Highwire

The Rolling Stones

About Highwire

"Highwire" is an anti-war song by The Rolling Stones featured on their 1991 live album Flashpoint. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Highwire" is one of the rare examples of the Stones taking on political issues—in this case, the fall-out from Persian Gulf War. "Highwire" was released as Flashpoint's first single on 1 March 1991. It reached number four in Finland and Norway, number six in the Netherlands, number 10 in Canada and number 57 in the United States. In the latter country, the single peaked at number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. An accompanying video directed by Julien Temple was released and depicts the Stones in an industrial set performing the song. 


Year:
1991
4:46
76 

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We sell 'em missiles, we sell 'em tanks
We give 'em credit, you can call the bank 
It's just a business, you can pay us in crude
You love these toys, just go play out your feuds 
Got no pride, don't know whose boots to lick
We act so greedy, makes me sick sick sick 

So get up, stand up, out of my way
I want to talk to the boss right away
Get up, stand up, whose gonna pay
I want to talk to the man right away 

We walk the highwire
Sending the men up to the front line
Hoping they don't catch the hell fire
With hot guns and cold, cold nights 

We walk the highwire
Sending the men up to the front line
And tell 'em to hotbed the sunshine
With hot guns and cold, cold nights 

Our lives are threatened, our jobs at risk
Sometimes dictators need a slap on the wrist 
Another Munich we just can't afford
We're gonna send in the eighty-second airborne 

Get up, stand up, who's gonna pay
I want to talk to the boss right away
Get up, stand up, outta my way
I want to talk to the man right away 

We walk the highwire
Putting the world out on a deadline
And hoping they don't catch the shellfire
With hot guns and cold, cold nights 

We walk the highwire
Putting the world out on a deadline
Catching the bite on prime time
With hot guns and cold, cold nights 

Get up! Stand up!
Dealer! Stealer!

We walk the highwire
We send all our men into the front lines
We're hoping that we backed the right side
With hot guns and cold, cold nights 

We walk the highwire
We send all the men up to the front lines
And hoping they don't catch the hellfire
With hot guns and cold cold, cold, cold,
Cold nights 

We walk the highwire
We walk the highwire
With hot guns and cold, cold, cold nights 

With hot guns and cold, cold nights

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in Dartford in 1962. The earliest settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (keyboards, piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Since Wyman's retirement in 1993, the band's full members have been Jagger, Richards, Watts and guitarist Ronnie Wood who joined in 1975. Darryl Jones (bassist) and Chuck Leavell (keyboardist) are regular contributors but not full band members. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the Rolling Stones in 1989, noting that "critical acclaim and popular consensus has accorded them the title of the “World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band.”Rolling Stone magazine ranked them 4… more »

26 fans

Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


1 fact about this song

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Legacy Years later, the impact of "Highwire" continues. The Stones' decision to comment on a contemporary war set a precedent, proving that even rock and roll could wander into the domain of political discourse.

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    Highwire

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1991

    Billboard #57


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