The single, "Fly", is worthy of the first Tea for One entry to our site. It was written by Steve Winwood, Jose Neto, and Peter Douglas Godwin. (Columbia Records).
I was amazingly lucky to hear this for the first time live when he played with Tom Petty several years ago in an outdoor venue on a clear summer night in New England, 2008. Beach balls were included!
http://bluebirdreviews.com/live-shows/6-tom-pettysteve-winwood-june-11-2008.html
"Fly" starts as a beautiful float through island Brazillian, African and Celtic percussion, saxophone and Irish whistle (by Paul Booth), acoustics and softly complicated bass lines. Then Winwood's strong voice starts the piece which grounds the song in his earthy tones. The lyrics bring comfort to any aching, lonely soul, or inspiration to a heart that is already full. It is a lifetime of striving for fulfillment in communion with others who are close, yet an autonomous wisdom that is confident from healing experience.
The entire album, Nine Lives is such a similar work. Nine culturally sophisticated tracks, each one depicting a part of life to be asserted and savored. Eric Clapton guests on the gritty, "Dirty City", which was number one and two on AAA radio for over three weeks. Still, Steve Winwood stated on his website that "Fly" was the centerpiece of the Nine Lives album.
http://www.stevewinwood.com/releases/steve_winwood/steve_winwood_nine_lives
Lyrics to Fly :
On a brave new morning, smiling at the sky
Every shadow of the past whispers goodbye
There is hope, if you can see
I give it all to you, you give it all to me
Every winter has the sun within its heart
And everything we think we knew we can forget
Maybe far but not apart
I know it's getting better and it will be better yet
So fly
Cause I know what you're feeling
When it turns out that way
And that emotion is healing
And we can fly..
Climbed a mountain, just to see the other side
We start with nothing, cause there's nothing left to hide
I believe in every new day
I'll never be that man who threw it all away
In the valley there's a river running through
Wherever it may take me, I will follow you
There's an answer to all the rain
It's when I turn around and hear you say my name
So fly..
And we can fly..
Oh what you're healing..
Cause there is nothing but clouds in your way
As we face the day..
So the time has come but I will say a prayer
As the day break, I know I will meet you there
By the shoreline ever-changing
I give my word to you, you gave your word to me
So the morning has a song to feed my soul
It was divided, but with you it feels whole
There's a life only we know
And there's a secret place where only we can go
So fly
Cause I know what you're feeling
When it turns out that way
And that emotion is healing
And we can fly..
On a brave new morning, smiling at the sky
Every shadow of the past whispers goodbye
There is hope, if you can see
I give it all to you, you give it all to me
Every winter has the sun within its heart
And everything we think we knew we can forget
Maybe far but not apart
I know it's getting better and it will be better yet
So fly
Cause I know what you're feeling
When it turns out that way
And that emotion is healing
And we can fly..
Climbed a mountain, just to see the other side
We start with nothing, cause there's nothing left to hide
I believe in every new day
I'll never be that man who threw it all away
In the valley there's a river running through
Wherever it may take me, I will follow you
There's an answer to all the rain
It's when I turn around and hear you say my name
So fly..
And we can fly..
Oh what you're healing..
Cause there is nothing but clouds in your way
As we face the day..
So the time has come but I will say a prayer
As the day break, I know I will meet you there
By the shoreline ever-changing
I give my word to you, you gave your word to me
So the morning has a song to feed my soul
It was divided, but with you it feels whole
There's a life only we know
And there's a secret place where only we can go
So fly
Cause I know what you're feeling
When it turns out that way
And that emotion is healing
And we can fly..
