Steve Winwood - Dirty City Lyrics






The gangster came to see by boy
When I was working nights to pay one more bill
He promised the kid a sweeter life
Said, "Gotta understand it's dog eat dog out there"
Well I looked in his room when I got home
And underneath the covers found a loaded gun
He looked at me with empty eyes
He said, "It's time for me to be moving on"

Dirty city, this is a dirty town
Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground

I spoke to my woman the other day
She said, "I need more cash we can't pay our way"
She said, "Everything gets really hard
And I need something sweet, don't you understand?"
The roar of the train runs by my room
And on these summer nights I can't sleep anymore
I walk in the streets to greet the dawn
Or stay at home all night and stare at the floor

Dirty city, this is a dirty town
Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground
Dirty city, this is a dirty town
Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground

Help me now
Move on to a higher ground
Help somehow
Make a move to a higher ground
Won't you help somehow
Make a move to a higher ground
Won't you help somehow
I need a little help...

Dirty city, this is a dirty town
Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground...





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Steve Winwood Dirty City Comments
  1. g.... ....

    You do know this is Eric Clapton playing lead guitar right?

  2. b.... ....

    Hammond!

  3. g.... s....

    Sublime. Just beautiful.

  4. C.... F....

    Winwood - Clapton... awesome !!! A piece of heaven...

  5. T.... ....

    Clapton Winwood magic strikes again!!!!!

  6. J.... 4....

    Classic

  7. S.... M....

    He is a terrific live act to see. He’s down with his band. His voice remains strong and soulful and he is a treasure.

  8. Y.... J....

    From his first solo album ( which was a self titled album) to his nine lives album established Steve as a remarkable solo artist that derived from an incredible band such as Traffic!!!

  9. m.... ....

    Heavy lyrics indeed

  10. b.... C....

    when ever i hear this tune i always think of Hendrix why i dont know

  11. Y.... J....

    It was great to see the former bandmates Steve and Eric team up again for this song from Steve's album nine lives. Steve did nothing but good albums.His work he did with Traffic and his solo work has always been a pleasure for me to own. I haven't heard Steve and Eric's collaboration yet in their short lived band Blind faith but i heard enough to know that it was another triumphant project for Steve. Still looking forward to owning that one album Blind faith did.

  12. S.... M....

    Best original song from SW since 2009 or 10 when it came out. Among the best all around musicians and singers of my long lifetime. Thank you Mr. Winwood for your music.

  13. S.... M....

    When Winwood and Clapton play together magic happens. Every time. About 50 years now. Hard to believe they can still do it.

  14. A.... K....

    Clapton just casually playing a fuckin awesome solo!
    Steve Winwood is da man🎸🎸

  15. S.... o....

    The streets are a terrible place to live, for anybody.

  16. A.... B....

    Very nice ! 😍

  17. J.... B....

    Been listening to Steve and Eric since I was a snot-nosed teen. Beasts! (And I wish Eric would play more like this -- reminds me of his bad-ass good old days -- in fact, even better, more strong and bluesy!)

  18. K.... P....

    Love that Hammond organ and of course Slowhand on guitar.

  19. s.... t....

    What a great musician, he's still the number one!!!

  20. K.... G....

    The gangster came to see my boy
    When I was working nights to pay one more bill
    He promised the kid a sweeter life
    Said, "Gotta understand it's dog eat dog out there"
    Well I looked in his room when I got home
    And underneath the covers found a loaded gun
    He looked at me with empty eyes
    He said, "It's time for me to be moving on"

    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground

    I spoke to my woman the other day
    She said, "I need more cash we can't pay our way"
    She said, "Everything gets really hard
    And I need something sweet, don't you understand?"
    The roar of the train runs by my room
    And on these summer nights I can't sleep anymore
    I walk in the streets to greet the dawn
    Or stay at home all night and stare at the floor

    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground
    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground
    Help me now
    Move on to a higher ground
    Help somehow
    Make a move to a higher ground
    Won't you help somehow
    Make a move to a higher ground
    Won't you help somehow
    I need a little help.

    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground.
    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Where's the pity, I can't move on up to higher ground.
    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    I wanna move on up to higher ground.
    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    Movin want to move on
    Dirty city, this is a dirty town
    I can't move on up to higher ground.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scIqWXCZunQ

  21. J.... V....

    Stairway to suckwards

  22. J.... V....

    7:54 ..... for it is the starting point of all forms of violence, ..... and, by-the-way, ...00:55 it should be "my boy", ... not "by boy", ... just so you know, ...

  23. G.... H....

    This a great song.

  24. G.... W....

    This pair beats a full house. The collaboration is awesome. I loved Winwoods "Higher Life" album and Claptons blues. so together this is it, amazing music that satisfies the soul. The harmony is strong and melodic.

  25. J.... T....

    he's playing the CHUMASH CASINO, in santa ynez,ca. sept.1st

  26. A.... F....

    Beautiful, bless you, mate!

  27. S.... ....

    Killer solo!

  28. L.... R....

    The gain on this recording is too high.

  29. T.... D....

    Holy !*(@&^$. I had given up on this guy after Higher Love 80s stuff. Just stumbled upon this. Its great.

  30. B.... D....

    So the first time this song played, I was impressed but wanted to know... who was that kickass lead guitarist? Whoa... liner notes gave me the answer... some obscure dude named Eric Clapton... sounds like he just might have a future in the music business...

