Tightrope
The Greatest Showman Ensemble Lyrics


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Some people long for a life that is simple and planned
Tied with a ribbon
Some people won′t sail the sea 'cause they′re safer on land
To follow what's written
But I follow you to the great unknown
Off to where what we call our home

Hand in my hand
And we promised to never let go
We're walking the tightrope
High in the sky

We can see the whole world down below
We′re walking the tightrope
Never sure, never know how far we could fall
But it′s all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking the tightrope

With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you

Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between
Desert and ocean
You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream
Always in motion
So I risk it all just to be with you
And I risk it all for this life we chose

Hand in my hand
And you promised to never let go
We′re walking the tightrope
High in the sky
We can see the whole world down below
We're walking the tightrope
Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?
Well, it′s all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking the tightrope

With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you




With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Tightrope" speak to the idea of taking risks in life and leaving behind the safety of what is known to pursue a more daring adventure with someone else. The first verse speaks to the idea that some people are content with a simple life that is predictable and planned, while others are willing to take the risk of sailing into the great unknown. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "walking the tightrope" describes the precariousness of this journey, yet it emphasizes the importance of taking it with someone who can be relied upon. The idea of the tightrope represents the fine line between success and failure, and how it can be navigated with the help of a trusted partner. The second verse continues this theme, describing the ups and downs of the journey ahead, yet willing to take the risks just to be together.


The song overall speaks to the idea of taking risks in life and the importance of doing so with someone who can be counted on. The tightrope metaphor is used effectively to drive the theme of the song home, emphasizing the idea that one must be willing to venture beyond the safety of the familiar to have an adventure worth taking. The chorus is especially memorable, as it emphasizes the idea that risks are worth taking when shared with someone who can be counted on.


Line by Line Meaning

Some people long for a life that is simple and planned
There are those who desire a life free of uncertainty and with a definite, predictable path.


Tied with a ribbon
They want everything neatly packaged and presented to them, with no surprises or challenges.


Some people won′t sail the sea 'cause they′re safer on land
There are others who refuse to explore new territory and take calculated risks due to their preference for safety and comfort.


To follow what's written
They prefer to abide by established rules and regulations and maintain a predictable life.


But I follow you to the great unknown
Despite all of the above, I choose to follow you and take a leap of faith into the unknown.


Off to where what we call our home
Together, we are headed towards a place that we can call our own.


Hand in my hand
As we step into this uncertain journey, we hold hands for support and reassurance.


And we promised to never let go
We have made a vow to never abandon each other, even in the face of adversity.


We're walking the tightrope
Together, we are walking a precarious path with no guarantees or safety nets.


High in the sky
We are at a great height, with a breathtaking view of the world beneath us.


We can see the whole world down below
From this vantage point, we have a bird's eye view of the entire world, and all that lies before us.


Never sure, never know how far we could fall
Despite the beauty of our surroundings, we are acutely aware of the danger that surrounds us and the consequences of a misstep.


But it′s all an adventure
Despite the risks, we embrace this journey with a sense of excitement and wonder.


That comes with a breathtaking view
We are rewarded for our bravery with the stunning vistas that surround us.


Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between
As we move forward, we will encounter all manner of obstacles and challenges.


Desert and ocean
From arid wastelands to treacherous waters, we are willing to brave every kind of terrain.


You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream
You have an indefinable power over me, and together we are living in a dreamlike state of wonder and awe.


Always in motion
Our journey is marked by constant progress and new discoveries.


So I risk it all just to be with you
I am willing to risk everything to be with you, even if that means stepping into the unknown and facing my deepest fears.


And I risk it all for this life we chose
Together, we have chosen a life of adventure and excitement, and I am willing to make any sacrifice to keep it that way.


Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?
Despite the reassurance we have given each other, there is still an element of doubt and uncertainty looming over us.


With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
But through all of this, I am comforted by the knowledge that I am not alone on this journey, and that you are by my side every step of the way.




Writer(s): Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Contributed by Amelia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

M.H.S

She loved him:
From the beginning
When he didn't have anything
She waited for him:
When she got sent away
When he went with jinny
She was there for him:
When nobody was
She left him:
When he officially broke her
She loved him again:
When he was the man she fell for



Jahhzz

Lyrics:

Some people long for a life that is simple and planned
Tied with a ribbon
Some people won't sail the sea 'cause they're safer on land
To follow what's written
But I'd follow you to the great unknown
Off to a world we call our own

Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between
Desert and ocean
You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream
Always in motion
So I risk it all just to be with you
And I risk it all for this life we choose

Hand in my hand
And you promised to never let go
We're walking a tightrope
High in the sky
We can see the whole world down below
We're walking a tightrope
Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?

