"Winning" is the opening track from The Sound’s 1981 album From The Lion’s Mouth. Written by frontman Adrian Borland and bandmates, the song is widely regarded as one of the band’s most powerful and enduring works, often serving as a live show opener and standing out for its uplifting message among the darker tones of early '80s post-punk12.
Lyrics and Meaning
The song’s lyrics center on resilience, hope, and overcoming adversity. It begins with a caution—"What holds your hope together, make sure it’s strong enough / When you reach the end of your tether, it’s because it wasn’t strong enough"—establishing the theme of inner strength. The refrain, "I was going to drown, then I started swimming / I was going down, then I started winning," uses vivid metaphors to illustrate a transformation from despair to determination and triumph24.
The verses continue this narrative, describing the struggle to rise from the bottom and the persistence required to keep going:
"When you’re on the bottom, crawl back to the top / Something pulls you up and a voice says you can’t stop"4.
This "voice" represents the internal drive or hope that pushes one to persevere even when circumstances seem overwhelming. The song’s message is universal—success and survival are often born from struggle, and the act of "winning" is a process of endurance and self-belief2.
Musical Style and Legacy
Musically, "Winning" blends emotive post-punk with dynamic instrumentation, creating a sense of urgency and uplift that matches the lyrics’ journey from defeat to victory2. The song is notable for distancing The Sound from the gloomier outlooks of their contemporaries, offering instead a message of hope and resilience1.
Key Facts Table
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Sound |
| Album | From The Lion’s Mouth (1981) |
| Writers | Adrian Borland, Graham Bailey, Michael Dudley, Max Mayers4 |
| Producer | Hugh Jones, The Sound |
| Genre | Post-punk, new wave |
| Notable Themes | Resilience, hope, overcoming adversity |
| Legacy | Live show opener, fan favorite, post-punk classic |
Summary
"Winning" by The Sound is a stirring anthem of perseverance, using vivid imagery and a driving musical backdrop to convey the journey from despair to triumph. Its message of resilience and hope continues to resonate, making it a timeless classic within the post-punk canon124.
