View From a Bridge

Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde.
The song tells the story of a girl committing suicide by jumping off a bridge. It was the fourth track of the album Select and released as the second single from the album. It was Kim’s fourth single to make the British top 40.

Versions

In 2001, the compilation album The Very Best of Kim Wilde included the RAW remix of View from a bridge.
In 2006, Kim included a new version called View From a Bridge (2006) on her album Never Say Never.
In 2019, a live version recorded in Glasgow was released on the album Aliens Live.
In 2020, Cherry Pop released two remixes: Luke Mornay remix and Luke Mornay Instrumental.

Formats

In the UK, the single was only released on 7″ format. However, in Germany a 12″ single was also made and distributed around Europe. This 12″ single contained no special versions, it contained the same tracks as the 7″ single.
In Japan, ‘View from a bridge’ was first released as A-side, but soon after the sides were swapped, and ‘View from a bridge’ was released as a B-side of Take me tonight, a song which apparently featured in the movie Shadow, directed by Dario Argento.
See also this page in the discography.

Music video

A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Brian Grant.
Go to this page for more information.

Live performances

‘View from a bridge’ was performed on almost every live concert by Kim, with the exception of the Here & Now Greatest Hits Tour in 2003, Here & Now Tour 2004, Here & Now Tour 2009, Quofestive Tour in 2011, the Rock meets Classic tour and Christmas gigs in December 2014 and December 2015 and during the Return of the Aliens Tour.

Cover versions

The track has been covered by Chekov & Gagarin, Ken, Leæther Strip, Lynn Sweet and the Top of the Poppers.
A Finnish translation called ‘Kuin roskakertomus’ was released by Meiju Suvas in 1982.

Marty Wilde about ‘View from a bridge’

I don’t know if any of you have ever travelled across the Forth Bridge, but it you have and you’ve ever stood in the middle of it when the mist is very low you will get more of a feeling of what the song is all about. That’s how I pictured the song, a girl right in the middle of the bridge, in a raincoat, jumping off and disappearing into the fog.

Kim Wilde about ‘View from a bridge’

We made a video for it. I remember when I first saw it, I didn’t like the video at all. I remember turning around to the director and saying ‘This is a bit of a disappointment’. There you go, I was completely wrong. It was a very good video. I was just very self-critical in those days. I guess when you’re twenty-something that’s what you do all the time, isn’t it? (Kim Wilde 80er Show, RPR1 (Germany), June 17, 2015)

Highest chart positions

Australia: 7
Austria: 10
Belgium: 3
France: 17
Germany: 6 (19 weeks)
Ireland: 16 (4 weeks)
Netherlands: 5 (8 weeks)
Sweden: 4 (12 weeks)
Switzerland: 2 (11 weeks)
United Kingdom: 16 (7 weeks)


Lyrics

View from a bridge, can’t take anymore
View from a bridge, can’t take anymore

I guess it all began about a year ago
Like a cheap love magazine
You know the kind you read about
And have to laugh
At the pages in between
Now I can’t believe that fool inside is me
‘Cos I just can’t face the world
I’ve grown to see

View from a bridge, can’t take anymore
View from a bridge, can’t take anymore

I saw you kissing her
I saw you making her
In the soft sheets in between
But when you turned around
I saw your eyes were fire
And you crashed out all my dreams

And like a fool I just stood there
And let it go
I should have fought right back
And let my feelings show

View from a bridge, can’t take anymore
View from a bridge, can’t take anymore

You sure as hell knew how
To make a fool out of me
Well you cut me down
For the things you want
And now it’s killing me

I’ll lay it on the line now
You’re running out of time now

But then a voice said jump
And I just let go
And I’m floating out in space
But then I feel your arms
And I turn around
To a ghost without a face

And I just don’t know
What’s fact or fantasy
‘Cos when I look below the bridge
I see it’s me