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Man On A Wire Lyrics

I looked into the mirror, what did I see?
There was a big black beast looking back at me
You looked into my eyes, what did you see?
You saw a big black beast, magnified in me

Like a man on a wire, I set myself on fire
Destroyer of a dream
Trying to find a spark, desperate for love
Like a man on a wire

I was like a volcano, just waiting to explode
But I have been resurrected, reborn, and I have been transformed
I was a green eyed monster, could you tell I was afraid?
I sat myself down and shot my fear in the face

Like a man on a wire, I set myself on fire
Destroyer of a dream
Trying to find a spark, desperate for love
Like a man on a wire, I set myself on fire
Destroyer of a dream
Trying to find a spark, desperate for love
Like a man on a wire

That�s right
Yeah, I see you sitting around
With your wristwatch
And your white collared shirt
I see you hoping to watch me fail
Uh uh
You�re hoping to watch me fail
Uh uh
I sat myself down and shot my fear in the face

Like a man on a wire, I set myself on fire
Destroyer of a dream
Trying to find a spark, desperate for love
Like a man on a wire, I set myself on fire
Destroyer of a dream
Trying to find a spark, desperate for love
Like a man on a wire
3 Meanings

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Cover art for Man On A Wire lyrics by Garbage

Hmm. I think this song is about facing your fears and not being afraid of that insecure voice in your head that tells you that you're not good enough. I think she was talking about herself trying to conform to what others wanted to be accepted but finally standing up and being herself.

"I shot my fear in the face".

My Interpretation
Cover art for Man On A Wire lyrics by Garbage

I have no idea what this song is about but I just love it! It's striking how the song starts, sounding just like The Kills, then it sounds like Garbage again, then it starts sounding like The Pretenders ("Yeah, I see you sitting around"...) in their first album. That's not surprising, considering that Shirley Manson admires Chrissie Hynde since her teenage years.

Cover art for Man On A Wire lyrics by Garbage

I do believe those bracketed lyrics up there are "I have been resurrected, reborn".

Lyric Correction
 
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