Hanging In The Wire
PJ Harvey · Let England Shake [2011]
Walker sees the mist rise
Over no man's land
He sees in front of him
A smashed up waste ground
There are no fields or trees
No blades of grass
Just unhurried ghosts are there
Hanging in the wire
Walker's in the wire
Limbs point upwards
There are no birds singing
The white cliffs of Dover
There are no trees to sing from
Walker cannot hear the wind
Far off symphony
To hear the guns beginning
Walker's in the mist
Rising over no man's land
In the battered waste ground
Hear the guns firing
Over no man's land
He sees in front of him
A smashed up waste ground
There are no fields or trees
No blades of grass
Just unhurried ghosts are there
Hanging in the wire
Walker's in the wire
Limbs point upwards
There are no birds singing
The white cliffs of Dover
There are no trees to sing from
Walker cannot hear the wind
Far off symphony
To hear the guns beginning
Walker's in the mist
Rising over no man's land
In the battered waste ground
Hear the guns firing
Hanging In The Wire
PJ Harvey's 'Hanging In The Wire' serves as a haunting centerpiece on the 2011 album Let England Shake. Recorded during a period of intense political and social commentary, the track exemplifies Harvey's signature blend of folk roots and gothic rock. With its driving rhythm and Harvey's distinctive, raspy vocal delivery, the song captures the tension and anxiety of the era, reflecting themes of societal collapse and personal struggle. The recording stands as a testament to her ability to weave narrative-driven lyrics with atmospheric soundscapes, cementing her status as a pivotal figure in modern alternative music.