Wonder's single "Fingertips" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, at the age of 13, making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart. Wonder's critical success was at its peak in the 1970s. His "classic period" began in 1972 with the releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the latter featuring "Superstition", which is one of the most distinctive and famous examples of the sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard. His works Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Key of Life (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making him the tied-record holder for the most Album of the Year wins, with three. He is also the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases. Wonder began his "commercial period" in the 1980s; he achieved his biggest hits and highest level of fame, had increased album sales, charity participation, high-profile collaborations (including Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson), political impact, and television appearances. Wonder has continued to remain active in music and political causes.
Wonder is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of over 100 million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a solo artist) and one Academy Award (Best Original Song, for the 1984 film The Woman in Red). Wonder has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday in the U.S. In 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and in 2014, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950, the third of five children born to Lula Mae Hardaway, and the second of Hardaway's two children with Calvin Judkins. He was born six weeks premature which, along with the oxygen-rich atmosphere in the hospital incubator, resulted in retinopathy of prematurity, a condition in which the growth of the eyes is aborted and causes the retinas to detach, so he became blind.
10
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is ten zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But in my heart I can feel it
Feel His spirit wow oh woo
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
I, can't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Ah people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, wow oh wow
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sure enough could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
In "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away," Stevie Wonder is expressing his frustration with the world's seeming lack of progress towards love and unity. He starts by addressing the commonly held belief that heaven is far away and only accessible to the pure of heart, questioning why it seems so out of reach. He then shifts to talking about the prevalence of hate in the world, and how it seems like such a far-off concept to eradicate. He questions why people judge others based on their skin color, stating that he thought the world was made for every person. He emphasizes that his God tells him that he loves us all, and that he feels His presence in his heart. Finally, he encourages others to feel that same presence, to open their hearts, and to work towards a more loving and united world.
Throughout the song, Wonder's frustration with the lack of progress towards a more loving world is palpable. He wants people to see that the answer is within themselves; the God they're searching for is already inside them. It's a call to action for people to work towards love and unity and to realize that it all starts with opening their own hearts. The song's repeated refrain, "we've got so far to come," highlights the journey towards a better world that still needs to be traveled.
Overall, "Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" is a powerful call to action for people to work towards a more loving and unified world. The song highlights the frustration felt by many who see the world's problems and know that we need to do better. But it also offers hope; the God we're searching for is already within us, and we have the power to make the world a better place if we open our hearts and work together.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
The belief is that heaven is unthinkably far, beyond human comprehension.
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
Only those who are pure of heart and righteous will be allowed to enter heaven.
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
The belief is that heaven is unthinkably far, beyond human comprehension.
But if there is a God, we need Him now
If God exists, we need him to intervene in our present circumstances.
'Where is your God'
Stevie's friends question the existence or relevance of God.
That's what my friends ask me
Stevie hears this question from his friends.
And I say it's taken Him so long
Stevie believes that God is taking a long time to intervene.
'Cause we've got so far to come
Humanity still needs to make a lot of progress.
Tell me people
Stevie is addressing his listeners.
Why can't they say that hate is ten zillion light years away
Why don't people claim that hate is as far away as heaven?
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Stevie wishes that the light of goodness could spread God's love to everyone.
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
Stevie wonders why people judge others based on skin color.
I thought this world was made for every man
Stevie believed that the world was intended to be for everyone.
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
Stevie's belief in God leads him to believe in unconditional love.
And I say it's taken Him so long
Stevie believes that God is taking a long time to intervene.
'Cause we've got so far to come
Humanity still needs to make a lot of progress.
But in my heart I can feel it
Stevie feels a spiritual connection in his heart.
Feel His spirit wow oh woo
Stevie feels that spirit deeply.
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
Stevie encourages his listeners to feel the connection with God's spirit.
I, can't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
Stevie is unsure if heaven is as far away as others claim.
But if so let all be pure at heart
If heaven requires purity of heart, then let us strive for that.
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Stevie hopes he will be allowed to enter heaven.
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
Stevie hopes that God's love can save humanity from its sinful ways.
For those who don't believe will never see the light
Those who don't believe in God won't experience the spiritual connection.
'Where is my God' He lives inside of me
Stevie asserts that God is within him.
And I say it's taken Him so long
Stevie believes that God is taking a long time to intervene.
'Cause we've got so far to come
Humanity still needs to make a lot of progress.
Ah people, 'where is your God?'
Stevie questions where God is in the lives of others.
Inside please let Him be
Stevie encourages his listeners to invite God into their hearts.
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
If you open your heart, you too can feel the spiritual connection.
Feel His spirit, wow oh wow
The spirit is powerful and inspiring.
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
Stevie reiterates the message of feeling God's spirit.
I opened my heart one morning and
Stevie shares his personal experience.
I sure enough could feel it yeah yeah
He felt the spiritual connection.
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Stevie emphasizes the experience of feeling the spirit.
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
Anyone can feel this spiritual connection.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SEB12578
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is ten zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But in my heart I can feel it
Feel His spirit wow oh woo
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
I, can't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Ah people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, wow oh wow
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sure enough could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
@franknancy4075
Why can’t they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can’t the light of good shine God’s love in every soul
Why must my colour black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that’s what my God tells me
And I say it’s taken him so long
‘Cause we’ve got so far to come
Beautiful❤️
@JivinJane
"Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away"
They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
But in my heart I can feel it, yeah,
Feel His spirit wow oh woo...
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit...
I... can't say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" - He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
No people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, yeah
Feel it, feel His spirit, wow oh wow...
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sho nuff could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
@NicoTetrox
So many people SLEEP on Fulfillingness' First Finale! The whole album is beautiful!
@avatarfin
what an absolute classic album so many outstanding songs. this and SKL are my favorites.
@Richthelionheart64
Amen! 🙏
@shirleyzimmerman6527
Glad I didn’t sleep on it. You’re right. The Entire album is beautiful!!
@chynnatai3685
I was raised on this 💯
@husq48
Well, I have often gone to sleep with it on...
@Doubletree77
My age was 28 years December 1981 and was going through a very bad time. This song restored me and brought me by the grace of GOD through the darkest. In my darkest hour the voice of Stevie Wonder came through for me. I can feel the SPIRIT!!!!!!! Save our evil souls!!!! Current age 64 going on 65 Feel It the Spirit!!!!!
@rjhyden
I was 28 that year too.
@andrewnkunda7
Nice to meet someone else who was moved deeply by this song...this song changed my heart..I finally became a Christian in 1985. Thank you, Stevie.
@immasoxfanbaby
Me too. When I was in the projects