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So wild, standing there, with her hands in her hair
I can't help remember just where she touched me
There's still no face here in her place
So cool, she was like jazz on a summer's day
Music, high and sweet, then she just blew away
Now she can't be that warm with the wind in her arms

Valerie, call on me-call on me, Valerie
Come and see me-I'm the same boy I used to be

Love songs fill the night, but they don't tell it all
Not how lovers cry out just like they're dying
Her cries hang there in time somewhere
Someday, some good wind may blow her back to me
Some night I may hear her like she used to be
No it can't be that warm with the wind in her arms

So cool, she was like jazz on a summer's day
Music, high and sweet, then she just blew away
Don't tell me you're warm with the wind in your arms
You hold your broken heart out
And you say it just won't stop hurting
Like there's something I can do

The rule is so plain
Party girl play like it's laying
Pack it up-hear what I'm saying
The party's over-better walk away

Turn the page-look, and listen
Somewhere music plays
Planes leave every day
Big girls walk away

You want to play with princes
On a million dollar holiday
But you never met their mothers

You just go so high
Party girl just keep the earrings
Nothing else is worth a damned thing
Just save the party for another day

You know this old world is wide
And you're to catch another ride
You just go till you come out the other side
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada
controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
My girl white in a yellow light
Looks so good
And it takes me
Love so bright she can love all night
Shows me all she knows

Painter paint the scene
Hold us in a dream
Feel what it means
When she takes me
Oh, she plays her part
Holds me in her hearts
Knows from the start
She can take me
And she takes me
And I go

When I'm bound in the London ground
Play this song
It'll take you
Say her love was a velvet glove
Held my life through

See us in the morning sun
How the colors run
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A
& Canada controlled by Island Music BMI / Blue
Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled
by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
You used to come and see me all the time
I gave you everything I had
I brought you up
And I never left you one time feeling bad
They say it's a new age
And I wonder where you've been
You can help me turn a new page
The same door is open-come on in

While there's a candle burning
I'll be reaching for your heart
While there's a wheel still turning
I know how to play my part
So I keep the wheels all turning
And I keep the candles burning
All day through here for you

The world is full of players in the night
They say the words they have to say
They're all so hot
And they never give a damn for yesterday
Don't care if they touch you
Everywhere you saved for me
'Cause I still know how to move you
I still know how to rock you-come and see
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A &
Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
Here's to gamblers
Who hold to the game
Through the hard times
They don't lose their aim
And they hope for time on their side
And they keep a ticket to ride

They keep watching for signs in the land
They keep watching for signs in the land
And they stand there watching the sky
And they stand there ready to fly

Here's to never letting go
Though sometimes it does get lonely

I still walk out in the morning light
Just to see what is there
I hear music in silent nights
Searching I find a reason to care
One heart moving still the same
Still in the game

Here's to lovers who reach for it all
Never matching the rise with the fall
And they just can't leave it alone
And they want it all till it's gone
Here's to players who can't leave their song
And it haunts them
Their night is so long
'Cause there's music there in their mind
From a world they're trying to find

Here's to never letting go
Though sometimes it does get lonely
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A &
Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
We had the stars-they kept shining
Where they led us we followed
Two for love-wandering
I look back-here's what I see
We were outside-there was Paris-it was raining
And we felt everything
In a crowded street in london-happiness
And we were so alive
And your soul was a wide and deep blue sea
I would drown, and you'd rescue me
And we lived our life like a story
Clear to the ending

It was happiness-so clear-happiness
Happiness-no tears-happiness

Can't keep time from its running
Soon the best times are over
Photographs-hold me
And I see how good we were
There was that day out in Carmel, California
With no clothes in the sun
In a crowded street in London-happiness
And then it all goes by
So I drink to the past and what still will be
One day I'll be a memory
But I lived my life like a story
Too bad there's an ending
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A &
Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
Help me angel
Plant my feet a little higher
Help me angel
I've been too close to the fire
Help me angel
Make my dream a little brighter
Help me angel
Help me turn on all the lights

You've seen all the sights
You've lived through all the nights
You've got something I have to know
'Cause I've still got far to go

Help me angel
'Cause it's so dark everywhere
Help me angel
Find the magic in the air

When sun's going down
And light leaving town
Something's shining deep in your eyes
Sunday morning, endless sunrise

