'I Eat a Glass Sandwich': Rock Legend Humiliates Elon Musk With New Song Using His Own Bizarre Quotes

David Byrne turned statements attributed to Elon Musk into a satirical song for Alex Gibney's documentary Musk, which opens in select US cinemas on 9 October 2026.

The former Talking Heads frontman collaborated with composer Daniel Pemberton on 'Let Me Sell You a Dream,' released through Matador Records. Its lyrics include the bizarre phrase 'I eat a glass sandwich.'

The release follows Byrne's appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on 7 October, when he explained why he used Musk's reported remarks instead of writing a conventional protest song. Gibney's documentary examines the Tesla and SpaceX executive's business career, political involvement and public influence.

The film opens in New York and Los Angeles ahead of a wider US release on 16 October. Byrne's contribution takes a different approach, constructing a musical portrait from statements associated with the billionaire.

David Byrne Explains Why He Used Elon Musk's Own Words

Byrne told Meyers he wanted to explore Musk's personality without inventing his thoughts or motives. He collected quotations from the documentary, material provided by Gibney and statements available online.

The musician said he found enough unusual expressions to write lyrics without creating a fictional monologue.

One phrase particularly caught his attention. 'I eat a glass sandwich' appears in the song, and Byrne attributed the expression to Musk during a television interview.

Byrne told Meyers the remark was so unusual he couldn't have invented it. However, the original context of the expression has not been independently established.

In a promotional statement accompanying the release, Byrne said he preferred to 'let the character in the song be the one who describes himself.'

Rather than directly criticise Musk, Byrne wanted the billionaire's reported language to drive the song. This approach lets listeners interpret those statements without an accompanying political argument.

Pemberton, who composed the documentary's score, produced the track. Its energetic, guitar-driven arrangement accompanies Byrne's distinctive vocal delivery, giving the collected remarks an unconventional musical setting.

The recording process was equally unusual. Byrne recorded his contributions in hotel rooms while touring, using a laptop and equipment purchased in London.

He also revealed that he wrote the lyrics and melody before watching Gibney's documentary. His admiration for the filmmaker's previous work and Pemberton's compositions helped persuade him to accept the collaboration.

David Byrne Revisits a Familiar Technique for Elon Musk Documentary

Byrne previously explored a similar songwriting technique in Here Lies Love, his collaboration with Fatboy Slim about former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos.

The project began as a 2010 album before becoming a stage musical. Its lyrics drew partly on statements attributed to Marcos and members of her inner circle.

For Musk, Byrne returned to that approach, placing reported remarks by a contemporary technology executive at the centre of a song accompanying a critical documentary.

Gibney said he wanted an energetic closing track that reflected what he saw as Musk's chaotic personality. He approached Byrne while the musician was in the UK and later praised their collaboration.

The filmmaker said Byrne and Pemberton 'conjured up musical magic.' Pemberton also criticised wealthy and powerful individuals who, in his view, use unrealistic promises to increase their influence and control. His remarks represented the composer's political perspective rather than independently established findings about Musk.

The song has also attracted discussion among Byrne's listeners. In a Reddit discussion about its official visualiser, one commenter highlighted Byrne's claim that the lyrics came from Musk's own statements.

Musk previously dismissed Gibney's documentary as a 'hit piece.' His criticism of the film predated the song's release. No verified public response from Musk to Byrne's track has been established.

Meanwhile, 'Let Me Sell You a Dream' is eligible for Best Original Song consideration at the 2027 Academy Awards. No nomination has been announced.

Byrne previously shared the 1988 Oscar for Best Original Score for The Last Emperor with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Cong Su. He also received a 2023 Best Original Song nomination for 'This Is a Life' from Everything Everywhere All at Once.

During Byrne's television appearance, Meyers jokingly asked whether Musk might seek a songwriting credit because the lyrics were drawn from his reported remarks.

'If he does that rather than sic his lawyers on me, I'll take it,' Byrne replied. 'That's a perfectly good outcome.' The exchange was hypothetical, with no established legal dispute over the song.