So this is a song that improvised on my iPhone back in October 2023. I had hoped to sneak it onto my debut album, but after discussing things with David (my sound engineer/mixer/masterer) we decided that gap was too big in the recording window that sticking this track at the end of the album would sound a bit “odd” given that gap had grown to 4 months. So I guess this track will turn up on the difficult second album.
Many years ago I saw the documentary “Man on wire” which tells the story of one man’s successful attempt to walk a tightrope spanning the Twin Towers, in New York City. This happened back when I was a little kid in the 70s. I am always struck by the sheer chutzpah of someone doing that. But I was always struck by what a strong visual this made, and how it could work as a metaphor. You see life for everyone is like the tightrope – requiring bravery to put the first foot out, and resilience to stand the pain under the foot. Up there on the high wire can feel like a lonely place, and it’s often hard to see the people down on the ground wishing you to reach the other side. In my song the high wire is a test or trail you’re trying to overcome and just get to the other side – and that requires the tenacity to keep putting one foot in front of the other – and not to look down or look back – but keep one eye on the end of the rope.
At some stage, I want to record a studio version of this – perhaps a bit cut down – as it does go on a bit!