Black night down heavy on my weary brow
Light shining in the pouring rain
Can see somehow cold comfort in the broken trees
But I won't let it bring me to my knees
I'm not flying, but I'm not drowning now

Keep driving, don't matter if the highway's lost
Keep running, never turn your head
Count the cost ghost waiting where the roads all cross
Big deal waiting when you get to meet the boss
Clouds are breaking, I'm not drowning now
Drowning now...

Flying, but I'm not drowning now...

Sad old man smiling with a shameful grin
He thinks that we never can lose
Never beat the dealer when he cuts the pack
First back to front, then deal front to back
Now I'm flying, I'm not drowning now...

Overall Meaning

In Steve Winwood's "I'm Not Drowning," the lyrics can be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of the challenges and struggles that come with life. The "black night down heavy" and "pouring rain" can represent the hardships and difficulties one may face. However, the "cold comfort in the broken trees" suggests that there is still hope and beauty amidst the turmoil. The lyrics encourage perseverance and determination in the face of adversity, refusing to let the struggles bring one down.

The song also touches upon themes of patience and perseverance. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'm not flying, but I'm not drowning now," implying that the singer is in a stable state of being, somewhere between soaring and sinking. The lyrics offer comfort and encouragement to listeners stuck in difficult situations, reminding them that every step forward is a move towards progress.

Towards the end of the song, the metaphor shifts. The "sad old man" represents defeat and resignation, symbolizing those who have given up the fight against life's challenges. However, the singer of the song has managed to overcome the hardships and is now "flying" instead of drowning.

Overall, the lyrics of "I'm Not Drowning" offer a message of hope and resilience, encouraging listeners to keep pushing through difficult times and to never give up.

Line by Line Meaning

Black night down heavy on my weary brow
I am facing difficult times and feeling exhausted.

Light shining in the pouring rain
Even in tough times, there is still hope and goodness around me.

Can see somehow cold comfort in the broken trees
Although things may be broken and not perfect, I can still find small comforts.

But I won't let it bring me to my knees
I won't allow my challenges to defeat me completely.

I'm not flying, but I'm not drowning now
Though I'm not soaring, I'm not defeated or consumed by my problems.

Keep driving, don't matter if the highway's lost
I must keep striving forward, even if the path ahead isn't clear or secure.

Keep running, never turn your head
I should persistently pursue my goals and never give up, despite distractions or setbacks.

Count the cost ghost waiting where the roads all cross
I must be mindful of the consequences of my choices and actions since they can have a lasting impact.

Big deal waiting when you get to meet the boss
I can expect a significant reward or punishment depending on whether I succeed or fail.

Clouds are breaking, I'm not drowning now
The difficult times are gradually clearing up, and I'm not feeling overwhelmed anymore.

Sad old man smiling with a shameful grin
Someone is pretending to be satisfied, but they are hiding their shame and regret.

He thinks that we never can lose
This person assumes that we will always win and succeed, but this isn't always the case.

Never beat the dealer when he cuts the pack
We can't always win in situations where luck and chance play a big role.

First back to front, then deal front to back
Sometimes, life can be unfair and unpredictable, and things can happen in unexpected ways.

Now I'm flying, I'm not drowning now...
I'm lifted up and thriving now, instead of sinking in my struggles.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER GODWIN, PETER DOUGLAS GODWIN, STEPHEN LAWRENCE WINWOOD, STEVE WINWOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ramchander24

5y↑33

Black night down heavy on my weary brow
Light shining in the pouring rain
Can see somehow cold comfort in the broken trees
But I won't let it bring me to my knees
I'm not flying, but I'm not drowning now
Keep driving, don't matter if the highway's lost
Keep running, never turn your head
Count the cost ghost waiting where the roads all cross
Big deal waiting when you get to meet the boss
Clouds are breaking, I'm not drowning now, drowning now
Flying, but I'm not drowning now
Sad old man smiling with a shameful grin
He thinks that we never can lose
Never beat the dealer when he cuts the pack
First back to front, then deal front to back
Now I'm flying, I'm not drowning now, drowning now

@bloodybagal

6y↑4

All comments from YouTube:

@ramchander24

5y↑33

Black night down heavy on my weary brow
Light shining in the pouring rain
Can see somehow cold comfort in the broken trees
But I won't let it bring me to my knees
I'm not flying, but I'm not drowning now
Keep driving, don't matter if the highway's lost
Keep running, never turn your head
Count the cost ghost waiting where the roads all cross
Big deal waiting when you get to meet the boss
Clouds are breaking, I'm not drowning now, drowning now
Flying, but I'm not drowning now
Sad old man smiling with a shameful grin
He thinks that we never can lose
Never beat the dealer when he cuts the pack
First back to front, then deal front to back
Now I'm flying, I'm not drowning now, drowning now

@gusseford3457

5y↑16

IMO one of his best songs -- in a long list of great songs -- beautiful.

@butasoffroad

5y↑8

A perfect Blues in a sofisticated vibe. Steve is always sofisticated.

@DEBSCULLY01

9y↑12

I've always loved Steve. Beautiful man, beautiful musician.

@Daph909

11y↑4

This track is amazing!

@andytay5507

6y↑4

Isn't it amazing how Stevie can make even a simple song like that sound great? How bout that percussive riff too?

@Aschref

4y↑41

Obviously House has a good taste in music 🎶

@paulbrown7374

4y↑1

What a tune this is... As usual... Top vocal...

@bid84

11y↑2

Love this tune

@marcofaustinelli7010

Will I ever listen to something from Stevie Winwood that does not leave me speechles at its sheer beauty and inspiration?

@u30R

5y↑1

Heard this on the radio, where can I find more music like this?

@brianlmeigs

5y↑1

Great tune

@alexjames3835

God what a tune

@u30R

5y↑1

My kind of music, if only I could find a million other alternate versions of it.

@abdalahhassan9287

5y↑2

I love it ^^!

@xtstevie

11y↑4

The man is a fucking legend....... Nuff said !!

@furkan771

4y↑7

The best things of house that gives you amazing songs

@johnspijkers4949

10y↑1

Just received the 2LP of the Nine Lives album today. Made due with the CD for years......the vinyl blows it out of the water.

@gretchenburrows8296

John Spijkers I can't afford my turntable back again at this time. Vinyl rules!!!

@Ringwraith1of9

Vinyl ALWAYS blows a cd outta the water

@adrian4249

10y↑1

que buena canción me pone en ritmo yea......................,

@ericdittler918

4y↑9

House had excellent music to it

@daveskerritt185

7y↑3

Winwood actually sounds cooler on this recording than on some of his previous solo recordings. It sounds like he's going back to the roots a little more. I thought he was great with Traffic, and I liked that Traffic reformed briefly in the 1990s and toured. I liked that he and Clapton got together in the late 00's. But many of Winwood's solo recordings through the years have been a lot of pop pap commercial junk. I know it had to have made him a lot of money, but they were disappointing anyway. Just not as interesting as his earlier music was with Traffic, or the Spencer Davis Group, for that matter.

@niamhsorcha3091

"many of Winwood's solo recordings through the years have been a lot of pop pap commercial junk". wow. looks like you're totally unaware of the fine , uplifting and SPIRITUAL qualities of the songs " High life" and "Higher Love"

@excuseme1543

5y↑146

"Yeah...a cat" -Kutner xD

@partyguy101ify

5y↑2

The music department for Grace and Frankie should use this for an end credits song.

@DoubleADwarf

7y↑1

I can't follow the rhythm on this song to save my life - and yet somehow that doesn't matter at all.

@twiceshy9773

This is kinda like Kingswood "Ohio", another brilliant song, they both have the same guitar riff/through line thingie

@lastrada52

10y↑2

I've loved Steve Winwood's work for decades, and he is one of the greats -- but this tune has to be borrowed from Bob Dylan's "Foot of Pride." If not, it has chords in it that could remind anyone with a sharp ear that it has roots in Dylan's tune. I wasn't one minute into listening to this fine new song "I'm Not Drowning" and enjoying it ~~-when my memory was picking it all out. I was singing "Foot of Pride" lyrics to it. Maybe it's the vocal pace, the beat, the acoustic guitar -~~ something has that "Foot of Pride" ring in it. What the hell, they're both excellent songs -- for all I know Dylan may have "borrowed" his melody from some long dead sharecropper or whiskey bootlegger with an acoustic guitar from the 1920's. Lots of that going around these days. Steve Winwood is still great at what he does.