    B.... D....

    Godfrey's the man.

  31. J.... T....

    helps to have eric clapton as a buddy to back you up!

  32. J.... T....

    have dug "little" stevie winwood since he front the spencer davis group, he just jams!
    '

  33. W.... H....

    I like this song first time hearing it

  34. N.... S....

    Chicago

  35. b.... ....

    Damn, I know that place. Not too far from here.

  36. t.... d....

    THANKS COLOR DREAM I HAVE SEN ALOT OF YOUR VIDEOS THANK ALOT

  37. t.... d....

    LOVE THIS SONG

  38. C.... M....

    fantastic tune !

  39. M.... E....

    Einfach tolle Musik.

  40. P.... ....

    What a great song from steve

  41. s.... ....

    Reminds me of When The Eagle Flies 1974, bleak imagery, unless recessions are recurring

  42. B.... g....

    When you guys get off that "stealing" sh--t. If it were not for the bBritish rockers like Clapton, Winwood, The Stones, "Zep" etc. The blues would have died. These guys took the blues greats with them on tour when the rest of the world had forgotten about them......As a black man, I surely appreciate the fact that the aforementioned love the music of the great blues men and are still to this date carrying it on......get a life you ignorant twit.

    B.... g....

    Well said friend!

    B.... g....

    I totally agree with your comments, Bill, though as a fawning white boy I have to say no one has ever played or sung in the same league as Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, and Arthur Prysock. But still, as a white blues musician, I'll never forget the words of a black blues musician I know: "Black is an attitude."

  43. B.... g....

    @Ash......The licks were personified so they could continue to have life. your comment was not really worth a response, however, I figured you need to educate yourself on what Winwood grew up listening to as well as his other influences.

  44. y.... ....

    Это фотошоп. Америка это щастливая и свободная страна!!! Это Рай земной !!!

  45. b.... ....

    Wow, this song really has soul, you can really picture the scum in your own city when you listen. Thanks for posting

    b.... ....

    The scum are people and yes, it could happen to you too, in the blink of an eye.

  46. R.... K....

    that's steve !!

  47. p.... ....

    Clapton actually stole most of his stuff from Freddy King, not Albert.

  48. p.... ....

    When the family unit is destroyed, you end up with people with no one to turn to. Help your fellow man in any small way you can.

  49. x.... ....

    This just awesome ;~))

  50. s.... w....

    Class just shines out

  51. A.... ....

    listening to albert king probably to see if he can steal a few more licks or songs

  52. A.... ....

    @myfaveskenortiz Yes!

  53. t.... ....

    Interesting. My own thought was that would have been most suitable as theme music for "The Wire".
    Either way; what a brilliant song!!

  54. A.... ....

    Both these talented musicians seem to only get better with the passing years ... like fine wine. Remarkable. Thank you so much for the [HQ sound] post. Peace, AHA

  55. R.... B....

    @zetterbergfan123 YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WHEN CLAPTON AND WINWOOD COLLABORATE, TWO OF THE FINEST BRITISH MUSICIANS EVER!!!!!

  56. T.... ....

    Was always a fan of Steve Winwood and, of course, Eric Clapton. What I like about Dirty City is its groove and simplicity. Clapton and Winwood just lay back and do their thing. So good for the ears and the soul.

  57. M.... L....

    Wow this sounds good!

  58. g.... ....

    bad assss sound. winwood at his best. clapton too. funny, steve can do almost the same guitar solo. both are unique.
    guitar solos on night train and mozambique are both incredable. dm

  59. D.... ....

    I saw him last summer when he poened for Tom Petty and he did and incredicle set. I have never seen a packed house for an opening act until that night... what am i talking about! They were duel headliners FFS!

  60. M.... C....

    Nice one mate.

  61. T.... E....

    Found out that Stevie Winwood was born a few streets away from myself in Birmingham UK.
    A classic dirty city, ugly as fuck! locally it's called the black country, cause it was black from dirt, from heavy industry.
    The financial prosperity from this dirt enabled Stevie's dad to make a living as a muscian and raise his family and did the same for Stevie's 1st band, Spencer Davis!
    Paying Homage to his roots!
    Like unspoilt nature growing back through the cracks in the pavement!

  62. J.... B....

    Is sad, but you can see misery in big cites all around the world. I see it every day here in Buenos Aires. Winwood shows this with his great talent.
    The video is excellent and the song is a masterpiece.
    Thanks for posting

  63. M.... ....

    Winwood just how i like him! Love it

  64. G.... Y....

    Ah, Winwood. A rock legend. A musicians
    musician. He inspires all of us with his
    wonderful grooves.

    G.... Y....

    Master Hammondsmith!

    G.... Y....

    Hes not a rocker...he will tell you that he is beyond rock.

  65. g.... ....

    played this for my daughter and she thought it sounded like low spark. there is simiilarities for sure but this song is unique in itself. relevant as always. fun to jam along with on guitar just bar the dminor ninth fret and whale.

  66. O.... F....

    This musical masterpiece speaks to my heart-soul.Winwood and englishman from across the waters has deep social consciousness.Not affected by the glizt-glamour of todays' commercialized "noise" they call "music" has shed much needed light on the realities we face and the path we must take to RECTIFY...Right on Brother-Man1

  67. c.... c....

    Absolutly grand video production. Hope you have been contacted by someone with the ways n means to launch your skills. Winwood , this means U.