You've got what I have to find
In the sunshine in your mind
------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A &
Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
High above the heat of a summer New York street
An out-of-work musician plays a solo saxophone
He's a preacher and a teacher
And he stands up all alone

Stranded in the dark of a vision in the park
A poet in his madness tries to find another line
And he's losing and he's using
And he says he's doing fine

And they look from such a height
That somehow it's all right
They're talking back to the night
It's all that they can do
Talking back to the night
It's how they make it through
If you listen you can hear them
Their voices draw you near them
They're talking back to the night for you

Something seems to take every dime the man can make
His dream is getting smaller and he wonders where to turn
And he's trying hard to make it
And he's trying not to burn

Woman never minds, pulls the shade and draws the blinds
She takes him in the darkness where the loneliest can feed
She gives him all she has to
And it's no more than he needs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A &
Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI
There's a river pouring
From a pure and a crystal stream
And it carries my heart along
Carries me all my life
And I know it will bring me home

There's a choir singing
With a force that can light the sky
I will join with a voice deep inside
Anthems for joys gone by
And for joys I am sure will come

Golden treasure in the evening sky
It's good to be alive
Golden measure, hear the music cry
When my heart sings
Of golden things

There's a dove ascending
Like my thoughts in the summer sky
And she carries my soul along
Clear to eternity
And I know I am not alone
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A &
Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs
All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI

#	Title	Duration
1	Valerie (Winwood, Jennings) So wild, standing there, with her hands in her hair I can't help remember just where she touched me There's still no face here in her place So cool, she was like jazz on a summer's day Music, high and sweet, then she just blew away Now she can't be that warm with the wind in her arms Valerie, call on me-call on me, Valerie Come and see me-I'm the same boy I used to be Love songs fill the night, but they don't tell it all Not how lovers cry out just like they're dying Her cries hang there in time somewhere Someday, some good wind may blow her back to me Some night I may hear her like she used to be No it can't be that warm with the wind in her arms So cool, she was like jazz on a summer's day Music, high and sweet, then she just blew away Don't tell me you're warm with the wind in your arms	04:05
2	Big Girls Walk Away (Winwood, Jennings) You hold your broken heart out And you say it just won't stop hurting Like there's something I can do The rule is so plain Party girl play like it's laying Pack it up-hear what I'm saying The party's over-better walk away Turn the page-look, and listen Somewhere music plays Planes leave every day Big girls walk away You want to play with princes On a million dollar holiday But you never met their mothers You just go so high Party girl just keep the earrings Nothing else is worth a damned thing Just save the party for another day You know this old world is wide And you're to catch another ride You just go till you come out the other side ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	03:51
3	And I Go (Winwood, Jennings) My girl white in a yellow light Looks so good And it takes me Love so bright she can love all night Shows me all she knows Painter paint the scene Hold us in a dream Feel what it means When she takes me Oh, she plays her part Holds me in her hearts Knows from the start She can take me And she takes me And I go When I'm bound in the London ground Play this song It'll take you Say her love was a velvet glove Held my life through See us in the morning sun How the colors run ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI / Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	04:12
4	While There's a Candle Burning (Winwood, Jennings) You used to come and see me all the time I gave you everything I had I brought you up And I never left you one time feeling bad They say it's a new age And I wonder where you've been You can help me turn a new page The same door is open-come on in While there's a candle burning I'll be reaching for your heart While there's a wheel still turning I know how to play my part So I keep the wheels all turning And I keep the candles burning All day through here for you The world is full of players in the night They say the words they have to say They're all so hot And they never give a damn for yesterday Don't care if they touch you Everywhere you saved for me 'Cause I still know how to move you I still know how to rock you-come and see ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	03:11
5	Still in the Game (Winwood, Jennings) Here's to gamblers Who hold to the game Through the hard times They don't lose their aim And they hope for time on their side And they keep a ticket to ride They keep watching for signs in the land They keep watching for signs in the land And they stand there watching the sky And they stand there ready to fly Here's to never letting go Though sometimes it does get lonely I still walk out in the morning light Just to see what is there I hear music in silent nights Searching I find a reason to care One heart moving still the same Still in the game Here's to lovers who reach for it all Never matching the rise with the fall And they just can't leave it alone And they want it all till it's gone Here's to players who can't leave their song And it haunts them Their night is so long 'Cause there's music there in their mind From a world they're trying to find Here's to never letting go Though sometimes it does get lonely ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	04:51
6	It Was Happiness (Winwood, Jennings) We had the stars-they kept shining Where they led us we followed Two for love-wandering I look back-here's what I see We were outside-there was Paris-it was raining And we felt everything In a crowded street in london-happiness And we were so alive And your soul was a wide and deep blue sea I would drown, and you'd rescue me And we lived our life like a story Clear to the ending It was happiness-so clear-happiness Happiness-no tears-happiness Can't keep time from its running Soon the best times are over Photographs-hold me And I see how good we were There was that day out in Carmel, California With no clothes in the sun In a crowded street in London-happiness And then it all goes by So I drink to the past and what still will be One day I'll be a memory But I lived my life like a story Too bad there's an ending ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	04:58
7	Help Me Angel (Winwood, Jennings) Help me angel Plant my feet a little higher Help me angel I've been too close to the fire Help me angel Make my dream a little brighter Help me angel Help me turn on all the lights You've seen all the sights You've lived through all the nights You've got something I have to know 'Cause I've still got far to go Help me angel 'Cause it's so dark everywhere Help me angel Find the magic in the air When sun's going down And light leaving town Something's shining deep in your eyes Sunday morning, endless sunrise You've got what I have to find In the sunshine in your mind ------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	05:06
8	Talking Back to the Night (Winwood, Jennings) High above the heat of a summer New York street An out-of-work musician plays a solo saxophone He's a preacher and a teacher And he stands up all alone Stranded in the dark of a vision in the park A poet in his madness tries to find another line And he's losing and he's using And he says he's doing fine And they look from such a height That somehow it's all right They're talking back to the night It's all that they can do Talking back to the night It's how they make it through If you listen you can hear them Their voices draw you near them They're talking back to the night for you Something seems to take every dime the man can make His dream is getting smaller and he wonders where to turn And he's trying hard to make it And he's trying not to burn Woman never minds, pulls the shade and draws the blinds She takes him in the darkness where the loneliest can feed She gives him all she has to And it's no more than he needs ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	05:44
9	There's a River (Winwood, Jennings) There's a river pouring From a pure and a crystal stream And it carries my heart along Carries me all my life And I know it will bring me home There's a choir singing With a force that can light the sky I will join with a voice deep inside Anthems for joys gone by And for joys I am sure will come Golden treasure in the evening sky It's good to be alive Golden measure, hear the music cry When my heart sings Of golden things There's a dove ascending Like my thoughts in the summer sky And she carries my soul along Clear to eternity And I know I am not alone ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Published by 1982 F.S. Music Ltd. for the U.S.A & Canada controlled by Island Music BMI/Blue Sky Rider Songs All Blue Sky Rider Songs rights for the world controlled by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. BMI	04:40

