Highwire
35 yearstoday!
This studio track actually was the first single extracted from the band's 1991 live album 'Flashpoint'.
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards during the Persian Gulf War, 'Highwire' is one of the rare examples of the Stones taking on political issues. By the time of its release, Richards said about the song: "This is not about the war. It's about how you build up some shaky dictator. You can't build them up, 'cause then you've got to slam them down."
The song's lyrics deconstructed the build-up to the war, and criticized the politics behind it.
Its
promo video was directed by Julien Temple and depicted the band performing the song in an industrial set.
Beyond the 7" format, the single was released on 3" and 5" CDS and 12".
'2,000 Light Years From Home' was originally issued as a single as the B-side of 'She's A Rainbow' in 1967.
[Mick Jagger - Keith Richards]
Sun turnin' 'round with graceful motion
We're setting off with soft explosion
Bound for a star with fiery ocean
It's so very lonely, you're a hundred light years from home
Freezing red deserts turn to dark
Energy here in every part
It's so very lonely, you're six hundred light years from home
It's so very lonely, you're a thousand light years from home
It's so very lonely, you're a thousand light years from home
Bell flight fourteen you now can land
Seen you on Aldebaran
Safe on the green desert sand
It's so very lonely, you're two thousand light years from home
It's so very lonely, you're two thousand light years from home
Producer: Chris Kimsey & The Glimmer Twins
Engineers: Mark Stent
Keith Richards: electric guitar, backing vocals
Brian Jones: harmonica, backing vocals
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
| charts | peak | release date | 7" single | B-side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
29 | March 4, 1991 | CBS 656756 | 2,000 Light Years From Home* [Mick Jagger - Keith Richards] |
 |
57 | CBS/Sony 38-73742 |
* recorded live during the Urban Jungle tour, on 14 June 1990, at the Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, Spain [only available on single]
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]
We sell them missiles, we sell them tanksWe give them credit, you can call up the bank
It's just a business, you can pay us in cruise
You'll love these toys, just go play out your feuds
We've got no pride, don't know whose boots to lick
We act so greedy, make me sick, sick, sick
(So) Get up, stand up, out of my way (who's going to pay?)
I want to talk to the boss right away
Get up, stand up, who's going to pay? (out of my way)
I want to talk to the man right away
We walk the highwire
(We're) Sending the men to the front lines
And (We're) hoping they don't catch the hell fire
Of (With) hot guns and cold, cold nights
We walk the highwire
Sending the men to the front lines
We tell them to pop in the sunshine
With hot guns and cold, cold nights
All right
Our lives are threatened, our jobs at riskSometimes dictators need a slap on the wrist
Another Munich we just can't afford
We're going to send in the 82nd airborne
We walk the highwire
Putting the world on a deadline
And hoping we don't catch the shellfire
Of hot guns and cold, cold nights
We walk the highwire
Putting the world on a deadline
Catching the bite on prime time
With hot guns and cold, cold nights
Yeah
Get up, stand up
We walk the highwire
We're sending the men to the front lines
We're hoping that we back the right side
With hot guns and cold, cold nights
Ah yeah
We walk the highwire
Oh yeah
With hot guns and cold, cold, cold nights
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