It Ever Was” listening party, where attendees reportedly experienced a powerful emotional epiphany. “It was like the scales fell from our eyes,” said local congregant Ruth Anderson. “I looked around and thought, ‘This is it. This is Trump. This is America. We’re living in Once in a Lifetime.’”

Scholars in the field of esoteric music studies have weighed in on the controversy, noting that Byrne’s unique blend of New Wave, art rock, and mysticism makes *Talking Heads* songs fertile ground for post-hoc analysis. “The group had a deep understanding of existential themes,” noted Dr. Helen Waters, a music professor at a prestigious university. “In many ways, ‘Once in a Lifetime’ speaks to the absurdity of modern life—especially when you consider Trump’s tendency to create spectacle after spectacle. It’s as if Byrne saw this all coming, and we didn’t listen.”

The song’s cryptic references to “water flowing underground” have also been tied to metaphorical interpretations about the undercurrents of populism and political unrest. 

In addition, scholars have engaged in fiery discussion regarding the ideas presented within the song of having paradise and then waking up one day without it and not recognizing the world around you and thinking what you once had was merely a dream. This speaks to the Garden of Eden, as well as the loss of American freedoms and the American Dream. Not only that, the song presents a question many Americans and people of faith are now having:

“And you may ask yourself, ‘Am I right, am I wrong?’/And you may say to yourself, ‘My God, what have I done?’”

Meanwhile, conservative evangelical leaders, who have long been accused of aligning with Trump’s rhetoric, are embracing the idea with enthusiasm. “In a way, this validates everything we’ve been saying,” said Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University. “The song has always been about the mystery of life, about how reality can flip on its head at any given moment. I mean, who knew that it was referring to the Trump era, but hey—sometimes you have to go with what feels prophetic.”

On social media, supporters of the new interpretation have been posting memes and videos of the song set to footage of Trump rallies, arguing that the “once in a lifetime” moment is now an undeniable reality. #OnceInALifetime is currently trending on X and other social media platforms, with users posting their favorite lines from the song alongside screenshots of Trump’s most bizarre moments.

Critics, however, are not convinced. “People have been interpreting songs for years,” said pop culture analyst Roberta Hughes. “I mean, what’s next? Is ‘Take On Me’ by A-ha secretly about the rise of TikTok?”

In the meantime, religious leaders across the country are planning to incorporate Talking Heads albums into their services, with “Once in a Lifetime” being played at the beginning of Sunday services, followed by a sermon on the dangers of political apathy.

“Let’s face it,” said Finch, “we were warned. And now we’re all just living in David Byrne’s vision of what America would become.”