- Album This song officially appears on the Press To Play Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 1985 (Paul McCartney was 43 years old)
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
March - May 1985
October 1st - December 6th 1985
April 14th-18th 1986
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Song facts
“Tough On A Tightrope” is a song from 1986 album “Press To Play“.
Last updated on May 2, 2020
Lyrics
You don't feel right when I come on strong
Don't get it wrong
I wait all night but you won't belong
Don't get it wrong
Hear me right, I love you from the bottom of my heart
You make the answer bright
You touch me in a way that no one else could ever do
If you'll only love me, I'll love you
And if you're tempted to tell a lie
Don't get it wrong
Well, it breaks my heart when I see you cry
Don't get it wrong, oh no
Get it right, the brightest light that's shining in the skies
Is shining from your eyes
I love you in a way that no one else could ever do
If you'll only love me, I'll love you
I'm often accused of giving too little
It's got me confused, I'm split down the middle
Conflicting reviews of our life coming in
It's tough on a tightrope, yes, it's tough on a tightrope
Hear me right, I love you from the bottom of my heart
You make the picture bright
And love me in a way that no one else could ever do
If you'll only love me, I'll love you
You touch me in a way that no one else could ever do
If you'll only love me, I'll love you
Tough on a tightrope
Tough on a tightrope
Tough on a tightrope
Officially appears on
Only Love Remains / Tough On A Tightrope
12" Single • Released in 1986
7:03 • Studio version • A1 • Remix by Julian Mendelsohn
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Remixing
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1986
4:52 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Only Love Remains / Tough On A Tightrope
7" Single • Released in 1986
4:44 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 1993
4:52 • Studio version • A1993 • 1993 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
7" Single • Released in 2022
4:52 • Studio version • A2022 • 2022 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Bootlegs
Unofficial album
4:25 • Rough mix • A2
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Jerry Marotta :
- Drums
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Unofficial album
6:49 • Studio version • A1 • Remix by Julian Mendelsohn
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Remixing
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Unofficial album • Released in 2000
4:28 • Rough mix • A2
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Jerry Marotta :
- Drums
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
UK Singles Collection - Volume 03
Unofficial album • Released in 2007
4:44 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
UK Singles Collection - Volume 03
Unofficial album • Released in 2007
7:04 • Studio version • A1 • Remix by Julian Mendelsohn
- Paul McCartney :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Electric guitar, Piano, Producer, Synthesizers (?), Vocals
- Linda McCartney :
- Backing vocals
- Eric Stewart :
- Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar
- Trevor Jones :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Eddie Klein :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Tony Clark :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Butler :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jon Kelly :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Jerry Marotta :
- Congas (?), Drums
- Carlos Alomar :
- Electric guitar
- John Hammel :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Matt Howe :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Julian Mendelsohn :
- Remixing
- Hugh Padgham :
- Engineering, Mixing engineer, Producer
- Peter Mew :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Haydn Bendall :
- Assistant engineer (?)
- Session Recording:
- March - May 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Overdubs:
- October 1st - December 6th 1985
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
- Session Mixing:
- April 14th-18th 1986
- Studio :
- AIR Studios, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
Going further
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989
With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.
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