Winner Take All

Winner Take All
Written by Dennis DeYoung, Charles Lofrando
Lead vocals by James Young

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You've got to be strong
If you're going to make it baby
You've got to stand tall
If you're going to survive

So just take my hand
And I’ll show you how to feel alive
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Winner take all
That's the way I play it
Playing my cards as the world goes by
Winner take all
That's the way that I get high

You live your own life
Always needing someone baby
Then I appear to answer your call
Together I know
We can ride the highway past them all
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Winner take all
That's the way I play it
Playing my cards as the world goes by
Winner take all
That's the way that I get high
High high

Winner take all
That's the way I play it
Playing my cards as the world goes by
Winner take all
That's the way that I get high

Interpretation 

There are three metaphors used to show what it takes to survive in life and achieve your dreams.  

You've got to be strong if you're going to make it baby. You've got to stand tall if you're going to survive. So just take my hand and I’ll show you how to feel alive

Survival in nature requires strength and vision. If you're strong, you can fight off attackers or can be the apex predator. If you're tall you can see over the crowd to spot danger. Come with me, and see what it's like to live.

You live your own life always needing someone baby. Then I appear to answer your call. Together I know we can ride the highway past them all

Up to now, you've been too reliant on other people. Come with me, and together we will make it to the top.

Winner take all, that's the way I play it. Playing my cards as the world goes by. Winner take all, that's the way that I get high.

Just as in a game of cards, to achieve success requires a winning attitude. When you win, you can experience a high without drugs or alcohol.