Charlie Winston (born Charlie Winston Gleave, 14 September 1978, Cornwall) … Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Winston (born Charlie Winston Gleave, 14 September 1978, Cornwall) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has an extended family record in music; his older brother is singer Tom Baxter and his sister performs as Vashti Anna (all the siblings use their middle name as a stage surname). This has allowed him a solid experience of all the connections of the music world including writing, recording and playing for acts such as his brother Tom Baxter, Daniel Powter, Medi and the Medicine Show, Miranda Barber, Sam Semple and Judy Tzuke.

In 2007, Charlie Winston released his self produced debut album “Make Way” and shortly after embarked on tour with Peter Gabriel on European Summer tour.

Charlie also composed music for film (The Day I will Never Forget by Kim Longinotto), theatre (Almeida Theatre, Nottinghill Gate Theatre), dance (Sadler's Wells, Ballet Rambert) and has often appeared in various TV (Top Of The Pops, Good Morning TV, CD UK) and radio shows (The Steve Merchant Show on BBC 6Music, Spanish Radio 3 with Julio Ruiz, BBC Radio with Stephen Foster).

In Charlie Winston's band, the Oxymorons, harmonica plays devil's advocate within moods, from dirty blues riffs to ethereal angelic cries, meanwhile bass, drums and guitar lay the ground rules, only to be broken. To add to it the Extramorons brass quartet puff their way to a sound that’s carnivalesque. There is an overriding positivity throughout every performance that leaves the audience wanting to dance, laugh and cry all in the same breath.
Website: www.charliewinston.com

Every Step
Charlie Winston Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a fool to be kind to you:
It's not what the men in your life tend to do
Must be so strange; finding someone
who only accepts you
Rejection's a lesson you've had
You're lost in the anger you feel for your dad
But, oh, how he loves you,
There's no doubt

With all his high hopes for you

I could push you away
I could say I don't want you no more
I could drive you right into the floor
And tell you you're useless;
Get used to it lady
But I'm big in believing that, baby, you're bigger than that
It's respect for yourself that you lack
And success; it's a mood that you choose
With every step

I want to grow old with you
To hold your old hand and look back on our youth
I will be strong. Times I might not
I'm only human

I could push you away
...
With every step

So, be free like a bumble bee
Spread wings like a bird
Squawk like a peacock and
Let your voice be heard, it's OK
I have no lock, key or a cage
You've got to want to stay

I won't push you away
I won't say I don't want you no more
I won't drive you right into the floor
But I'll tell you you're beautiful;
Get on with it lady
Coz I'm big in believing that, baby,
you're bigger than that
It's respect for yourself that you lack
And success; it's a mood that you choose
With every step

So take a step
It's just step by step

Overall Meaning

Charlie Winston's "Every Step" is a song about a man who cares for his partner deeply, despite her flaws and insecurities. He acknowledges that she has been through rejection and anger, particularly with her father, and that she may not always feel the greatest respect for herself. He could easily give up on her and push her away, but he believes that she is capable of choosing success and finding self-respect with every step she takes.

The lyrics emphasize the importance of personal empowerment and growth, urging the listener to be free like a bumblebee, spread wings like a bird, and squawk like a peacock. The repeated line "It's respect for yourself that you lack / And success; it's a mood that you choose / With every step" underscores this message.

The chorus is the most powerful part of the song, with the singer declaring that he won't push his partner away, won't say he doesn't want her anymore, and won't drive her into the floor. Instead, he'll tell her she's beautiful and urge her to get on with it. The final line "So take a step / It's just step by step" encourages the listener to keep moving forward, even if progress is slow.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a fool to be kind to you:
I am taking a risk by being kind to you

It's not what the men in your life tend to do
Most men do not treat you kindly

Must be so strange; finding someone who only accepts you
It must be strange to find someone who accepts you despite your flaws

Rejection's a lesson you've had
You have learned from rejection before

You're lost in the anger you feel for your dad
Your dad has caused you to be very angry and confused

But, oh, how he loves you, There's no doubt With all his high hopes for you
Your dad truly loves you and has high expectations for your future

I could push you away I could say I don't want you no more I could drive you right into the floor And tell you you're useless; Get used to it lady
I have the power to hurt you but I choose not to

But I'm big in believing that, baby, you're bigger than that It's respect for yourself that you lack And success; it's a mood that you choose With every step
I believe that you are capable of achieving great things, but you need to have self-respect and choose to be successful

I want to grow old with you To hold your old hand and look back on our youth I will be strong. Times I might not I'm only human
I want to spend my life with you and grow old together. I may not always be strong, but I am only human

So, be free like a bumble bee Spread wings like a bird Squawk like a peacock and Let your voice be heard, it's OK I have no lock, key or a cage You've got to want to stay
Be yourself and express yourself freely. I will not control or limit you

I won't push you away I won't say I don't want you no more I won't drive you right into the floor But I'll tell you you're beautiful; Get on with it lady
I choose to be kind and supportive towards you

It's respect for yourself that you lack And success; it's a mood that you choose With every step So take a step It's just step by step
You need to have self-respect and choose to be successful. Take things one step at a time

Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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