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.
Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I hear you say you love me
Well baby I've got to know
Cause if you really really love me
You've got to do things to show
Don't give me the wrong impression
By showing me warm expressions
Put me in the right direction
I've been standing on the outside
Trying to get on the inside
Did I hear you say you need me
Well baby tell me the truth
Cause if you really really need me
My sweetness here's what I'll do
Cut out all my crazy playing
Cause for your love I have been laying
Just tell me that is what you're saying
And I'll be yours without delaying
I've been standing on the outside
Trying to get on the inside
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
If you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Sounds so good
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Did I hear you say you want me
Now please don't give me no mess
Cause if you really really want me
You've got to give me your best
Put my love life right in the pocket
And dare someone to try to top it
And when you think I want to drop it
Just love me 'til I beg don't stop it
Cause I've been standing on the outside
Trying to get on the inside
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Oh, oh, oh, oh
If you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Baby, if you love me let me hear you say
I love you
If you love me let me hear you say
I love you
And if you need me let me hear you say
I love you
If you want me let me hear you say
I love you
If you need me let me hear you say
I love you
If you want me let me hear you say
I love you
If you need me let me hear you say
I love you
If you want me let me hear you say
I love you
If you need me let me hear you say
I love you
In Stevie Wonder's song "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me," he is expressing his need for verbal confirmation of love from his partner. He asks if they love him and if they do, to show him through actions, not just words. Wonder doesn't want to be given the wrong impression by false displays of affection, and hopes that his partner will guide him towards the right direction with tender love and affection. He has been standing on the outside, trying to get on the inside of his partner's love, and needs them to be honest with him about their feelings.
Wonder also asks his partner if they need him, and says that if they do, he will cut out his "crazy playing" to show his devotion to them. He wants their love life to be perfect, and challenges anyone to try to top it. He asks them to love him until he begs them not to stop, again emphasizing the need for them to show their love through actions. Throughout the song, Wonder repeats the phrase "If you love me honey let me hear you say I love you," and in the end, adds "If you need me let me hear you say I love you" and "If you want me let me hear you say I love you," showing that he needs verbal confirmation of his partner's love in various ways.
Overall, Stevie Wonder's "Did I Hear You Say You Love Me" expresses the importance of communication in a romantic relationship. Verbal confirmation and consistent actions are needed to reassure each other of love and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Did I hear you say you love me
I need confirmation that you truly love me
Well baby I've got to know
I need the truth from you
Cause if you really really love me
If your love is genuine and true
You've got to do things to show
You must demonstrate your love with actions
Don't give me the wrong impression
Don't mislead me with false signals
By showing me warm expressions
By being affectionate towards me
Put me in the right direction
Guide me towards your love
With tender love and affection
Show me love and care
I've been standing on the outside
I've been waiting for you to let me in
Trying to get on the inside
Trying to be a part of your life
Did I hear you say you need me
Do you really need me in your life?
Well baby tell me the truth
I need to hear the honest answer from you
My sweetness here's what I'll do
I'll change my ways if you really need me
Cut out all my crazy playing
I'll stop playing games and be serious
Cause for your love I have been laying
I've been waiting patiently for your love
Just tell me that is what you're saying
Just confirm that you need and want me
And I'll be yours without delaying
I'll be there for you without hesitation
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
If you truly love me, please express it verbally
Sounds so good
It would be music to my ears
Did I hear you say you want me
Do you really want me to be with you?
Now please don't give me no mess
Please don't play games with me
Cause if you really really want me
If you truly want me in your life
You've got to give me your best
You need to put effort and commitment into the relationship
Put my love life right in the pocket
Make my love life perfect
And dare someone to try to top it
Make it so good that no one else can compare
And when you think I want to drop it
In times of trouble or doubt, don't give up on us
Just love me 'til I beg don't stop it
Continue loving me unconditionally
Baby, if you love me let me hear you say
Please express your love for me
If you need me let me hear you say
Please tell me if you truly need me in your life
If you want me let me hear you say
Please tell me if you truly want to be with me
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L. ANGEL LOVE
MY SISTER USE TO PLAY THIS SONG AND ALBUM 24/7 & WHILE I WAS
VISITING AND I BECAME HOOKED, SO
I ALWAYS FEEL GREAT & BLESSED TO ENJOY MORE OF THIS SONG & SO
MANY OTHERS OF STEVIE'S
WONDER'S MUSIC ALONG W/MORE
GREAT MOTOWN'S CLASSICS FROM
THEIR 60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
n00se
Aaah...
Did I hear you say you love me
Well baby I've got to know
βCause if you really really love me
You've got to do things to show
Don't give me the wrong impression
By showing me warm expressions
Put me in the right direction
With tender love and affection
I've been standing on the outside
Trying to get on the inside
Did I hear you say you need me
Well baby tell me the truth
βCause if you really really need me
My sweetness here's what I'll do
Cut out all my crazy playing
βCause for your love I have been laying
Just tell me that is what you're saying
And I'll be yours without delaying
I've been standing on the outside
Trying to get on the inside
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
If you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Sounds so good
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Did I hear you say you want me
Now please don't give me no mess
βCause if you really really want me
You've got to give me your best
Put my love life right in the pocket
And dare someone to try to top it
And when you think I want to drop it
Just love me βtil I beg don't stop it
βCause I've been standing on the outside
Trying to get on the inside
[2x:]
Well if you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Oh, oh, oh, oh
If you love me honey let me hear you say
I love you
Baby, if you love me let me hear you say
I love you
If you love me let me hear you say
I love you
And if you need me let me hear you say
I love you
If you want me let me hear you say
I love you
If you need me, let me hear you say
I love you
If you want me, let me hear you say
I love you
And if you need me, let me hear you say
I love you
L. ANGEL LOVE
CONGRATULATION MOTOWN 60th
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION MOTOWN'S 60th ANNIVERSARY
ALONG WITH SMOKEY ROBINSON AND STEVIE WONDER THEY R
THE 2 BEST SINGERS, SONGWRITERS
AND MUSICIANS PRODUCERS IN
MOTOWN HISTORY HAS
EVER MADE AND IT'S BEEN
YEARS SINCE I'VE HEARD
THIS GOLDEN CLASSIC
HIT SONG AND IT MAKES
MY DAY TO HEAR IT NOW
Jimjam
None of his arrangements are anything less than A+. Genius is used too much with music artists but not this man. How lucky are we to have bern born in a time when this man made music. π
Noel Taylor
Love how it just flow right into "All I Do."
Rebecca Sanders
I most certainly agree
Savin Savin
This album is one of my gems collection...ππππππππππππππππ
DoinTimeOnEarth
Yep, but the quality of sound is so LOW!!
Bianca Iodice
Sabin Sundas
Love this ulbum
Wesley Tait
My dad used to play this album and Songs.... all the time.
Bought this album recently and realised I've probably not listened to it for 25/years!
Jarvase dundy
@Wesley Tait
Why would you buy the album and not listen to it for another two in a half decades lol?
LGKids
I dont know if you all feel like it, but it always feels like you are either in the studio with him jamming or in concert watching him do what he do! Peace!
Jacob Blackburn
LGKids I totally agree