Gordie's musical genius is applauded by audiences and industry players alike. From his national debut in the early 90's to his presence today on the Nashville writing scene where international recording stars are discovering and recording his material including Faith Hill “Paris” , George Canyon “ My Name”, Keith Urban covering “The Hard Way” and “ You (or Somebody Like You) and the #1 Billboard single and Grammy winner by Carrie Underwood “Jesus Take The Wheel”.
Sampson’s certainly no stranger to the music scene. As a co-writer, guitarist and singer, Sampson played a key role in the Canadian Top 20 success of pop/rock band Realworld in the early 1990s. Gordie then shifted his attention to the more traditional music of his native Cape Breton Island and soon found himself working with the top traditional acts of the day. He continued to expand his horizons by working as musical director for stage and television productions and honing his skills in the studio.
Gordie’s fourth solo album titled “Almost Beautiful” is available now.
Hangin' By A Wire
Gordie Sampson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks different now
These rhymes and riddles I can't figure out
Well, you smile and then you cry
And lady I can't tell
Hey pretty lady
Won't you tell me where it hurts?
You never say a word
You just hold your head
Like a queen of the universe
It?s a curse, it?s a shame
Everybody knows your name
But not what you're made of
I don't want you to change
'cause the world outside your frame
Ain't all it's cracked up to be
Tell me what do you see
When you're lookin' at me?
what's on your mind?
What's going on inside your head?
Did I say somethin'
You should never have said?
'cause you're hangin' by a wire
Hangin' by a thread
I don't wanna be the one
To let you down
I don't wanna make it worse
For crying out loud
And I don't wanna be just
Another face in your crowd
It?s a curse, it?s a shame
Everybody knows your name
But not what you're made of
I don't want you to change
'cause the world outside your frame
Ain't all it's cracked up to be
Tell me what do you see
When you're lookin' at me?
I don't wanna steal you away, steal you away
I don't wanna steal you away, steal you away
I don't wanna steal you away, steal you away
Steal you away, steal you
It?s a curse, it?s a shame
Everybody knows your name
But not what you're made of
I don't want you to change
'cause the world outside your frame
Ain't all it's cracked up to be
Tell me what do you see?
In Gordie Sampson's song Hangin' By A Wire, the singer seems to be addressing someone he cares about who is going through a difficult time. He notes that something about the person, the addressee, looks different now and that he can't quite figure out what's wrong. The person is smiling one moment and crying the next, and the singer is left wondering what's going on inside their head. The chorus repeats the refrain, "It's a curse, it's a shame, everybody knows your name, but not what you're made of", expressing pity for the addressee, who is famous or well-known for something, but who is not seen for who they truly are. The singer sees the pain and the struggle that the addressee is going through and wants to help, but doesn't know how. He doesn't want to make things worse and he certainly doesn't want to "steal" the person away from anything or anyone.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's concern regarding the addressee. He asks what's going on inside their head and whether he said something that he shouldn't have. He then mentions that the person is "hangin' by a wire, hangin' by a thread", which implies that they are in a precarious situation and could fall at any moment. The singer desperately wants to be there for the addressee and not just be "another face in your crowd", but he also acknowledges that the world outside of the addressee's frame is not all it's cracked up to be. The song ends with another repetition of the chorus and the question, "tell me what do you see when you're lookin' at me?", leaving the listener with a sense of introspection and perhaps reflecting on how we see and understand others.
Line by Line Meaning
There's somethin' about you
There is something unusual about you
Looks different now
You seem to have changed
These rhymes and riddles I can't figure out
I am struggling to understand your words and actions
Well, you smile and then you cry
You seem to have mixed emotions
And lady I can't tell
I cannot discern what you are feeling
Hey pretty lady
Hello attractive woman
Won't you tell me where it hurts?
Please let me know how I can help you
How can I help you?
What can I do to assist you?
You never say a word
You are not open about your struggles
You just hold your head
You seem to be in deep thought
Like a queen of the universe
You have a regal presence
It's a curse, it's a shame
It is unfortunate
Everybody knows your name
You are famous
But not what you're made of
But people do not know the real you
I don't want you to change
I like and accept you as you are
'cause the world outside your frame
Because the world beyond your immediate surroundings
Ain't all it's cracked up to be
Is not as good as it may seem
Tell me what do you see
What is your perspective?
When you're lookin' at me?
When you are observing me?
What's on your mind?
What are you thinking about?
What's going on inside your head?
What is taking place mentally?
Did I say somethin'
Did I utter something
You should never have said?
That I should not have said?
'cause you're hangin' by a wire
Because you are in a precarious situation
Hangin' by a thread
Only barely holding on
I don't wanna be the one
I do not want to be at fault or responsible
To let you down
To disappoint you
I don't wanna make it worse
I do not want to exacerbate the problem
For crying out loud
An exclamation indicating exasperation or frustration
And I don't wanna be just
I do not want to be merely
Another face in your crowd
One of many people in your social circle
I don't wanna steal you away, steal you away
I do not want to take you from someone else
Steal you away, steal you
Take you for myself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GORDIE SAMPSON, BLAIR DALY, TROY VERGES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KID PERFECT G & C
This man and his talent are a gift that we all should share!
MsMauz
Beautiful! The breakdown gives me right goosebumps!
Wrecker '56
That song still hold up today. Great song, great video...& that horn solo is just a thing of beauty!
Marica Gordon
My favorite!
chlender
If Gordie Sampson looked like, um, anybody good looking, really, he'd be stupid famous, his songs are so good. As it is, I thoroughly dig him, and am glad that my vapid girlfriend doesn't.
OliverTwist
Agreed.
TahneeFaulkner
That's totally what I thought when I heard it.
Marcos Castillon
Wow. Where did this song go?! Only 3,270 hits?
Marcos Castillon
Pretty sure this song was written about the Mona Lisa
Kate Buchanan
That's what I'd heard as well.