Thompson, Richard - Walking On A Wire Lyrics






I hand you my ball and chain
You just hand me that same old refrain
I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
And I'm falling

I wish I could please you tonight
But my medicine just won't come right
I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
And I'm falling

Too many steps to take
Too many spells to break
Too many nights awake
And no one else
This grindstone's wearing me
Your claws are tearing me
Don't use me endlessly
It's too long, too long to myself

Where's the justice and where's the sense?
When all the pain is on my side of the fence
I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
And I'm falling

Too many steps to take
Too many spells to break
Too many nights awake
And no one else
This grindstone's wearing me
Your claws are tearing me
Don't use me endlessly
It's too long, it's too long to myself

It scares you when you don't know
Whichever way the wind might blow
I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
And I'm falling
I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
And I'm falling
I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
And I'm falling





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Thompson, Richard Walking On A Wire Comments
  1. K.... K....

    Linda makes this tune as there are many great guitarists out there!

  2. E.... C....

    I like this better than the just Richard Thompson version

  3. D.... Y....

    heartbreakingly beautiful.

  4. S.... M....

    2018 still listening, still in awe

  5. m.... ....

    cheers to all the 50+ crowd who loved this song in 80's with contempt, fear and no ways. how did you all end up? lol. im 57, living out this song and like oh, wtf!

  6. R.... S....

    The guitar work on this song is a force of nature in itself. Every note, every bend sounds like it's coming straight from Richard Thompson's heart. And it probably is. Masterclass.

  7. J.... ....

    It's like Blood on the Tracks, but with both Husband & Wife present.

    J.... ....

    So a lot of self-justifying bullshit and evasion from the woman's end?

    J.... ....

    @Rolling Ormond You need to give Blood on the Tracks a re-listen. Or two.

  8. j.... a....

    For my money this is the greatest record every recorded in the celtic folk rock genre. Fabulous song. Fabulous vocals and arrangement including the fab guitar solo.

  9. J.... H....

    They were always best together. This album and this song are just stunning.

  10. J.... H....

    Probably the best and most intense song they ever did And always preferred the music they make together than his solo ventures. Man, she just nails it!

    J.... H....

    Yup. Especially at the end when they both fight for vocal space. A good piece of symbolism to show what the state of their relationship was then.

  11. D.... ....

    The guitar playing is a wonder of good taste.

  12. L.... A....

    they sound so amazing together

  13. M.... B....

    Makes an interesting comparison / bookend to "The Great Valerio" from "I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" (which is itself an interesting comparison / bookend title to "Shoot Out The Lights")

  14. V.... c....

    . WALKING ON A WIRE:

    Tema compuesto por el excelente guitarrista Richard Tnompson (ex Fairport Convention) en 1981 para el disco Shoot out the Lights de 1982, el último que hizo a dúo con su ex mujer Linda Thompson quien lo canta e irónicamente cuando ya estaba terminando la relación y el dúo e irónicamente fue el más vendido y alabado de su carrera, pues la revista Rolling Stone lo catalogó en el puesto 333 de los mejores discos de todos los tiempos, aquí la bella letra que refleja cuando una relación no va más.

    I hand you my ball and chain
    You just hand me that same old refrain
    I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
    And I'm falling

    I wish I could please you tonight
    My medicine just won't come right
    I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
    And I'm falling

    Too many steps to take
    Too many spells to break
    Too many nights awake
    And no one else

    This grindstone's wearing me
    Your claws are tearing me
    Don't use me endlessly
    It's too long, too long to myself

    Where's the justice, where's the sense?
    When all the pain is on my side of the fence
    I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
    And I'm falling

    Too many steps to take
    Too many spells to break
    Too many nights awake
    And no one else, ohh

    This grindstone's wearing me
    Your claws are tearing me
    Don't use me endlessly
    It's too long, too long to myself

    Ohh, it scares you when you don't know
    Whichever way the wind might blow
    Ohh, I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
    And I'm falling

    I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
    And I'm falling
    I'm walking on a wire, I'm walking on a wire
    And I'm falling, ohh

  15. B.... J....

    where's the justice and where's the sense when all the pain is on my side of the fence

  16. v.... ....

    ....and i'm falling!

  17. b.... c....

    Very haunting. Classic.

  18. d.... m....

    i saw the pair at ripley's in philly on their last tour. the daggers in their eyes they had for each other was in the atmosphere that night. still, go figure their personal tragedy would produce such a work art.

    d.... m....

    No way! They still play together?

    d.... m....

    I saw them in Coventry, felt so bad for Linda, she looked so down, was kind of mad at Richard, then they played... and I spent my last tenner on Pour Down Like Silver.

  19. R.... M....

    The greatest male-female shared vocal of all time...I cant do a question mark...my computer is toast )nearly)

  20. J.... C....

    Love it. Brings back good memories. Very powerful still.

  21. M.... K....

    "I wish I could please you tonight..."

  22. r.... d....

    It has been so long since I could play what I want!The phone& other services suck.But music is a cure!

  23. P.... R....

    I had this in the early 80s

  24. b.... ....

    my friend loved this record . he's gone now .

  25. M.... W....

    Just amazing honesty, to me. No smoke and mirror sleight of hand, just good straight, from the heart shooting. God bless the pair of them

  26. g.... ....

    The bridge on this song is one of my all time favorites. Very interesting resolution.

  27. P.... L....

    Never too late! :)

  28. R.... P....

    " I wish I could please you tonight but my medicine just won't come right" The lyrics capture more than the essence of the song, it's meaning is build into the fabric of our society. I am sorry I didn't discover Richard and Lynda earlier.

  29. M.... M....

    so many spells..not yet broken..beautiful..xx thankyou..x

  30. R.... W....

    This always makes my list of the top ten albums ever released. But this song, in particular, really shines in what is an already brilliant collection of songs.

  31. M.... ....

    utterly wonderful
    painful, but still wonderful

  32. t.... p....

    Well there is a memory from my youth thank you still sounds marvelous

  33. B.... C....

    "too many spells to break" ... great great song...

  34. G.... Y....

    Thanks for uploading this version, emvydra. The anger & pain in the guitar solo at the end knocks me over.