Writing’s On The Wall

Track 22 on In The Lonely Hour (10th Anniversary Edition / Deluxe)

Producers

Sam Smith confirmed on 8 September 2015 that they recorded the James Bond theme song. They said on their social media: This is one of the highlights of my career. I am… Read More

Sep. 25, 20153 viewers762K views

Writing’s On The Wall Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I've been here before
But always hit the floor
I've spent a lifetime runnin'
And I always get away
But with you, I'm feeling somethin'
That makes me wanna stay

[Verse 2]
I'm prepared for this
I never shoot to miss
But I feel like a storm is comin'
If I'm gonna make it through the day
Then there's no more use in runnin'
This is somethin' I gotta face

[Pre-Chorus]
If I risk it all
Could you break my fall?

[Chorus]
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you're not here, I'm suffocating
I wanna feel love run through my blood
Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
For you, I have to risk it all
'Cause the writing's on the wall

[Verse 3]
A million shards of glass
That haunt me from my past
As the stars begin to gather
And the light begins to fade
When all hope begins to shatter
Know that I won't be afraid

[Pre-Chorus]
If I risk it all
Could you break my fall?

[Chorus]
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you're not here, I'm suffocating
I wanna feel love run through my blood
Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
For you, I have to risk it all
'Cause the writing's on the wall

[Bridge]
The writing's on the wall

[Chorus]
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you're not here, I'm suffocating
I wanna feel love run through my blood
Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
How do I live? How do I breathe?
When you're not here, I'm suffocating
I wanna feel love run through my blood
Tell me, is this where I give it all up?
For you, I have to risk it all
'Cause the writing's on the wall

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About

Genius Annotation

Sam Smith confirmed on 8 September 2015 that they recorded the James Bond theme song. They said on their social media:

This is one of the highlights of my career. I am honoured to finally announce that I will be singing the next Bond theme song. I am so excited to be a part of this iconic British legacy and join an incredible line up of some of my biggest musical inspirations. I hope you all enjoy the song as much as I enjoyed making it.

Sam dropped the first major hint that they would be recording the theme song when they shared a snap of them wearing a ring emblazoned with the Spectre logo on 7 September 2015.

In an interview on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw, they told that they co-wrote the song with long-time collaborator Jimmy Napes in twenty minutes. “It’s the quickest song I’ve ever written. The actual vocal on the song is my demo.” They recorded the song in January 2015.

I wanted to make the most classic, most timeless Bond song and also tried to make it an epic love song. That’s all I’m saying.

Commenting on the announcement, Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said:

Sam and Jimmy have written the most inspirational song for Spectre and with Sam’s extraordinary vocal performance, “Writing’s On The Wall” will surely be considered one of the greatest Bond songs of all time.

Sam Smith is the first British male solo artist to sing the Bond theme since 1965, when Tom Jones performed the task for Thunderball (Paul McCartney and Simon Le Bon also sang vocals for Bond themes, but these were credited as band performances).

The single was an international hit, and became the first Bond theme to hit #1 in the UK.

It won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 88th Academy Awards in 2016.