Drew Holcomb (born May 13, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter who g… Read Full Bio ↴Drew Holcomb (born May 13, 1982) is an American singer and songwriter who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and now calls East Nashville, Tennessee, his home. His first success was his solo album "Washed in Blue" in 2005.

In 2006, he married his longtime friend and singing partner, Ellie Holcomb (nee Bannister), and relocated to her hometown of Nashville. In 2007, along with guitarist Nathan Dugger, bassist Rich Brinsfield, and drummer Jon Radford, they formed the band Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors (the name relating to them all living in the same East Nashville area).

Tightrope
Drew Holcomb Lyrics

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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 a tightrope

And I feel like a slow dance
And I feel like a last chance

Played hard to get
One too many regrets
Like walking on a tightrope

I wanna go wherever you go
Through the night no matter where the storms roll
Till the rising sun meets the morning
Wanna go wherever you go
Wherever you go

I feel the weight of my sorrow
Without the promise of tomorrow
So much to gain
So much to lose
Like walking on a tightrope
I hear the sirens in the West wind
I feel the devil's at work again
Saying it's too late
A lifetime of mistakes
Like walking on a tightrope

I wanna go wherever you go
Through the night no matter where the storms roll
Till the rising sun meets the morning
Wanna go wherever you go

I wanna go wherever you go
Through the night no matter where the storms roll
Till the rising sun meets the morning
Wanna go wherever you go
Wherever you go
Wherever you go

Wherever you go
Wherever you go

Overall Meaning

The song "Tightrope" by Drew Holcomb is a powerful ballad that explores the feeling of uncertainty and fear of the unknown. The lyrics depict the emotions of an individual who is struggling to come to terms with life's challenges and is weighed down by the bitter realities of their past. The singer feels like an old soul, like a sinking ship, and is unable to get sleep or peace of mind. The constant feeling of walking on a tightrope makes them anxious.

The second verse suggests that the singer has been unlucky in love. They feel like they have missed out on a lot of opportunities, and they regret hardball tactics they adopted in the past. The singer's despair is palpable as they voice their fears of making the same mistakes again while struggling to balance things in their life. The third verse implies that the fears and anxieties of the singer are further compounded by the pressure from external sources. They can hear sirens and believe that the devil is at work, suggesting that outside forces are taking advantage of their vulnerable state.

In the chorus, the singer projects a ray of hope in the form of a loved one. The singer wants to go wherever this person goes, as they feel they are the only source of comfort and reassurance in their life. The lyrics about going through the night no matter where the storms roll, till the rising sun meets the morning, show their commitment to follow their loved one to the ends of the earth. This devotion is what gives the singer strength to keep moving forward.

Line by Line Meaning

I feel like an old soul
I feel like I have lived many lifetimes

I feel like a sinking ship
I feel like I'm going down and can't keep it together

Can't get no sleep
I can't fall asleep

Can't just let it be
I can't just leave things as they are

Like I'm walking on a tightrope
I feel like I'm on the edge, trying to balance my life

And I feel like a slow dance
I feel like life is moving slowly

And I feel like a last chance
I feel like this is my one and only opportunity

Played hard to get
I made things difficult for myself

One too many regrets
I have too many things I regret

Like walking on a tightrope
Life feels like balancing precariously between success and failure

I wanna go wherever you go
I want to be with you always