Rumor in Rhode Island has it that David Byrne used to work at the Smith st. location of New York-system Wieners .
In RI people order wieners "up the arm" meaning that they stack the hot dogs from the elbow up to the wrist to transport the wieners to a person's table.
The gesture used in the "once in a lifetime" video and performances is EXTREMELY similar to stacking wieners up your arm. So Rhode Island is where that weird gesture seems to come from. you can see this gesture at the 4 minute mark in this you tube clip from Stop Making Sense.
In RI people order wieners "up the arm" meaning that they stack the hot dogs from the elbow up to the wrist to transport the wieners to a person's table.
The gesture used in the "once in a lifetime" video and performances is EXTREMELY similar to stacking wieners up your arm. So Rhode Island is where that weird gesture seems to come from.
you can see this gesture at the 4 minute mark in this you tube clip from Stop Making Sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw54-rCIrPs&feature=related