History of Sorts

Every good rock band has at least one great epic rock song, For Survivor it is Santa Ana Winds, in my opinion it’s on par with Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water, Aerosmith’s Dream On and Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir.

Ironically Santa Ana Winds was released as a b-side to Caught in the Game, which was also the title of the Album. Released in 1983, fresh after the success of Eye of the Tiger.

Why it wasn’t releases as a single , I don’t know, possibly because of the duration of 6 minutes and 35 seconds.

“When the wind decides that it’s time to ride,
To spread a little hell through the heartland,
It takes a good long toke then it blows the smoke
Through the desert night –
And the wings of fire –
Keep climbin’ higher,
See the flames cuttin’ hard through the homeland,
It takes a mighty strong will to strip the chill from the desert night —
You’re wakened from your dream by a siren’s scream,
Trapped by the walls that surround you —
Then it’s will to will, and you wonder still can you struggle free?
In a thousand ways, when you turn the phrase,
The wind’s like a love of a woman –
It takes a mighty mean bitch —
Some fire witch —
To set the night on fire

And the Santa Ana wind’s gonna have its way tonight
Nothing you can do’s gonna change her mind –
And ain’t it a lot like love the way desire takes you in –
And stokes the fire like the Santa Ana wind

Now the air is calm, and the heart grows numb,
The ashes burn low in the heartland,
‘Til again the wind starts closin’ in to set the night on fire

And the Santa Ana wind’s blowin’ cross my heart tonight
Nothing you can do’s gonna change her mind —
And woman I want your love —
I need that passion deep within,
Like the ragin’ fire needs the Santa Ana wind

And the Santa Ana wind’s gonna take your life tonight
Nothing you can do’s gonna change her mind —
And ain’t it a lot like love
The way desire takes you in —
Swept away with the Santa Ana wind”

Recently I had the privilege to talk to one of the people who wrote this classic piece of Rock N Roll history, Jim Peterik, who generously took the time to have a chat with me.

source

https://www.letras.com/survivor/190465/

THE BAND