@SAMCOM57

9y↑1

John...what you describe is how this "style" (bluesy backwoodsy) music was passed from generation to generation...for generations!

@MrJakejacobsen

8y↑1

+John LaStrada not even close.... both have a blues progression maybe but the phrasing etc.... no sir

@lastrada52

+jake jacobsen - I respect your opinion Jake, but I've been in the music business over forty years (still am to a degree) and phrasing has nothing to do with songs that sound the same. Phrasing is just a method or style a singer applies to lyrics to embellish their own version of a song. Few singers have that talent though some believe they do. Sinatra was the best, Presley was a close second, Dean Martin real good, as were Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday & Ray Charles excellent. But today's singers -- good voices or not -- sing words & seldom apply any creative phrasing. Whether they sing / play a song slower or faster than a presumed original version the song is still following along in the steps of another tune. A "blues progression" or three chord progression (in a million songs) is not necessarily copying but if you lift a recognizable melody from it you're in a touchy territory. This is what happened to George Harrison with "My Sweet Lord," & the 60's song "He's So Fine." (Harrison lost that case). I believe if you write a new tune it's only allowed to "use" 8 bars from another source (it may be less now) of any familiar song without being challenged. But, suggesting that because the phrasing is different qualifies the song as "not a copy" -- (notice I didn't say plagiarism) -- that's not entirely true. If I wrote new lyrics to "Heartbreak Hotel" & sped it up from its original melody it's still "Heartbreak Hotel," especially if it's recognizable. "Rollin' 'n Tumblin'" is a classic blues song but it's in the public domain this is why Elvis could record a song called "Tiger Man," and it had the same melody with different lyrics. It's a very narrow corridor when you apply a familiar melody even if the beat changed it and the words are changed etc... The song still has that "haunting" melody line that reminds you of another. Then there's the controversy between Jethro Tull's "We Used To Know" (1969) & The Eagles' "Hotel California" (1976). Musicologists admitted, as well as, Ian Andersen that “It’s just the same chord sequence,” Anderson says (and) “....it’s (in) a different time signature, different key (and) different context...." Andersen did not pursue any legal steps -- he said he was flattered. But there was just enough there to warrant a lawsuit according to lawyers in the music business. It happens all the time -- Adele has an issue now with her hit "Hello." Three different songs have similar recognizable traits in it: Tom Waits' "Martha," Billie Meyers' "Kiss the Rain," (a song which even includes a similar lyric in the use of the word "hello") & a song by Lionel Richie that escapes me. But these do sound familiar + it has nothing to do with phrasing. Listen to the Grateful Dead's "Ripple," & then sample Andrew Lloyd Weber's song "Any Dream Will Do," from his play "Joseph & the Technicolor Dream Coat" (written several years before "Ripple.") I've seen jaws drop when I played the two back to back & though Garcia - Hunter have written many wonderful songs none have ever approached the melodic excellence of "Ripple." Coincidence? I read that Robert Hunter was in London when the play opened. Where did he write "Ripple?" On that London trip. Subconscious? Probably. Because the Dead were not known for copying unless it was from some age-old traditional public domain song. Sorry for the long response -- just felt I needed to explain myself better. Just so many melodies out there Jake...nothing new under the sun. We'd be safer if we re-wrote a familiar song starting with the last note and going backwards to the beginning. But, they'll get around to outlawing that too.

@kranercurve

Absolutely not , they just too different.

@lastrada52

You are deaf kranercurve. Or, know very little about music. I have two guitarists sitting next to me now and they are both singing these songs along side each other seamlessly. These two songs -- "Foot of Pride," and "I'm Not Drowning," are very good but, they are "basically" the same. They are close to identical. Don't be fooled by a different arrangements of each, or singing it slower or faster, or interpretation. The basic structure is one and the like. Just like the differences and identical styles of "My Sweet Lord," & "He's So Fine." I've been in this business for decades and have come across similar structure/melodies in many songs. Don't get me started on how many different songs are patterned after the blues song "Rollin' and Tumblin.'"

23 More Replies...

@jacobreyes5357

4y↑7

Funny, a lot of people in my generation were introduced to this song because of House M.D. lol

@KhaledMAhmed

4y↑1

Why is it funny?

@jacobreyes5357

Khaled M. Ahmed I thought it would be popular, not just get attention because of a TV show

@KhaledMAhmed

4y↑1

@Jacob Reyes why do you underestimate A TV show, I mean like there's no wrong people discovering new music from TV shows

@jacobreyes5357

4y↑1

Khaled M. Ahmed you are right. House helped me discover a lot of new songs

@user-ur9rs3vh6t

22w

From 2023 and the House still the best 😂✌🏻♥️

@pasodiufwen

9y↑5

a master a work

@stirrcrazy2704

I thought "Beat the dealer when he cuts the pack" was a line about drugs, took me like a year to realize he's talking about poker.

@lavahotpocket3886

4y↑1

I'm still not convinced he's not saying "count the Costcos" so I feel you

@russbolin9290

thanks stargazer many times i NEED this song............clouds r breaking.........

@pranaygupta2387

9y↑293

Here because of House :)

@atticusdeleon2708

9y↑6

Same

@joealgeriano

7y↑1

same

@sajaisuresh5756

6y↑1

Me too!

@mostafagamal5691

6y↑8

wow people still watching house TV series that's proves it's the best tv series ever made

@Edwin-kp1gf

Me too

20 More Replies...

@angelicapellegrino5378

9y↑115

House 😍❤

@TheHerbu

8y↑1

+Angelica Pellegrino all right

@cjm90390

8y↑4

+Angelica Pellegrino They do play some cool tunes on that show

@testovirone

8y↑2

house also

@ICantBelieveItsButters

+testovirone I found this song from my Pandora station of Owen Campbell, then I heard it on house last night. Small world. Check out Owen though. I think you will like his stuff if you like this song.

@okaydokay5642

5y↑1

Yeah same here!!!!

@matiasmorales6890

3y↑2

Vine hasta acá solo por Dr.House

@vicentearaya1386

4y↑1

somebody have this album in digital?? can't found it on amazon/iTunes...

@warpigs777

8y↑3

heard this on mushrooms the other night. me and my buddy deep in the cane!! Was a fucked up song. but sober it is beautiful

@Bepy91

10y↑2

Good Blues

@arianawills2952

When i heard this I was sure i was listnening to Eric Clapton.

@robertounger153

7y↑9

House me trouxe aqui 😎

@nazaholicable

Great, but check out Barry Hay's version too.

@savagegroove3825

House sent me here. Great tune.

@ghitakhayar

2y↑2

Miss you house M.D

@jobdiaz4896

I can't find this song on iTunes!!!

@fredbeaudon9043

5y↑11

House MD !!!!

@user-yv8sw1ms6n

4y↑7

Coming from House M D 😭🖤

@jimi025

8y↑2

Is this open D tuning??

@xNepsteR

11y↑58

Yeah...A cat.

@RaistlinMajere6666

10y↑68

house M.D <3 <3

@TheHerbu

10y↑4

nope Steve Wineood

@atticusdeleon2708

9y↑1

Yup

@ahmetoguzhanyasar5310

Hey

@SuperMarion61

Here because if Series 2 of Brothers and Sisters TV show

@sajaisuresh5756

6y↑2

Dr.House MD 😎

@jackdolah2031

8y↑16

Here kity ! House md ! S5E18 ! Loved house till now !

@jeffstanton5526

16 fools that never wrote a song don't like this. Silly mofo's.

@meharunnizach6339

House MD
Thank you 😌

@javierrojasarias807

5y↑37

Yeah. A cat.

@mviv6339

6y↑2

House......

@windansurf

6y↑4

House ;-)

@muhammedunsal4905

Episode name "here kitty".

@MaximumCooler

6y↑5

House md)

@zachariaszpaprocki9546

6y↑2

House

@wellingtonmoreira115

4y↑1

House S5 18 🐈

@bloodybagal

6y↑4

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