[Verse 1]
Who would have thought that i'd be here by myself
Who would have thought that you'd be bad for my health
Now I know, now I know I'm just a man on a wire, oh
Who would have thought about the cause and effect
Yesterday's love is now tomorrow's regret
Now I know, now I know I'm just a man on a wire, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
No I can't look down, I'm trying to fight the feeling
I will fall to the ground, If I ever see you
Cause I
[Chorus]
I feel like I'm walking a tightrope
Cause I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
[Verse 2]
Who would have thought I'd see you with someone else
Who would have thought that I'd be in such a mess
Now you know, now you know I'm just a man on a wire, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
When I walk that line, I try to keep my senses
Make it to the other side, I know the consequences
And I
[Chorus]
Feel like I'm walking a tightrope
And my heart is in my throat
I'm counting on high hopes
To get me over you
And I've got my eyes closed
As long as the wind blows
I'm counting on high hopes
To get me over you, you
Cause I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
[Bridge]
The higher it gets, the more I miss the ground
No safety net, so now you're not around
I have to keep walking to keep me from falling down
[Chorus]
Feels like I'm walkin' on a tightrope
My heart is in my throat
I'm counting on high hopes to get me over you
And I've got my eyes closed
As long as the wind blows
I'm counting on high hopes to get me over you, you
Cause I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
Cause I'm a man on a wire, on a wire
I'm a man on a wire, on a wire, yeah
The singer is comparing the rehabilitation process after a painful breakup to walking on a tightrope. If he loses sight of the end of the rope (his goal, to get over the breakup) he may lean and fall over (fall back in love and have to start the rehab process all over again). He’s counting on his “high” hopes (clever, as tightrope walkers are usually high in the air, like his hopes) to help him get over his partner since he does not know any other way. The singer has his eyes closed so as not to sneak a glance at his partner and fall off the tightrope.
There is no safety net to save him if he falls off the tightrope. His partner is no longer there to support him if he fails in getting over them.
The closer he gets to moving on with his life the more he thinks twice about whether that’s what he really wants.
If the singer stops moving forward (both on the tightrope and in getting over his partner), he will fall down (off the tightrope, back in love).
The singer is contemplating about how he felt blindsided that he would have to go through this pain due to him not thinking about the possibility that they might breakup.