Walking On Thin Ice

Album: Onobox (1981)
Charted: 35 58
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ono's fraught lyrics on this disco New Waver talk of the unpredictability of life and death and watching your every step before concluding, "when our hearts return to ashes, it will be just a story...." In our interview with Yoko she explained: "It's a song that came to me music notes and lyrics together."
  • John Lennon supplied lead guitar work to accompany Yoko's steely shrieks, and the pair concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. The song's lyrical content proved to be tragically prophetic as it was to be his final creative act. It was upon John and Yoko's return from the recording studio to their The Dakota home that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman.
  • The version included on 1992's Onobox features a new intro where John Lennon can be heard remarking "I think you just cut your first number one, Yoko." His prediction proved to be correct, though Yoko had to wait. In 2003 the Japanese artist achieved pole position on the Hot Dance Club Play chart for the first time with a maxi-single of the song with remixes by dance artists including the Pet Shop Boys and Felix Da Housecat. Having turned 70 less than a month earlier, Yoko became the oldest person to top the chart, a record she broke each time she subsequently topped the dance tally.
  • There's a part in the middle of the song that sounds like Yoko is saying "ay ay ay ay." But in reality, it is "ai ai ai ai" - "ai" means "love" in Japanese.
  • The song returned to #1 on Dance/Club Play Songs in 2013 after Yoko commissioned a series of new remixes from Dave Aude, Emjae and Ralphi Rosario. It marked the third time an artist has taken a song to the dance chart summit summit twice: Jennifer Holliday ruled with "No Frills Love" in 1986 and 1996 and Jody Watley doubled up with "Looking For A New Love" in 1987 and again in 2005.

Comments: 3

  • Jamal from Portland OrI don't know if she is encouraging to walk on thin ice or if it is a reference to something else or maybe she had done it befo but it is not safe to walk on ice I can tell you here in the port we don't do it, you could fall in the water and get hypothermia
  • AnonymousDid she get paid for that?
  • Caio from BrazilI wanted to know the model of her glasses. It is very funny.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.