At age 13 he made his solo debut performing Vivaldi with the Symphony of the New World Orchestra, followed by guest solo appearances with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He began playing jazz on the violin while a student at New York City's High School of Music and Art. While attending college at Manhattan School of Music, Pointer earned a reputation as a New York session musician.
By age 19, Noel's experience as a free-lance musician had included steady work in The Apollo Theatre Orchestra, The Unlimited Orchestra, The Westbury Music Fair Orchestra, The Radio City Music Hall Symphony, The Love Unlimited Orchestra (US Tour), The Dance Theater of Harlem Orchestra, The Symphony of the New World Orchaestra, and the pit orchestras of several Broadway shows, including Guys and Dolls and Dreamgirls.
From 1977-1981 Noel Pointer recorded seven solo albums, four of which reached the top five jazz albums listed on Billboard's jazz charts. His debut album Phantazia won him the #1 New Male Jazz Act award in Record World magazine, along with several other top awards in trade publications, including Down Beat magazine.
Noel Pointer died, tragically, from a stroke on December 19, 1994.
Superwoman
Noel Pointer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But is that really in her head
But I just want to live each day
To love her for what she is
Mary wants to be another movie star
But is that really in her mind
And all the things she wants to be
She needs to leave behind
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, and I think I can face-very well
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can cope with everything going through your head
Mary wants to be a superwoman
And try to boss the bull around
But does she really think that she will get by with a dream
My woman want to be a superwoman
And I just had to say good-bye
Because I can't spend all my hours start to cry
But, very well, I believe I know you
Very well wish that you knew me too
Very well, and I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, think that I know you too
Very well, wish you knew me like I know you
Very well, but I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Your filthy head
Very well, dum dum da, dum dum da
Very well, wish you knew me too
Very well, and I wish I could think of everything going through your head
Very well, dum dum da, dum da, dum da dum dum da, dum da, very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
When the summer came you were not around
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
When the winter came you went further south
Parting from love's nest, leaving me in doubt
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed
But tomorrow will reflect love's past
When the winter came you were not around
Through the bitter winds love could not be found
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
Oh I need you baby, I need you baby
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed,
But tomorrow will reflect love's past oh
Spring will fill the air and you will come around,
Well is it summer love that will let me down,
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Right now, right now, right now
Where were you when I needed you last winter, my dear
I need you baby, I need you baby, I need you baby
Oh, Where were you when I needed you last winter, last winter
Yea, need you baby, need you, need you baby,
Oh, you want me too need you baby
Oh where were you when I needed you last, dear
Yea
Noel Pointer's 1977 song "Superwoman" tells the story of a woman named Mary who wants to be a superwoman, someone who can do it all and conquer anything. Mary wants to be a movie star and boss the bull around, but the singer of the song believes that Mary is living in a fantasy world. He wants Mary to be herself, and he loves her for who she is, not who she wants to be. However, he finds it hard to cope with everything going on in Mary's head, and he eventually has to say goodbye because he can't spend all his hours watching her cry.
The song is both an ode to and a criticism of female empowerment. On the one hand, Mary wants to be a "superwoman," someone who can do anything and everything. On the other hand, the singer of the song wants Mary to be herself and not get caught up in her own fantasies. The song captures the tension between these two desires, and it ultimately suggests that the singer's love for Mary is unconditional, even if he can't deal with everything going on in her head.
Overall, "Superwoman" is a song about the complexities of love and the challenges of finding oneself in a world that often asks us to be someone else. It is a timeless message that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary wants to be a superwoman
Mary desires to have extraordinary capabilities
But is that really in her head
Is it merely a thought or just a mere wish?
But I just want to live each day
I only want to appreciate each moment of everyday
To love her for what she is
To appreciate Mary, as she is
Mary wants to be another movie star
Mary aspires to be a movie star
But is that really in her mind
Is this an actual thought, or just a mere wishful thinking?
And all the things she wants to be
All the goals she aims to achieve
She needs to leave behind
She must learn to drop some aspirations that may not be feasible
But, very well, I believe I know you-very well
Noted. I have full knowledge of Mary and her tendencies
Wish that you knew me too-very well
I also wish Mary also has a full understanding of myself
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
I feel apt to handle whatever thoughts run through Mary's head
My woman wants to be a superwoman
My beloved wishes to possess exceptional strengths
And I just had to say good-bye
I have made a tough decision to say farewell
Because I can't spend all my hours start to cry
I can't bear to be unhappy all the time
Your filthy head
This could mean disgusting thoughts of Mary or some other emotional chat that is corrupting her mind
When the summer came you were not around
You were absent when summer started.
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Summer has passed, and there is no love available.
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
I required your attention last winter, where were you, my beloved?
When the winter came you went further south
You moved away when the winter began.
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Where are you when I need you now?
But you say now you have changed
You claim to have changed
But tomorrow will reflect love's past
We may see tomorrow; then, we can reflect on our past love
Through the bitter winds love could not be found
Nothing came out of our love in the harsh winds of winter
Spring will fill the air and you will come around
The arrival of spring could be a sign of Mary's return.
Well is it summer love that will let me down
I wonder if the love we share is fleeting, like a summer fling.
Right now, right now, right now
At this moment, this very instant
Yea, need you baby, need you, need you baby
I genuinely need you, my beloved.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind