Winwood, Steve - Arc Of A Diver Lyrics

One of my very favorites by Steve Winwood. 🎹🎤🎼👍

This song got me through some dark times in my life. Always brings my spirit up.

I love the the funky stop-and-go bass on this, which I think is keyboard bass, perhaps doubled on a bass guitar. Winwood played it I believe--along with everything else. A good one to transcribe and learn to play. 80s music gave a new vibe to bass playing that was more staccato and "machinic".

This song is incredibly catchy. It's in my head at least once a month. But... it's so incredibly cheesy. You got Spencer Davis, Traffic, Blind Faith, and this song doesn't hold a candle to his earlier blues-soaked, age-belied, fiery soul songs.

That being said, this song sticks in my head to this day. There's something huge to be said about that.

Does anyone know why he's only played this song once in concert since 1986?

Arc of a Diver is my favourite Steve Winwood track, although the lyrics sound a bit dated now. They were state of the art in their day.

WINWOOD PLAYED EVERY INSTRUMENT ON THIS GREAT SONG

I’m 10 years old again.
Big puffy padded headphones on and spinning this LP in my bedroom over and over again.
It ushered in a decade and is still as smooth now as it was then.
Timeless!!

The beginning of a decade that defined my life... still one of my fav... and in my list of beautiful things..🙂

I was 22 that blazing summer and desperately in love...I’m so sad I want to die

70 years old and still listening and enjoying

'81~ We just had our 1st little girl & a little abode soon followed. It was VG year. Can't believe she's nearing 40. Stevie W says it all very well...! One of the best. Saw him once at SF's Winterland when he was w/ Traffic.

I'm not sure the synths are high enough in the mix.

You knew that the 80’s would be a special time when you heard this masterpiece. Damn!! I miss those days. Peace ✌🏽

I do too

Nice arc the divrer

Speaks to my heart❤

Man, this is the song to roll with at 630 in the morning whether you getting off work or is high as a mutherfucker

Spirit is something that no one destroys.

Lots of Good good Music . Music is LIFE & LIFE IS HAPPY WHEN THERE'S MUSIC.

Daly City...Freshman at SFSU...what a beautiful life...

not even 200,000 views? have people never heard of great music?

That sucks bro I wish I would have known you I would help you out

Effortlessly...

Love the song. Great memories! Still don't understand the lyrics. Someone please explain

Brings me back to the summer of 81, cruising around in my Z28, lol, looking for some fun, trouble, or a bit of both!

This song reminds me so much of my undergraduate years, when it eased the suffering I endured slaving away on calculus, differential equations, statistical thermodynamics, general relativity, and other ball-bustingly brutal courses required of a Chemistry major at the University of Missouri-Rolla. This album was the first 8 track tape 😆 that I bought when "stocking up for college".

Every single morning I'd stumble out of bed and stagger to the coffee pot to draw a gigantic cup of hardcore strong Columbian extract, lay back and relax in my new recliner chair, and listen to this album in the dim light of dawn.

Gathering my inner strength and letting my mind roam freely on strategic life planning, I always sensed a calming peace, like I was being renewed once again. I also felt like I was a true BADASS, moving forward in my life in a very positive way by getting a "first class" scientific education from a respected institution.

And I ALWAYS had warm thoughts about my Dad - it was HIS dream that his only son would someday get a degree from there. Sadly, he died less than 2 years before I went. Every time I thought of him in those days, I'd choke up and cry a bit, and pray HARD that he was watching me from up above, and was proud of me. Although I won a 4 year, free, "full ride" scholarship to the University of Illinois, I turned it down so I could get my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from "The Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy", just like he wanted. I sure do miss you Dad. And I DID IT! 💪😎

Well done .....🐶

Congrats on the degree.
You did a nice job.

this is so fresh.

I was 17, yes 17, and I was at Fort Benning Georgia, in the PX, 1981, and this song came on. I was actually in basic training and hadn't heard a song in weeks, mind you. And it was a dinky radio in the corner. Like 5 of us gathered around the 'stereo ' and just listened. I was mesmerised. Such a wonderful song. I still like it today but I'll never forget that feeling I had the first time I heard this gem

Steve is yet another alumnus of the Muscle Shoals Sound.

My favorite Steve Winwood song! Hes my favorite Singer and musician

I don't think I would go to a dead concert in a big feild ,but I would go to see a Steve Windwood show in a small auditorium dead as well in a small room.

Steve doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves. Fantastic voice.

and multi-instrumentalist. solo and in traffic he often played all of the instruments.

This album better than album back in higher live.

Magical

great album needs a little more bass a little bit tinny and hissing in the sound quality but we can let it go cause the sweetness of the music pulls it all on through and up to a higher plain every damn time

Arc of a Diver
~ Steve Winwood

She bathes me in sweetness I cannot reveal
For sharing dreams I need my woman
This humble expression meagerly dressed
My eyes so mean it has no meaning


But jealous night and all her secret chords
I must be deaf on the telephone I need my love to translate

I play the piano no more running honey
This time to the sky I'll sing if clouds don't hear me
To the sun I'll cry and even if I'm blinded
I'll try moon gazer because with you I'm stronger
Arc of a diver effortlessly, my mind in sky and when I wake up
Daytime and nighttime I feel you near
Warm water breathing she helps me here

This time to the sky I'll sing if clouds don't hear me
To the sun I'll cry and even if I'm blinded
I'll try moon gazer because with you I'm stronger

Lean streaky music spawned on the streets I hear it but with you I had to go
'Cause my rock 'n' roll is putting on weight and the beat it goes on

Arc of a diver effortlessly, my mind in sky and when I wake up
Daytime and nighttime I feel you near
Warm water breathing she helps me here

With you my love we're going to raid the future
With you my love we're going to stick up the past
We'll hold today to ransom 'til our quartz clock stop until yesterday

Songwriters: Vivian Stanshall / Steve Winwood
Arc of a Diver lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

so beautiful

Was this fine tune co-written by Vivian Stanshall (Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band)?

apparently

One of Steve's best songs in my opinion

I was a freshman in high school when I first heard this from our neighbor's boombox. I like it until today.

It doesn't get any better.

Memories

Steve Winwood had a hold on us all, his voice melted the bad memories away. This album was for me during a time of deep love. Every time I hear this song, I think back, I will always have that time.

Kick. Ass. Song. Steve

So fitting a song for the 80's easily one of the best, remember singing along giving me a inspiration high waiting for the chorus aw great coz it doesnt come in till later from then on its a cruzey ride haha ok you know what i mean!! Great song Steve Winwood this beaut is way ahead of its time still getting the same feeling today as i did then😅😅

A ruined life, spent caring too much for others with miniscule return to show, never asking for any recognition or sympathy but to die a quick death while walking down life's highway....

26 people gave this thumb down, contrarians? Fat fingers? Morons? We will never know

Great album.

Naive then, really needed to focus my lens, could not see that right in front of me;misled, missteps, missed the bullseye, truths became lies

true for all of us, I'm sure!

Summer of '81... working on-air and as music director at a regional radio station. I'd been a fan of Stevie since his earliest efforts with Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. My ears told me the single "While You See A Chance" was good so I slipped it onto the playlist and reported the "add" to a trade paper. In those days, many radio stations paid attention to "R&R" (Radio and Records) to learn which stations were playing what. Fortunately, as an "R&R" reporter, my add of "While You See A Chance" may have helped get it noticed. Truth be told, that song was so good, it would have been a hit anyway but I'm glad I got to contribute in a small way. The record company rewarded the station with a dozen or so LPs to give-away. One of them went home with me and the track "Arc Of A Diver" became a personal favorite.

it was the summer when i went to Ohio when my Grandfather was terminally ill. i was 16 when my parents asked me to go there from Florida. this song always reminds me of that trying time

Loooove this!! What memories!

smooth tune😎

Cadê os Br?

I read he did this song and the whole Arc of a Diver album literally by himself. Played all the instruments and wrote every song. Outstanding.

A genius at 15, when I'm a Man came out, i knew this little skinny kid was unbelievably talented, and he proved it with Traffic and John Barleycorn Must Die....

best writing here and of course Seve's best singing ...not forgetting the musicians in this amazing link .my jaw dropped in admiration of these lyrics .

Bought this album in 1980 on the back of the single "while you see a chance"... 38 years on its still in my top 3 albums ... going to see Stevie next Feb when he supports my favorite band Steely Dan ...dream combo for me

Stevie Dan

very cool.

The guitar solo l...so simple but melodic and tuneful. Part of the reason when a 8 year old kid heard it in the summer of 81 made me want to play the guitar and I do!

David Cavinder I was 8 in 81 also, and knew I would just have to enjoy listening to the guitar, cause i would never be able to play one :) awesome you can though.

How many of ya'll know that Steve played all the instruments and did all the production and engineering himself at his own studio in this album?Now that's what I call a legend....

Incredible! To say the least ! Cant get anymore talented than Steve Winwood!

Yea, I read the liner notes. endlessly, this record saw me through a long cross country trip upon the arrival. I would like to say that thanks to musicians today like Mac Demarco, and Damon Albarn the relish of just making music lives. Cheers

And ex Bonzo Dog genius Vivian Stanshall contributed the lyrics !

Yeah that's right, immensely talented.

Swapnil Mukherjee me!!

Dedicated to SKANKY AIMEE...DIDNT YA EVER SEE ME THROW & STRIP BARK OFF TREE. IM COMING FOR U

NEVER GETS OLD❤☝😎

Not sure what it is about this song but it takes me back instantly to being sixteen and just loving this song, really being in awe of it.

same here. had to borrow money from my grandparents to buy the album

Part of growing up and coming into yourself. What a wonderful time!

She bathes me in sweetness, I cannot reveal
For sharing dreams, I need my woman
This humble expression, meagerly dressed
My eyes so mean, it has no meaning

But jealous night, and all her secret chords, I must be deaf, on the telephone, I need my love to translate

I play the piano, no more runnin' honey
This time to the sky, I'll sing if clouds don't hear me
To the sun I'll cry, and even if I'm blinded
I'll try moon gazer, because with you I'm stronger

I'm stronger
I'm stronger

Arc of a diver effortlessly, my mind in sky and when I wake up
Daytime and nighttime, I feel you near
Warm water breathing, she helps me here

But jealous night, and all her secret chords
I must be deaf, on the telephone, I need my love to translate

This time to the sky, I'll sing if clouds don't hear me
To the sun I'll cry, and even if I'm blinded
I'll try moon gazer, because with you I'm stronger

(instrumental)

But jealous night, and all her secret chords
I must be deaf ... on the telephone, I need my love to translate

This time to the sky, I'll sing, if clouds don't hear me
To the sun, I'll cry, and even if I'm blinded
I'll try moon gazer, because with you I'm stronger

D' doo doo, d' doo doo ... doo doo doo doo
D' doo doo, d' doo doo ... doo doo doo doo
D' doo doo, d' doo doo ... doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo

Lean streaky music, spawned on the streets, I hear it but with you I had to go
'Cause my rock 'n' roll, is putting on weight, and the beat it goes on

Arc of a diver effortlessly, my mind in sky and when I wake up- whoa
Daytime and nighttime, I feel you near
Warm water breathing, she helps me here

But jealous night, and all her secret chords
I must be deaf, on the telephone, I need my love to translate

(brief instrumental)

With you my love we're gonna raid the future
With you my love we're gonna stick up the past
We'll hold today to ransom, 'til our quartz clock stop, until yesterday

Whoa, until yesterday
Until yesterday

'Til the quartz won't stop

and thanks mr.winwood!!

tucson az 1980! u of a!! tripping! listening arc of a diver! thanks brother jay and nick bro chief!!

They just don't write songs like this today.

More of his songs

I loved this back in the Summer of '81. Just graduated from high school with a lot of promise in front of me. An era of my life was over...I had a happy childhood, but this time brought an abrupt change. I headed into college and adulthood, and for about 30 years, I didn't handle being grown very well. I managed to finish my education, but multiple marriages, substance abuse and living crazily eventually took its toll. 33 summers after this song was released, I left rehab for the last time. I met the ONE. And i finally settled down. When a couple of my friends picked me up from the rehab facility, I hopped in the back of the car. And I heard this song. It was like a reset button to that time after graduation. And this time, I finally decided to do it right.

@Kellie Ann Nolan bless your soul

Great!!! Best Wishes and Dreams in life to you!!!!

Wow!!!!!!!

And I pray you did fully hit the reset and left the past in the passed. I was having the same summer of 81 and it lasted about as long. Been sober 5 years, and with God at my center I'm living again.

Awsome. Don't look back

I wish I wrote that song love it. brings back a lot of childhood memories

album almost never came out.steve winwood nearly called it quits b/c he was not happy with the music industry.

another link to album?

His best song

One of them. All the Viv Stanshall songs are at the top, including Vacant Chair and Dream Gerrard... For me anyway

I agree 😸

Hard to disagree with that. Great tune.

This album changed by life. I don't see the point in details. Others have already made the point better than me. I went from a delivery job to college to a fantastic woman and then kids who made everything worthwhile. When I finally pass, this album will be one of the ticky points that made my time on earth worthwhile.

This comment made me think. So inspiering. Thankyou

11 again. Thanks Daddy.

Best of his so far he ever put out!¡¡¿¿??..**''" "****"" ''??!!¡¡¿¿.,,.my favorite is second woman!!!????¿¿¡¡!!** "" '',,.cause obviously this is about a divorced woman!¡¡¿¿??..** "" ':;, which I truly I'm nd have been since he puts this song out in 1980!!¡¡¿¿??..,** "" ''!!??¡¡¿¿.. Nd wouldn't give up my freedom for nothing in the world!!¡¡¿¿??..** "" ', I've worked to the bone nd raised my two young boys back then by myself but wouldn't change this at all..my boys are now in their thirties nd they're happily married.., My oldest has traveled thru the entire States.. In business his own businesses that are in the future looks very good 👍 nd my second son is now getting starting his own family also, My oldest has now given me both a grandson!¡¡¿¿** "', who is now going to college to my alma matter Rutgers university!¡¡¿¿??..**"" '',, in a full grant!?¿¿¡¡.., We couldn't be happier for him.., Nd he just have me the most beautiful granddaughter, that at her three months, she has her daddy wrapped around her finger!??¡¡¿¿??!!¡¡¿¿.., Nd he hurts to get home to his family home ,his wife.., Nd his baby girl.., His son lives with his mother!?¡¡¿¿??!!??¿¿¡¡.,,** "" ''!!??¿¿¡¡😅😣😕😀😁😂😄😐😮😇😃😈😈😤😤☺😀😕😣😅😑😉😯, they make it work for their son's sakes!!¿¿??!!¡¡¿¿..** "" ''!?¿¡..,,.

I also dove in sea of Japan and the China sea Atlantic,gulf of mexico

xclntrr

I was driving a tow truck in Denver Colorado when this album came out. You couldn't hear this song with out instantly being put into a good mood no matter what was going on in your life.

William Peachey, You are absolutely correct!

Till the quartz clock stops me loves your SACRIFICE not SCARFACE...k dear......ALK but dig it and we never take things for granted.

Summer of 81 it was hotter than hell and I was walking home from work. Could not afford to take the bus we were poor as church mice. I was going to get paid the end of that week but until then all we had was 5 buck and may be enough food in the fridge to last.
I was walking past a record store and I could see that the air conditioner above the door was running. I still had about an hour more to walk so I thought I would stop in here and look at the records pretending to buy one so I could cool down.
Arc of a Diver was playing in the store. It was a time that will always be in my head. I’m 60 now and every time I hear that song I’m 24 again. Sometimes hungry and poor are the good old days.

XTC's 'Earn Enough For Us' is a great song for the empty wallet times

wonderful song.......always loved it........for decades now; re: your comment........I can relate, I remember being at the mall and not having the money to buy a 45 rpm song (namely, "I was made to love her" by Stevie Wonder)..........but looking back, it was youth, waiting for the bus with a friend, love of music.........I think it was the hopes that I had when I was young......so yes, the "good old days"

Beth Ramsey I had the album. My downstairs neighbor hit the ceiling with a broom .... high volume! Couldn’t get enough of Arc of a Diver. Still have the album.

onedreamshaper100 love that story!!! & the song !! Hope he plays it on this tour 🥰

No comment needed ;).