My Sunday Song – “Down Incognito” by Winger

For My Sunday Song #439, we are talking “Down Incognito” by the band Winger which was from their third album, ‘Pull’, which came out on May 18, 1993. The song was the band’s lead single for the album and went all the way to #15 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Chart. The song was written by Kip Winger and Reb Beach who are both so talented as is this while band. Thanks to Beavis & Butthead, they never got a fair shake…but that is a whole other story.

The song is about dealing with Addiction. It talks about how he is out of money, can’t pay the rent and that he is waiting on a cure for his condition…addiction. There is a line about “My monkey’s M.O.” and the so called monkey is a term used for said addiction. By the end of the song it sounds like he has beat if for now, but it is right there over his shoulder waiting for him to slip. He can reminisce about it now, but the taste for it is always there. At least that is what I get out of it.

I love how the song opens with that bluesy, yet haunting harmonica. Then we get a Reb riff, a driving bass from Kip and a pounding drum beat from Rod Morgenstein. Kip’s vocals are stellar as always, but it is those harmonies in the chorus that really take the song over the top. It is huge and catchy as hell. The harmonica pops up every now and again and even gives us a little solo. The hidden secret to the song are the keyboard fills that add just the right amount of texture. A great rock song with some great pop sensibilities. A band that should have been bigger than they were as they were more talented than 99% of the bands out there.

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. By 1993, Grunge was in full swing so this was missed along with the album. However, I didn’t miss it and hated Grunge so this got regular play be me back in 1993. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful and Happy Sunday!!

“Down Incognito”

Days undercover
All out of sync
Haven’t paid the rent
Even talking in my sleep
My monkey’s M.O.
Is all out of commission
I’m waiting for a good
old-fashioned cure
For my condition

‘Cos I’m all out of charm
And I’m all out of money
Hanging
Down Incognito
Waiting for the sun to shine

Fools to the left
Jokers to the right
Waitin’ for the rest of us
To come and take a bite
But I’ll wait it out
Call it superstition
I’ll be fine for now
Just reminiscing

[Repeat Chorus]

I just had to let it go
Took all the pennies I had
Threw ’em in the wishing well
And I wish you well
Days undercover
All out of sync
Haven’t paid the rent
Even talking in my sleep
My monkey’s M.O.
Is all out of commission
I’m waiting for a good
old-fashioned cure
For my condition

[Repeat Chorus]

Me and my amigos
Down Incognito

Writer(s): Charles Winger, Reb Beach