The Tightrope Walker - Nick Powell, Candida Caldicot & National Theatre

When I was just a boy My momma told me, "Son You look so serious" (Smile and have some fun) When I was 17 My father let me know "Life isn't fun and games" (Gotta sell your soul) I don't know how I ended up So close to where I started I went to war for peace of mind What was it for? I'm dancing on a tightrope No time to mess around, oh Just trying to let my mind go I'm never coming dow-ow-own I found a preacher man To help me understand What we are doing here (What comes after life) And now the years have passed Been to the moon and back And all I've realized (No one knows but me) I don't (he don't) know how (know how) I ended up So close to where I started I went (he went) to war (to war) for peace of mind What was it for? I'm dancing on a tightrope No time to mess around, oh Just trying to let my mind go I'm never coming dow-ow-own I'm never coming dow-own I'm never coming dow-ow-own Teachers always say, "Stay in between the lines" "Promise you'll be quiet if you can't say something nice" Doctors always say, "Take these pills for your health" But now I can't remember how to think for myself I'm dancing on a tightrope No time to mess around, oh Just trying to let my mind go, ha I'm never coming dow-ow-own I'm never coming dow-own I'm never coming down (-ow-own)

Easy now With my heart Easy now Oh, with my heart Walk a tight, walk a little tightrope You walk a tight, walk a little tightrope Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up I said oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up Careful now Ooh, with my head I said careful now What you do to my head? Well make your mind, make your little mind up To each his own, to each his or her oh, oh, own Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up I said oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up In my head, I'm rolling over I'm changing I've been the change On the swings on the set on the night that we met And now the beads of water Move up the glass You speak your mind You can not take it back Walk a tight, walk a little tightrope Walk a tight, walk a little tightrope Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up I said oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up I said oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up I said oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This heart is burning up It's, it's burning up Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I feel like an old soul I feel like a sinking ship Can't get no sleep, can't just let it be Like I'm walking on tightrope I feel like a slow dance I feel like a last chance Played hard to get, one too many regrets Like walking a tightrope I want to go wherever you go Through the night where the storms roll Till the rising sun meets the morning Want to go wherever you go, Wherever you go I feel the weight of my sorrow Without the promise of tomorrow So much to gain and so much to lose Like walking on a tightrope I hear the sirens in the west wind I feel the devils at work again Saying it's too late, a lifetime of mistakes Like walking on a tightrope I want to go wherever you go Through the night no matter where the storms roll Till the rising sun meets the morning Want to go wherever you go I want to go wherever you go Through the night no matter where the storms roll Till the rising sun meets the morning Want to go wherever you go Wherever you go Wherever you go Wherever you go Wherever you Go

High above as in the clouds They swing so slowly To the wire showing no fear They step so boldly Gently faster Building in momentum Until success or disaster Befalls the master O the tightrope walk The dizzyingheights The sound of your hearts Like thunder Measure your step Or all your plans May fall asunder Now gently faster Building in momentum Until success or disaster Befalls the master Of the tightrope walk The safety net is your psyche The wire though imaginary Yes its very real So tread with care On the tightrope walk The tightrope walk The tightrope walk The tightrope walk

I've been staring at the world from a tightrope Worried sick but I'm hanging on to high hopes And I'm swinging hard, always hoping that I strike gold But you walk by and it's like you've got your eyes closed And I don't mean to intrude But I'm dying to reach you So can I try to be somebody you could love? I don't know if I could ever measure up And you took my breath like water in my lungs But I would die to be somebody you could love Oh I never know just what to say, so I keep shut It's like I'm always too afraid I'm gonna freeze up And if I try too hard, then it's too much But if I don't start soon, I'm gonna lose touch It's just the way you give me too much to choose from And I don't mean to intrude But I'm dying to reach you So can I try to be somebody you could love? I don't know if I could ever measure up But you took my breath like water in my lungs And I would die to be somebody you could love Oh Oh Don't remind me I could never be enough Stay beside me 'cause I only want your love Don't remind me I could never be enough Stay beside me 'cause I only want your love I've been staring at the world from a tightrope Worried sick but I'm hanging on to high hopes So can I try to be somebody you could love? I don't know if I could ever measure up But you took my breath like water in my lungs And I would die to be somebody you could love Oh Oh Yeah, you took my breath like water in my lungs And I would die to be somebody you could love