A sad, frightening and chilling tune, The Ledge concerns the thoughts of a young man planning suicide, and Paul Westerberg did a great job of visualizing what the scene might be like as it played out. There’s also an undercurrent of selfishness and a desire for attention as well that feels correct.
However, if the only thing the song had going for it was the lyrics, I wouldn’t be mentioning it here. There’s also a killer guitar and bass line that really and truly push this song over the top.
The Ledge is an unsettling, yet undeniably compelling rock and roll song.
And of course, the lyrics:
All eyes look up to me
High above the filthy streets
Heed no bullhorn when it calls
Watch me fly and die, watch me fall
I’m the boy they can’t ignore,
For the first time in my life, I’m sure
All the love sent up high to pledge
Won’t reach the ledge
Wind blows cold from the west
I smell coffee, I smell doughnuts for the press
A girl that I knew once years ago
Is tryin’ to be reached on the phone
I’m the boy she can’t ignore,
for the first time in my life, I’m sure
All the love sent up high to pledge…
(Repeat)
Priest kneels silent, all is still
Policeman reaches from the sill
Watch him, watch him try his best
There’ll be no medal pinned to his chest
I’m the boy they couldn’t ignore,
for the first time in my life, I’m sure
(Repeat)
I’m the boy for the last time in my life
All the love that they pledge
For the last time will not reach the ledge
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