The Finer Things

by

Steve Winwood

Album: Back In The High Life      Released: 1986

US Chart: 8     

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Winwood wrote this with Will Jennings, who came up with lyrics for this and many of Winwood's other songs on his albums Arc Of A Diver, Talking Back To The Night and Back In The High Life. Jennings, who has also written lyrics for B.B. King, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton and Roy Orbison, finds the words for these singers after spending time with them and finding out what they're about. With Winwood, Jennings went to England and hung out with him for a while. Says Jennings, "That came out of being in England, hanging out, staying up all night in London, and partying and everything else. 'The Finer Things' is sort of expressive of all that running around: 'I've been sad and I've walked bitter streets alone. But come morning there's a good wind to blow me home.' Then it's philosophical: 'Time is a river rolling into nowhere. I will live while I can, I will have my ever after.'" (Thanks to Will Jennings for speaking with us about this song. Read his full interview in the songwriter interviews.)

In another Songfacts interview, Alan Merrill of The Arrows reveals that Steve Winwood is the most interesting person he's ever worked with. He describes Winwood: "A perfectionist. Fantastic instincts. Unbelievable voice. He played on my track, 'Always Another Train.' And he said, 'Go to the pub, lads, I have to work.' It was a moog synthesizer, and he wanted to get it triggering exactly and pan it in stereo. It was 'doogadoogadoogadooga' and he did it, and we came back from the pub and said, 'Perfect.' But most days it took a long time to program a synth, really an uphill battle." (Check out our interview with Alan Merrill.)

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