PLAYERS:

Steve Winwood: Synthesizer, Guitar, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals.

Nicole Winwood: Backing Vocals

NOTES:

Steve Winwood performed all of the instruments on this album.

Produced By: Steve Winwood

Co-writer: Will Jennings

Assistant Engineer was Nobby Clarke

Recorded at Netherturkdonic Studios U.K. 11/81-6/82

SINGLES:

"Still in the Game" / "Dust" released as US single, 1982. Peaks at #47 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts, spends 1 week on charts. Peaked at #8 on Billboard Album Rock charts.

"Valerie" / "Slowdown Sundown" released as US single, 1982. Peaks at #70 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts, spends 4 weeks on charts. Peaked at #8 on Billboard Album Rock charts.

Talking Back to the Night is Steve Winwood’s third solo album, released less than two years after the top-3 hit Arc of a Diver. "Valerie" was a minor hit in 1982, but when it was re-recorded and re-released in 1987 for Chronicles, the newer version became a top-10 hit. In addition, the album tracks "Help Me Angel" and "Talking Back to the Night" were also re-recorded for Chronicles. The latter was then released for the first time as a single.

Greatest Hits Live

Revolutions - The Very Best of Steve Winwood

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood Live From Madison Square Garden

Steve Winwood: Nine Lives

Steve Winwood: About Time

Steve Winwood: Junction Seven

Steve Winwood: Refugees Of the Heart

Steve Winwood: Roll With It

Steve Winwood: Back in the High Life

Steve Winwood: Talking Back to the Night

Steve Winwood: Arc of a Diver

Steve Winwood: Steve Winwood

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Steve Winwood: Talking Back to the Night