From a first single in 1979, the group successfully combined a pop rock and power pop (and sometimes, a blues rock) influenced backing with harmony side-vocals and Lewis' strident voice, and the band had numerous hit songs during the 1980s and early 1990s. These include "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" (both of which were featured in the film "Back to the Future"), "I Want a New Drug", "Doin' It All (For My Baby)", "Do You Believe in Love?" "Hip to Be Square", "Stuck With You", and "Jacob's Ladder". Huey Lewis shared three Grammy awards, an American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award along with several artists for his role singing the 1985 charity song "We Are the World" as well.
=Albums=
Huey Lewis & the News (1980)
Picture This (1982) [#13 U.S. Gold]
Sports (1983) [#1 U.S. 7x Platinum]
Back to the Future Soundtrack (1985) [Gold]
Fore! (1986) [#1 U.S. 3x Platinum]
Small World (1988) [#11 U.S. Platinum]
Hard at Play (1991) [#27 U.S. Gold]
The Heart of Rock & Roll - The Best of Huey Lewis and The News (1992)
Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994) [#55 U.S.]
Time Flies: The Best of Huey Lewis and the News (1996) [#185 U.S.]
Plan B (2001) [#165 U.S.]
Live at 25 (2005)
Greatest Hits & Videos (2006) [#70 U.S.]
www.hueylewisandthenews.com
Walking on a Thin Line
Huey Lewis & The News Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I curse the dark and a pray for light
And sometimes, the light's no consolation
Blinded by a memory
Afraid of what it might do to me
And the tears and the sweat only mock my desperation
Don't you know me I'm the boy next door
The one you find so easy to ignore
Walking on a thin line
Straight off the front line
Labeled as freaks loose on the streets of the city
Walking on a thin line
Straight off the front line
Take a look at my face, see what it's doing to me
Taught me how to shoot to kill
A specialist with a deadly skill
A skill I needed to have to be a survivor
It's over now or so they say
Well, sometimes, it don't turn out that way
Cause your never the same when you've been under fire
Don't you know me I'm the boy next door
The one you find so easy to ignore
Is that what I was fighting for?
Walking on a thin line
Straight off the front line
Labeled as freaks loose on the streets of the city
Walking on a thin line
Straight off the front line
Take a look at my face, see what it's doing to me
Huey Lewis & The News's song Walking on a Thin Line is a poignant reflection of the struggles of soldiers returning from war. The opening lines of the song, "Sometimes in my bed at night, I curse the dark and I pray for light," convey a sense of the soldier's internal turmoil and the lingering effects of war. In the following lines, "Blinded by a memory, Afraid of what it might do to me, And the tears and the sweat only mock my desperation," we see the soldier haunted by their experiences, unable to escape the trauma they've endured. The chorus, "Walking on a thin line, Straight off the front line, Labeled as freaks, loose on the streets of the city," expresses the soldiers' feelings of disconnection and isolation as they struggle to reintegrate into civilian life.
The second verse describes the soldier's training and the skills they've acquired, but also the toll it's taken on them. They've been taught to "shoot to kill" and have become "specialists with a deadly skill," but now they're struggling to adjust to a life where those skills are no longer needed. The chorus repeats, driving home the message of the soldiers' alienation and inner turmoil. The final repetition of the chorus is particularly haunting, as the soldier's voice fades out, leaving a sense of uncertainty and unresolved conflict.
Overall, Walking on a Thin Line is a powerful ode to the struggles of veterans returning from combat. It emphasizes the psychological impact of war and the difficulties that veterans face as they attempt to reintegrate into civilian life. Its lyrics have resonated with many fans, highlighting the importance of supporting our veterans and recognizing their sacrifices.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes in my bed at night
Reflecting alone in the dark
I curse the dark and I pray for light
Desiring change and solutions
And sometimes, the light's no consolation
Even when change occurs, it may not bring comfort
Blinded by a memory
Haunted by past experiences
Afraid of what it might do to me
Fearful of the impact that past experiences may have on present self
And the tears and the sweat only mock my desperation
Emotions only fuel feelings of helplessness
Don't you know me I'm the boy next door
I'm just like anyone else
The one you find so easy to ignore
But society disregards me
Is that what I was fighting for?
Did I give my all just to be ignored?
Walking on a thin line
Treading carefully to avoid danger
Straight off the front line
Just returning from military duty
Labeled as freaks, loose on the streets of the city
Being viewed as an outsider in civilian life
Walking on a thin line
Navigating through life in a fragile state
Angry all the time
Harboring feelings of anger and frustration
Take a look at my face, see what it's doing to me
The visible toll that these experiences have taken on me
Taught me how to shoot to kill
Trained to be deadly in combat
A specialist with a deadly skill
Expert in lethal force
A skill I needed to have to be a survivor
Necessary to survive in war
It's over now or so they say
War is over, but the aftermath remains
Well, sometimes, it don't work out that way
Recovery is not guaranteed
'Cause your never the same when you've been under fire
Traumatic experiences can change a person forever
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Andre Pessis, Kevin Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HK Mai
The Vietnam Veterans deserve at least a national holiday of their own for what they went through abroad, and at home.
William Thomas Franklin
I always liked this song, now I understand the lyrics, thanks for posting...ARYM!!!!
Richard’s Journey.
Thank you for posting this.
emily travis stuart
this vid makes u think