Well, it's all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking a tightrope
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh (blows candle)

With you, Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh , ooh
With you
Ooh, ooh, ooh
With You..



Elektrayasss

Some people long for a life that is simple and planned
Tied with a ribbon
Some people won't sail the sea 'cause they're safer on land
To follow what's written
But I'd follow you to the great unknown
Off to a world we call our own
Hand in my hand and we promised to never let go
We're walking the tightrope
High in the sky
We can see the whole world down below
We're walking the tightrope
Never sure, never know how far we could fall
But it's all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking the tightrope
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you
Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between
Desert and ocean
You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream
Always in motion
So I risk it all just to be with you
And I risk it all for this life we choose
Hand in my hand and you promised to never let go
We're walking the tightrope
High in the sky
We can see the whole world down below
We're walking the tightrope
Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?
Well, it's all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking the tightrope
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh-ooh-ooh
With you
Ur welcome :)



Muhammad Affann

LYRICS

Some people long for a life that is simple and planned
Tied with a ribbon
Some people won't sail the sea 'cause they're safer on land
To follow what's written
But I'd follow you to the great unknown
Off to a world we call our own

Mountains and valleys, and all that will come in between
Desert and ocean
You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream
Always in motion
So I risk it all just to be with you
And I risk it all for this life we choose

Hand in my hand and you promised to never let go
We're walking the tightrope
High in the sky
We can see the whole world down below
We're walking the tightrope
Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?
Well, it's all an adventure
That comes with a breathtaking view
Walking the tightrope

With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
With you
With you, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

With you, ooh-ooh-ooh
With you



All comments from YouTube:

Hemang Mathur

Can we just take a second to appreciate Michelle Williams' singing skills here? Because, first of all, the vocals are amazing. But the way she manages to link it to the film plot is so good. You can tell by her voice that it sounds like she could break down and start crying any moment. To be able to fill a song with that much emotion is truly admirable. I really think this is one of the most underrated songs ever.

MaryAlice’s Awesome vids

I love this ❤

~ThePanda~

exactly! personally i find it sad that people just forget this song when it shows so much more emotion and power than other songs. as an experiment, i asked my friend whether she preferred tightrope or never enough and she said never enough cause she didn’t know tightrope although she’d watched the greatest showman! this songs needs to be recognised more!

Andy Solichin

Yes, she actuallt expressed the emotions/feeling to fit it with the lyrics and the moments that they experience, shes an awesome singer and actress... and this movie has always been loved by me and my grade _ class (i dont wanna mention, thanks.) We kept replaying it in the class and watched together with our next door class before class starts. I adore this, zombies and descendants a lot, the plots and songs are extremely meaningful and you know.. no words can describe this awesome thing. I would use a word thats higher than 'super super extremely blah blah awesome' bc this movie really deserves it higher than the word.

Victoria Villareal

Who wold not agree

Camara

To be honest this was my favorite song in the entire movie. Her vocals are so so sweet but the acting that she puts into it, are seriously something that I feel between my airpods. It really is magical, and it’s something that you just can’t fake. Bar none, it’s my favorite thing I had the pleasure of watching. Especially studying theatre, it’s the acting in MUSICAL THEATRE that gives such a great performance. Still cry every time

4 More Replies...

Tina Kushner

I just love that moment at 2:17 (and also 2:44), her movement and voice and the music imply that she's going to break out into a big and dramatic song-finale but instead she just carries on singing "with you" very calmly! It's like a symbol for Charity not needing a big dramatic, luxurious life - she's happy and satisfied as long as she is with Barnum. It also shows the contrast between her and Jenny, who sings "Never enough" which is the musical equivalent of drama and pomposity

김만월

@Nayeli Villegas yes, I couldn't agree more! 💙

Nayeli Villegas

​@김만월 I know it's late but I agree when I was looking at the lyrics never enough I realized that it was saying and then she could have everything in the world and it still wouldn't be enough to her but in tightrope all she wants is her family she just wants her husband and her kids she doesn't matter if it's going to be a hard life as long as they have each other. I love both songs I think they're both amazing.

김만월

-AloeIght- never enough is one of my favorite songs as well, but I agree with what they said in this comment... Charity is simple, despite being born rich, she just wants to stay with Barnum, even though she knows it will be hard. Jenny, on the countrary, is born "poor" or in a bad condition, and she wants to go higher. Their songs, Tightrope and Never Enough, reflect all of this perfectly. Tightrope is a very chill song, even if full of emotions, so it represents Charity perfectly, as a simple woman who just wants love from life, while Never Enough is a harder song, with less emotions and more wish to explode, which is totally what Jenny is and wants to be (even though both are amazing songs, here it's more talking about the characters than of the songs)

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