Walking Backwards Down The Stairs
ALSO RELEASED ON: Live At The Way Inn - 1970
Version 1 is a full studio recording - Capitol / Beechwood mix
Note: this track on the collector's edition of Upon This Rock is from a mono radio broadcast tape |
Version 2 is a minor remix of version 1. The mix is possibly slightly different, but the biggest difference is that the song is just over ten seconds shorter due to the short refrain being removed. There are no lyrical differences - the Larry Norman mix
Note: the South African Impact LP and the Kingsway CD reverse the stereo image |
Upon This Rock (All non Capitol LP and cassette releases)
Upon This Rock (All CD versions except Kingsway, Radio Promo and Illegal Noise) Survivor (Songs From 1956 To 2000) The Best Of Larry Norman Volume One Instigator The Very Best Of Larry Norman Volume 1 |
Version 4 is the same recording as version 3, but with the spoken introduction removed. Also, the stereo image is reversed
|
Bootleg [1973 UK vinyl version]
|
Version 5 is a live recording, with Larry accompanied by Dan Cutrona on piano
|
Version 6 is the same recording as version 2, but fading out about half a second earlier
|
Upon This Rock [Kingsway, Radio Promo and Illegal Noise CDs)
|
Version 7 is a short excerpt of a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar during a concert in Northern Ireland
|
Rough Diamonds, Precious Jewels Sampler Disc [First version] [See the CD tab on the singles page]
|
Version 8 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar during a concert in Northern Ireland. It is not the same performance as version 6
|
Version 9 is the same recording as version 3, but faded out about a second early. Note that this is a vinyl transfer of the 1990 vinyl reissue
|
Bootleg [Illegal Noise and 2005 CDs]
|
Version 10 is the same recording as version 1, but edited and in mono, and with Larry talking over a section of it. This is from a 1970 radio broadcast
|
Upon This Rock [Collector's Edition CD]
|
Version 11 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar during the UK Tourniquet tour in 2001
|
lyrics versions 1, 2 and 6
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
lyrics versions 3 and 9
??? two (walk) one two three [Spoken]
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
They’re wondering what I'm doin'
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free
But actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
They’re wondering what I'm doin'
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free
But actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
lyrics version 4
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
They’re wondering what I'm doin'
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free
But actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
They’re wondering what I'm doin'
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free
But actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywheres
Walking backwards down the stairs
lyrics version 5
Walking backward down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free
But actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've
Got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stair
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free
But actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've
Got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stair
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
lyrics version 7
Stop From
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
lyrics version 8
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
lyrics version 10
Line [Tag end, continued from preceding track]
Here's one I really like Larry. It's got a strange title, Walking Backward Down The Stairs [Spoken by host]
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Well looks like it's time for Larry Norman to elaborate again [Spoken by host]
You can walk backwards up the stairs, you can walk any way you want to on the staircase. But if you want the happiness and the fullness you've gotta walk up [Spoken by Larry]
Here's one I really like Larry. It's got a strange title, Walking Backward Down The Stairs [Spoken by host]
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Well looks like it's time for Larry Norman to elaborate again [Spoken by host]
You can walk backwards up the stairs, you can walk any way you want to on the staircase. But if you want the happiness and the fullness you've gotta walk up [Spoken by Larry]
lyrics version 11
Here's a song I wrote when I was a wee lad. I'd just got into what we call high school. I, I was fifteen I, I think it was an', and eh high school was just so different from other schools that I'd been in. You didn't get to use colour crayons anymore. But this song is about the struggle that I was feeling in, in my life [Spoken]
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
But, I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Watching life elude me
Slipping through my grasp
Oh I know the truth at last
But to reach the top I've got to stop from
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
People stop to watch me
Wonder what I'm doing
What direction I'm pursuing
But, I pretend I'm free but actually I'm
Walking backwards down the stairs
Trying to get higher, higher
How can I get anywhere
Walking backwards down the stairs
Down the stairs
Down the stairs
Trying to cope with all of the challenges in my life seemed counterproductive on many or most occasions. I felt as helpless at these moments as I once did, trying to negotiate the steep, stone steps of the buildings in San Francisco. I had quite a few falls; knees bruised,
hands scraped. And the embarrassment of having been seen by others at this time always seemed to multiply the frustration. I soon came to understand that everyone has mishaps and seem embarrassed about it, so there's really no point to worry about what other people might be thinking about me.
Failure is an important part of life. In fact, getting to the point where I accept failure as a necessary part of creativity made it possible for me to write horrible songs in the hope of someday writing good songs. Failure is an important part of creativity and success. Fear of failure will destroy your creative abilities.
hands scraped. And the embarrassment of having been seen by others at this time always seemed to multiply the frustration. I soon came to understand that everyone has mishaps and seem embarrassed about it, so there's really no point to worry about what other people might be thinking about me.
Failure is an important part of life. In fact, getting to the point where I accept failure as a necessary part of creativity made it possible for me to write horrible songs in the hope of someday writing good songs. Failure is an important part of creativity and success. Fear of failure will destroy your creative abilities.