‘Roll with It’ is a song recorded by Steve Winwood for his album of the same name, released on Virgin Records. It was written by Winwood and songwriter Will Jennings. Publishing rights organization BMI later had Motown songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland credited with co-writing the song due to its resemblance to the Junior Walker hit "(I'm a) Roadrunner".
The song was the last #1 hit of Casey Kasem's 18-year run as the original host of American Top 40 (he would return to host the program 10 years later), as well as being the first #1 song of Shadoe Stevens' hosting tenure. The 1990 movie Nuns on the Run also made use of the song, as well as the movie Short Time released that same year.
The single spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the summer of 1988. It topped the Billboard adult contemporary chart for two weeks, and also spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard mainstream rock chart. In addition, the song reached No. 30 on the R&B chart. In the United Kingdom, the song reached No. 53 on the UK Singles Chart.
‘Roll with It’ was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1989, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal performance. The album Roll with It was also nominated as Album of the Year. The music video, directed by David Fincher and filmed in sepia-tone, depicts Winwood performing the song in a bar.
Label – Virgin
Songwriters – Steve Winwood, Will Jennings, Holland-Dozier-Holland
Producers – Steve Winwood, Tom Lord-Alge
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]When life is too much, roll with it, baby
Don't stop and lose your touch, oh no, baby
Hard times knocking on your door
I'll tell them you ain't there no more
Get on through it, roll with it, baby
[Pre-Chorus]
Luck'll come and then slip away
You've gotta move, bring it back to stay
[Chorus]
You just roll with it, baby
Come on and just roll with it, baby
You and me, roll with it, baby
Hang on and just roll with it, baby, hey
[Verse 2]
The way that you love is good as money
I swear by stars above, sweet as honey
People think you're down and out
You show them what it's all about
You can make it, roll with it, baby
[Pre-Chorus]
When this world turns its back on you
Hang in and do that sweet thing you do
[Chorus]
You just roll with it, baby, yeah
You just roll with it, baby
Come on and just roll with it, baby
You and me, just roll with it, baby
Roll with it, baby, yeah
You just roll with it, baby
You and me, just roll with it, baby
Come on and just roll with it, baby
[Verse 3]
Hey, now there'll be a day you'll get there, baby
You'll hear the music play, you'll dance, baby
You'll leave bad times way behind
Nothing but good times on your mind
You can do it, roll with it, baby
[Bridge]
Then you'll see life will be so nice
It's just a step up to paradise
[Chorus]
You just roll with it, baby, yeah
You just roll with it, baby
You and me, just roll with it, baby
Come on and just roll with it, baby
Hey, come on
Roll with me, baby
Hey now, baby
Roll, roll, roll with me baby, roll
Hey, c'mon and roll
Come roll with me, baby
Come and roll
Hang on and just roll, hey and roll