The Wire
Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his group exploded on the scene in the mid-'90s an… Read Full Bio ↴Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his group exploded on the scene in the mid-'90s and garnered huge amounts of radio airplay on commercial radio, which historically has not been a solid home for blues and blues-rock music, with the exception of Stevie Ray Vaughan in the mid-'80s. Shepherd was born June 12, 1977, in Shreveport, LA. The Shreveport native began playing at age seven, figuring out Muddy Waters licks from his father's record collection (he has never taken a formal lesson). At age 13, he was invited on-stage by New Orleans bluesman Brian Lee and held his own for several hours; thus proving himself, he decided on music as a career. He formed his own band, which featured lead vocalist Corey Sterling, gaining early exposure through club dates and, later, radio conventions. Shepherd's father/manager used his own contacts and pizzazz in the record business to help land his son a major-label record deal with Irving Azoff's Giant Records. Ledbetter Heights, his first album, was released two years later in 1995. Ledbetter Heights was an immediate hit, selling over 500,000 by early 1996. Most blues records never achieve that level of commercial success, much less ones released by artists who are still in their teens. Although Shepherd -- who has been influenced by (and has sometimes played with) guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, Slash, Robert Cray, and Duane Allman -- is definitely a performer who thrives in front of an audience, Ledbetter Heights is impressive for its range of styles: acoustic blues, rockin' blues, Texas blues, Louisiana blues. The only style that he doesn't tackle is Chicago blues, owing to Shepherd's home base smack dab in the middle of the Texas triangle. 1998's Trouble Is... earned a Grammy nomination; Live On followed a year later. In 2004 The Place You're In was released on Reprise Records, the first album that featured Shepherd doing the majority of the lead vocals (singer Noah Hunt handled the lead vocals on the previous two albums). Shepherd's next project saw him traveling in the American South with a documentary film crew and a portable recording studio as he backed up several veteran blues players on their home turf. The resulting album and film, 10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads), appeared in 2007.

The Wire
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I were a crow, I wouldn't have no fear of heights
For watching this old world's fragile below
I don't have a net, don't have no jet wings, I can't fly
If I miss a step, yeah, that's how I'd go

Oh, the wire keeps getting higher, keeps getting higher
I ain't looking down no more
On the wire, I don't know why
Tell me what I'm up here for

If I was a king, somebody would take the risk for me
I'll just sit and watch them walk the line
But if my night burns out like a match in gasoline
If I take the fall, well, it's all mine

Oh, the wire keeps getting higher, keeps getting higher
I ain't looking down no more
Up on the wire, I don't know why
Tell me what I'm up here for

Oh, the wire keeps getting higher, keeps getting higher
I ain't looking down no more
On the wire, I don't know why
Tell me what I'm up here for

Higher, on the wire
Tell me what I'm up here for




I'm on the wire, on the wire
I ain't looking down no more

Overall Meaning

Kenny Wayne Shepherd's song The Wire is an introspective piece about the risks and uncertainties of life. The lyrics draw a parallel between the precariousness of walking on a high wire and the unpredictability of everyday existence. The opening lines set the tone for the song, with the singer talking about how he would have no fear of heights if he were a crow. However, since he is human, he is aware of his own fragility and the consequences of making mistakes.


The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "the wire keeps getting higher," serves as a metaphor for life's challenges and the constant feeling of being pushed to one's limits. The singer admits that he doesn't know why he's up on the wire or what he's supposed to be doing there. The second verse introduces the idea of the singer being a king who can watch others take risks on his behalf, but ultimately he acknowledges that any failures or mistakes are his responsibility alone.


Overall, The Wire is a song that explores themes of risk-taking, vulnerability, and the search for purpose in life. The lyrics encourage the listener to confront their fears and doubts and to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

If I were a crow, I wouldn't have no fear of heights
If I could soar like a bird, I wouldn't be afraid of the distance below


For watching this old world's fragile below
Seeing the weakness of the world beneath us


I don't have a net, don't have no jet wings, I can't fly
Without any protective gear or flying abilities


If I miss a step, yeah, that's how I'd go
One misstep can lead to a fatal outcome


Oh, the wire keeps getting higher, keeps getting higher
The challenge keeps escalating


I ain't looking down no more
I refuse to acknowledge the risk and danger


On the wire, I don't know why
Uncertainty about my purpose for being here


Tell me what I'm up here for
Asking for a reason or motive for taking on such a risky feat


If I was a king, somebody would take the risk for me
If I had power and influence, I wouldn't have to take the risk myself


I'll just sit and watch them walk the line
I would rather observe others do the dangerous task


But if my night burns out like a match in gasoline
In case things go wrong and quickly spiral out of control


If I take the fall, well, it's all mine
I am responsible for the outcome of my own actions


Higher, on the wire
Climbing to even greater heights


I'm on the wire, on the wire
I am currently doing the risky task


I ain't looking down no more
I am not dwelling on the dangers below




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Mark O Selby, Tia Sellers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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