Mike & The Mechanics debuted with their stellar eponymous album in 1985 which highlighted Rutherford's innovative guitar work and the vocal talents of the two Pauls, amongst other guest vocalists. Initially, the group's albums were released between Genesis albums, all three Genesis members having solo projects of their own, most notable in the huge chart success of singer/drummer Phil Collins. This ended with the disbanding of Genesis in 1998.
The classic song "The Living Years" from the album of the same name was to be the height of their critical success to date; the #1 single was written by and about the dissension between singer BA Robertson and his father, a situation that was never rectified prior to his father's death, sung with great passion by Carrack. The album also featured the song "Nobody's Perfect" which received considerable airtime as the music to a successful television advertising campaign for Tennants bitter. Their third album "Word of Mouth" followed in 1991 with less commercial and critical success although the lead single, with vocals by Paul Young, reached the Top 20. The fourth album "Beggar On a Beach of Gold" was a high watermark in the quality of their material, with both the album and first single "Over My Shoulder" charting well with many considering the album the band's best work.
After a hiatus following Young's death from a heart attack on July 17, 2000, the band reformed in 2004 as Mike & the Mechanics featuring Paul Carrack releasing the album "Rewired".
A new Mike & the Mechanics album (titled "The Road") was released in the spring of 2011, supported by a 22-date UK tour. Replacing Carrack and Young as vocalists for the group are Andrew Roachford and Canadian actor/singer Tim Hower.
Hanging by a Thread
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics
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I give an inch you take a mile
You throw away the key, ignore my plea
You cut me down without a trial
(You keep me hanging by) hanging by a thread
(You keep me hanging by) leaving me for dead
(You keep me hanging by) I heard it when you said,
(You keep me hanging by) "Keep him hanging by a thread"
You throw a length of rope, I grab, you hope,
It's just enough to hang myself
I make a fatal slip, I lose my grip
There's no-one left to call for help
(You keep me hanging by) hanging by a thread
(You keep me hanging by) leaving me for dead
(You keep me hanging by) I'm not finished yet
(You keep me hanging by) I'm still hanging by a thread
I hear a final scream, another dream
I hear it then I start to go (hang him by a thread)
I recognise the pain, a time to play
Then stuck me to the afterglow (hang him by a thread)
Then I wake up wet, soaked in sweat
Tell you all you want to know (hang him by a thread)
The lyrics to "Hanging by a Thread" by Mike & The Mechanics describe a tumultuous and emotionally damaging relationship. The singer is in a state of grief and pain, feeling as though they are losing their mind. The other person in the relationship takes advantage of this vulnerability, constantly pushing the singer to their limits and cutting them down without even giving them a fair trial. The phrase "hanging by a thread" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's fragile mental state and their fear that they are only just barely holding on.
The relationship is further described through the imagery of a length of rope being thrown to the singer. They reach for it, hoping that it will provide some sort of safety or stability, but instead it becomes their downfall. They slip and there is no one left to help them. The song ends with an eerie repetition of the phrase "hang him by a thread", suggesting that the singer is trapped in a never-ending cycle of pain and abuse.
Overall, "Hanging by a Thread" is a powerful portrayal of a toxic relationship and the devastating effects it can have on a person's mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
And through the grief and pain, I'm half insane
Despite facing emotional distress and pain, I am becoming mentally unstable.
I give an inch you take a mile
When I offer you a small concession, you exploit it to the limit.
You throw away the key, ignore my plea
You refuse to listen to my appeals and trap me in a situation I cannot escape from.
You cut me down without a trial
You criticize and blame me without giving me a chance to defend myself.
(You keep me hanging by) hanging by a thread
You keep me in a precarious situation with little hope for survival.
(You keep me hanging by) leaving me for dead
You abandon me and refuse to help me when I am in need, leaving me to die.
(You keep me hanging by) I heard it when you said,
I heard you explicitly state that you want me to suffer and endure pain.
(You keep me hanging by) "Keep him hanging by a thread"
You are determined to keep me trapped in my current dire circumstance.
You throw a length of rope, I grab, you hope,
You dangle false hope in front of me, knowing that I will desperately cling to it.
It's just enough to hang myself
The hope you give me is temporary and ultimately leads to my downfall.
I make a fatal slip, I lose my grip
I make a critical mistake and lose control of the situation.
There's no-one left to call for help
I am completely alone and without any support to assist me.
(You keep me hanging by) hanging by a thread
You continue to keep me in a life-threatening position with no respite.
(You keep me hanging by) leaving me for dead
You refuse to intervene and save me from near-certain death.
(You keep me hanging by) I'm not finished yet
Despite how dire my situation is, I refuse to give up or be defeated.
(You keep me hanging by) I'm still hanging by a thread
I am still in an extremely precarious situation with little hope for survival.
I hear a final scream, another dream
I experience vivid and traumatic hallucinations of my own suffering.
I hear it then I start to go (hang him by a thread)
These visions make me feel as though I am nearing my own death by hanging.
I recognise the pain, a time to play
I come to understand the true extent of my suffering and realize that this is not a game.
Then stuck me to the afterglow (hang him by a thread)
My hallucinations feel as though they are trapping me or sticking me to a post-death limbo.
Then I wake up wet, soaked in sweat
I suddenly snap back into reality, but the trauma of my hallucinations continues to haunt me.
Tell you all you want to know (hang him by a thread)
Despite how harrowing it is, I am willing to tell anyone about my ongoing ordeal and trauma.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: B.A. ROBERTSON, CHRISTOPHER NEIL, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind