David Byrne has unveiled his new single 'T-Shirt,' co-written with longtime collaborator Brian Eno, following its debut on his ongoing tour. The electropop track emphasizes helping others amid political challenges and features a video showcasing slogan-bearing T-shirts. It's the first new material since Byrne's September album 'Who Is The Sky?'
Release Details
David Byrne shared 'T-Shirt' on November 18, 2025, via Matador Records. The bright electropop song, co-written by Brian Eno, debuted live on September 16 in Pittsburgh during Byrne's North American leg of the 'Who Is The Sky?' tour. It has since become a fan favorite, often accompanied by projections of T-shirts with slogans like 'Make America Gay Again' and 'No Kings.'
Lyrics highlight themes of altruism and resilience: "I believe in helping others / I will sing my freedom song / I donate to worthy causes / I go along and get along," Byrne sings in the first verse, leading into the chorus: "See my t-shirt, take it off / Dance these shoes off ‘till we drop."
The video is a montage of T-shirts displaying messages such as 'Well-behaved women seldom make history,' 'Fight Today For a Better Tomorrow!,' and 'Human Rights Are Not Optional.' This release marks a reunion with Eno, whose collaborations with Byrne date back to Talking Heads albums like 1978's 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' 1979's 'Fear of Music,' and 1980's 'Remain in Light,' as well as their 1981 joint album 'My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' and 2008's 'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.'
Tour and Album Context
'T-Shirt' supports Byrne's tour for 'Who Is The Sky?,' released in September 2025 and produced by Kid Harpoon with arrangements by the Ghost Train Orchestra. The album includes contributions from Hayley Williams on 'What Is The Reason For It?,' St. Vincent, and The Smile's Tom Skinner. Byrne's tour, which kicked off with a rare performance of Talking Heads' 'Psycho Killer,' continues through December in North America, followed by Australia and New Zealand in January 2026, and Europe in February and March, ending March 19 in Paris.
Byrne has used his platform for social commentary, including a 2018 playlist responding to political rhetoric. Recently, he discussed potential autism and dismissed Talking Heads reunion rumors, telling Rolling Stone, “Musically, I’ve gone to a very different place.”
