Winwood released a new album "Nine Lives" on April 29, 2008, and started a tour with Tom Petty and others in May 2008.
Secrets
Steve Winwood Lyrics
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Running guns, he's just killing time
He keeps his back against the wall
Never trust your friends in crime
He's the quiet kind
Doesn't need a plan
You can't read his mind
You drink Mojitos with the boys
Smile as if you know what they know
You show them all your pretty toys
Make a deal, don't make a show
He's the ace of spies with a golden hand
You can't read his eyes
Cause he's a secret man
He's the quiet kind
Doesn't need a plan
Can't read his mind at all
He's a secret man, talking 'bout the man
Tell you no secrets,
I tell you no lies...
The song "Secrets" by Steve Winwood tells the story of someone who lives a dangerous life as a smuggler. The lyrics paint a picture of him being on the border, running guns to survive. He's a man of few words but also someone who can't be read. He never trusts his friends in the world of crime, and he keeps his back against the wall to be on guard at all times. The second verse tells us about his life outside of the world of crime. He drinks Mojitos with the boys and pretends to know what they know while showing off his possessions. He's a man of mystery, and no one can read his eyes. He's always on his guard and always cautious, as evidenced by his continuous need to keep secrets.
The chorus repeats the idea that he's a secret man and talks about “the man.” By saying that he's talking about the man, it means he's talking about the boss or someone of authority. There's an underlying theme of loyalty and honor throughout the song, as he never tells lies and always protects his secrets. The song suggests that a secretive lifestyle may be necessary for survival in certain circumstances, even if it requires a lot of work and deep secrecy. Overall, it's a fascinating character study in the form of a story that emphasizes the importance of loyalty and trust within certain circles.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hot down on the borderline,
The environment down at the border is quite hot.
Running guns, he's just killing time
He passes the time by illegally dealing and selling weapons.
He keeps his back against the wall
He protects himself by being cautious and keeping an eye out for danger.
Never trust your friends in crime
If you commit crimes with others, never put too much trust in them because they might betray you.
He's the quiet kind
He prefers to stay silent and not draw too much attention to himself.
Doesn't need a plan
He doesn't require a formal plan to accomplish his goals.
You can't read his mind
His thoughts and motives are kept private and unknown to others.
He's a secret man, talking 'bout the man
He is secretive and doesn't openly share information about himself, but rather talks about others.
You drink Mojitos with the boys
You enjoy alcoholic drinks with a group of male friends.
Smile as if you know what they know
You pretend to understand the things they are discussing and keep up with their conversations.
You show them all your pretty toys
You display and boast about your expensive possessions.
Make a deal, don't make a show
Make agreements quietly and don't attract too much attention or make a spectacle.
He's the ace of spies with a golden hand
He is skilled at espionage and has great proficiency with handling intelligence.
You can't read his eyes
His emotions and feelings remain undetectable from his facial expressions.
Can't read his mind at all
It's impossible to deduce his thoughts or motives.
Tell you no secrets,
He won't reveal confidential information.
I tell you no lies...
He won't deceive or lie to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSE NETO, JOSE PIRES DE ALMEIDA NETO, PETER GODWIN, PETER DOUGLAS GODWIN, STEVE WINWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind