The Story and Meaning Behind “While You See a Chance,” the Song That Gave Steve Winwood’s Solo Career the Boost It Needed

At a pivotal moment, you either have to grab the opportunity presented to you, or, if none are forthcoming, create the opportunity on your own. That notion appealed to both Steve Winwood, in search of something to light a fire under his solo career, and Will Jennings, the lyricist who didn’t want to miss his chance to deliver something special to such an iconic artist.

The two men collaborated on the song “While You See a Chance,” which became Winwood’s breakout solo single when released in 1980. Here’s how the song came together, as well as a look at what was behind its meaning.

“Chance” Encounter

Even if Steve Winwood hadn’t bothered with a solo career, his place in rock and roll history would have been assured. As a key component of three highly influential and successful groups (Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, and Traffic), Winwood had already proven himself as a writer, instrumentalist and vocalist of immense ability.

For a while, Winwood did indeed seem somewhat ambivalent about going after the brass ring as a solo artist. Amazingly, he was still only 26 when Traffic broke up in 1974, but he contented himself for a while with session work in the aftermath. He recorded his first solo effort, a self-titled release in 1977, more because of pressure from his record label than out of any major inspiration.

But when he returned to make his second album, Arc of a Diver, he did so with renewed purpose. He decided to play all the instruments himself. And he looked to a new co-writer, Will Jennings, to help shape the lyrics. Jennings co-wrote four of the seven songs on the album. In an interview with Songfacts, Jennings explained what was in his head when writing the words to “While You See a Chance”:

“‘While you see a chance take it, find romance, fake it, because it’s all on you’ – the lyric of the song is about realizing that you are all alone in this life and you have to do with it what you can – it was written around 1980 in a certain part of my life when I realized it was all on me to do, the lyric inspired by Steve’s transcendent track.”

Behind the Lyrics of “While You See a Chance”

It is, as Jennings stated, a transcendent track, as Winwood’s array of keyboards all play their part: the atmospheric synths that both form a comfortable bed and pick out the main riff, the organ winding its way through the proceedings, and the rhythmic piano that keeps things moving. When Winwood pops up to sing the first lines (Stand up in a clear blue morning/Until you see what you can be), you’re already hooked.

Because the song is written in the second person, it gives the vibe of a direct message to the listener, even if it was a message to which Winwood and Jennings could certainly relate. When Winwood asks, Are you still free? Can you be?, it’s both a query and a call to action for anyone who hears the song to step up and take charge of their lives.

In the pre-chorus sections of the song, Winwood sings about the times in your life when you’ll need the most resilience. For example: When some cold tomorrow finds you/When some sad old dream reminds you/How the endless road unwinds you.

The words also suggest that sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to find the way back up: When there’s no one left to leave you/Even you don’t quite believe you/That’s when nothing can deceive you. In the bridge, Winwood implies that waiting for help is a fool’s game: Don’t you know by now no one gives you anything?

The refrain sums up the proper course of action: While you see a chance, take it/Find romance, fake it/Because it’s all on you. With “While You See a Chance,” Steve Winwood, with the help of Will Jennings’ words, followed that advice and seized his destiny, spearheading an incredible solo career in the process.