Tightropes was written by Bet Smith and is performed by Bet Smith & The Currie Brothers, (Andrew Currie, Rob Currie and Sarah Girdwood) with help from James Sevazlian and Ian Hansen.
The song was produced and engineered by Rob Currie. It was recorded at our friend, James Sevazlian's place on Lake Joseph in Muskoka.
All of the reverb you hear is natural, created using the cathedral ceiling and expansive empty basement at the Lake Joseph cottage.
The song is a reflection on life choices driven by creativity and associated desires.
lyrics
You’ve been balancing on tightropes ever since you were little
Covering your eyes and walking into the storm
So why would you expect the stars to align this time?
Now you’re old and all the world feels heavy
and you can taste the money that isn’t yours
You’ve worked hard
You’ve worked hard for nothing
You can’t blame anyone but yourself
You walked right into this
When you were young they sold you hope
Fourty-thousand dollars and try, try again
But they were shaking their heads at you, and their tones changed
When middle age stated sinking in.
You can’t blame anyone but yourself
You walked right into this
You could have climbed the ladders of Bay Street
Could have pumped oil out of the crowd
Could have worked for the government
or done something that mattered in the end.
But you’ve been balancing on tightropes ever since you were little
Covering your eyes and walking into the storm
So why would you expect the stars to align this time?
You walked right into this
credits
from Tightropes & Loose Ends,
released December 31, 2017
Bet Smith - vocals, acoustic guitar, some percussion
Rob Currie - electric guitar, producer/engineer
Andrew Currie - bass, drums, percussion
Sarah Girdwood - harmony vocals, percussion
James Sevazlian - percussion
Ian Hansen - backup vocals
João Carvalho - mastering
This project is funded by The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) with the support of
the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio
broadcasters.
Bet Smith is a Canadian alternative folk singer-songwriter who weaves environmental and socio-political philosophy into
rich, reflective compositions. With a voice that is gentle and familiar, Smith offers elegant melodies locked to lyrics that are paced and precise....more
The first album I heard from David Newberry changed the way I think about listening to and writing music. I've been a huge fan ever since. Just the right blend of rage, politics and vulnerability. Bet Smith
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