Peak
1
Weeks
18
Score
3,769
Chart Year
1988
The music video, directed by David Fincher and filmed in sepia-tone, depicts Winwood performing the song in a bar.
This song is about overcoming obstacles and working with what life gives you. Winwood emerged as a successful solo artist in the '80s after struggling with personal problems, including a divorce. Winwood wrote this song with the lyricist Will Jennings, who worked on most of Winwood's solo hits. Winwood's biggest solo hit in the US, this spent four weeks at #1 and also topped the pop chart in his native Britain. The album of the same title also topped the US albums chart. The Memphis Horns played on this song, giving it a brassy Motown feel. Motown Records thought the song was too similar to the 1966 track "(I'm A) Road Runner" by Jr. Walker & the All Stars, released on Motown's subsidiary Soul Records. After legal action, the writers of "(I'm A) Road Runner" - Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland - were added to the credits of "Roll With It." Winwood was 40 years old when this went to #1 in America in July 1988. The older crowd was well represented in pop music at this time - Chicago, George Harrison and The Beach Boys all had chart-toppers as well. It was a time when older-skewing songs like "Roll With It" could share space on pop playlists with the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Poison. This song holds the distinction of being the last #1 song of Casey Kasem's 18-year run as original host of the American Top 40 radio show (he would rejoin the show 10 years later) - and the first #1 song for the show under Kasem's successor, Shadoe Stevens. >> David Fincher, whose later directed the films Seven, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Gone Girl, directed the music video.
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 Luck'll come and then slip away, you've gotta move, bring it back to stay 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 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 When this world turns its back on you, hang in and do that sweet thing you do You just roll with it, baby, you just roll with it, baby Come on and just roll with it, baby, you and me, just roll with it, baby 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 Then you'll see life will be so nice, it's just a step up to paradise You just roll with it, baby, you just roll with it, baby You and me, just roll with it, baby, Come on and just roll with it, baby
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 11, 1988 | 53 | 73 |
| 2 | Jun 18, 1988 | 33 | 93 |
| 3 | Jun 25, 1988 | 29 | 97 |
| 4 | Jul 2, 1988 | 21 | 105 |
| 5 | Jul 9, 1988 | 12 | 114 |
| 6 | Jul 16, 1988 | 6 | 120 |
| 7 | Jul 23, 1988 | 4 | 122 |
| 8 | Jul 30, 1988 | 1 | 125 |
| 9 | Aug 6, 1988 | 1 | 125 |
| 10 | Aug 13, 1988 | 1 | 125 |
| 11 | Aug 20, 1988 | 1 | 125 |
| 12 | Aug 27, 1988 | 7 | 119 |
| 13 | Sep 3, 1988 | 16 | 110 |
| 14 | Sep 10, 1988 | 29 | 97 |
| 15 | Sep 17, 1988 | 39 | 87 |
| 16 | Sep 24, 1988 | 52 | 74 |
| 17 | Oct 1, 1988 | 71 | 55 |
| 18 | Oct 8, 1988 | 93 | 33 |