This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I could not breath against the wall
The clash of light against the floor
They held me up against the wall
Too young to be ignored
Standing by a building
Leaks out information
Passive death of freedom gets me
Where's my security
Behind my back it goes
Early morning's coming
The risk that I am taking
Recall a song that I heard as a child
No more false immunity
Inside the blistering cold
My youth unknown to me
I'm walking by a wire
What's left from me to breathe
Cold smell of fire
One day I will be free
I was born to be no one
My youth unknown to me
I walked behind the sun
Emptiness within me
Exit signs within me
The one you're looking for is not here
Had no security
He will not come back
The clash of light against the floor
They held me up against the wall
Too young to be ignored
Standing by a building
Leaks out information
Passive death of freedom gets me
Where's my security
Behind my back it goes
Early morning's coming
The risk that I am taking
Recall a song that I heard as a child
No more false immunity
Inside the blistering cold
My youth unknown to me
I'm walking by a wire
What's left from me to breathe
Cold smell of fire
One day I will be free
I was born to be no one
My youth unknown to me
I walked behind the sun
Emptiness within me
Exit signs within me
The one you're looking for is not here
Had no security
He will not come back
Lyrics submitted by Disposition_987
Walking by a Wire Lyrics as written by Jonas Petter Renkse Anders Nystrom
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"I was born to be no one, my youth unknown to me, I walked behind the sun" - story of my life? I get the feeling from this song that it's about being bullied, being ignored. being treated as a nobody. and never be able to escape those feelings.
Considering that I guess the album is a whole crime history, I'm pretty sure this is the song where someone is arrested
Great atmosphere.
Notice that this is the probably the 3rd song on the album so far to have the word "emptiness" in it?
To me, this song is about someone that went to jail while still too young and planned a breakout by setting the prison on fire. I cannot make enough sense out of some of its parts, but I guess as a whole my interpretation remains acceptable. Let's see:
"I could not breath against the wall The clash of light against the floor They held me up against the wall Too young to be ignored"
This is the moment of arrestment. He was pushed against the wall and could not breath partly because of the physical violence but also because he was too afraid inside. The only thing he remembers is the lights of the police car against the floor next to him. He was arrested obviously for doing something illegal. Maybe his life was pretty tough and he was compelled to it. And even though he was young, he wasn't underage so he had to pay for his crime.
"Standing by a building Leaks out information Passive death of freedom gets me Where's my security Behind my back it goes"
The "passive death of freedom" is an interesting view. It's as if he saw things in his life as an espectator, passively having to accept his fate (having the necessity of commiting the crime, and now going to jail). He can only fear for his security in prison.
"Early morning's coming The risk that I am taking Recall a song that I heard as a child No more false immunity Inside the blistering cold"
Now, as a new day approaches he reflects about the risk of what he's planned (the fire). He melancholically looks back to his childhood and realizes there's no more false immunity. He cannot hide inside his "blistering cold" as it is no use no more.
"My youth unknown to me I'm walking by a wire What's left for me to breathe Cold smell of fire"
He is too young and already taking too many chances. It doesn't seem to him that he has ever had enough time to live his youth. So the only way out he can see is through the fire.
"One day I will be free I was born to be no one My youth unknown to me I walked behind the sun"
He knows freedom someday would come, but freedom for what? He feels his life is worthless. Why is he even trying to escape? To enjoy being young? He spent his whole life running against time, trying to make the most of the days to stay alive.
"Emptiness within me Exit signs within me The one you're looking for is not here Had no security He will not come back"
Naturally, he feels empty. The "exit signs" inside show the urge for freedom he still has. Or maybe he already started the fire and is finding his way out by intuition. He seems to be missing someone important in his life also. And the lack of security he faced until now makes him realize it's a though life and he probably shouldn't expect that person to ever come back.