Program Note

Released as a single in January 1981, “Walking on Thin Ice” was Ono’s first chart success, and was also well-received by critics. The guitar parts on the track were John Lennon’s last creative act. After Yoko Ono and John Lennon wrapped recording of this track on December 8, 1980 to return home, Lennon was murdered outside The Dakota, the apartment building where the couple lived in New York City.

Lyrics
Walking on thin ice
I’m paying the price
For throwing the dice in the air
Why must we learn it the hard way
And play the game of life with your heart?
I gave you my knife
You gave me my life
Like a gush of wind in my hair
Why do we forget what’s been said
And play the game of life with our hearts?
I may cry some day
But the tears will dry whichever way
And when our hearts return to ashes
It’ll be just a story
It’ll be just a story
I knew a girl
That tried to walk across the lake
‘Course it was winter when all this was ice
That’s a hell of a thing to do, you know
They say this lake is as big as the ocean
I wonder if she knew about it?