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.
Don't Wonder Why
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder why?
Sometimes I wish you'd stop and hold me, but you pass right by.
I wonder why?
I tried everything I could; I even change my walk, the way that I stood,
But you pass by me and pretend that you don't even see me.
But I want you to know:
If one day you decide to smile and say hello, and I say goodbye;
When I think of how you hurt me, it brings the tears to my eyes.
I just can't seem to make you happy no matter how hard I try.
I wonder why?
Seems like no matter what I do, it's never good enough for you.
My pain - it shows loud, but it still can't let go now, but I want you to know,
Now: nights grow old, and winds blow cold, so old if my loves grows cold,
And I don't wonder why, my baby. (Woooo,) baby, don't wonder why.
Oh yeah!
(Yeah,) seems like no matter what I do, I'm never, never, never, never,
Never, good enough for you.
My pain - it shows loud; oh, you know I still, just no matter, I just can't let go,
Now, but I want you to know:
Love me, baby.
Nights grow old, and winds blow cold, and so old if my love grows cold,
And I've... don't wonder why, baby.
No, no, no, no, don't wonder why, my baby.
Baby, don't wonder why; don't wonder why, my baby.
Don't wonder why, my baby.
No, no, no, no, don't wonder why, my baby. (Ooohhh.)
Don't wonder why, my baby.
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
The lyrics of Stevie Wonder's song Don't Wonder Why recount the heartbreak of unrequited love. The singer longs for the attention and affection of their beloved, but they are constantly overlooked and unacknowledged. The first verse captures the singer's frustration at being consistently overlooked, despite their attempts to catch the attention of their love interest. The second verse highlights the singer's feelings of inadequacy, as they believe that they can never do enough to make the other person happy. The repetition of "I wonder why?" throughout the song suggests that the singer is also confused and hurt by the other person's indifference.
The chorus of the song serves as a warning to the other person not to be surprised when the singer eventually moves on. The singer tells the other person not to "wonder why" when they decide to say goodbye. The pain of unrequited love is too great to bear, and so the singer is preparing themselves for the possibility of moving on.
The bridge of the song brings together the themes of love and loss, as the singer contemplates what it would be like if their love were to grow cold. The repetition of "nights grow old" and "winds blow cold" create a sense of inevitability, as though the singer knows that their love will eventually fade away. The song ends on a melancholy note, with the singer repeating the title phrase "Don't wonder why, my baby" as though to convince themselves that they are making the right decision.
Overall, "Don't Wonder Why" is a poignant and relatable depiction of unrequited love. The pain, frustration, and confusion that the singer experiences are emotions that many people have felt at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You never see the little sparkle in my eye.
You don't seem to notice the small signs of affection or love that I show, which makes me feel invisible.
Sometimes I wish you'd stop and hold me, but you pass right by.
I long for your physical embrace, but you ignore me and leave me feeling neglected.
I tried everything I could; I even change my walk, the way that I stood, But you pass by me and pretend that you don't even see me.
I have altered myself to try and please you, but you still ignore me and act as if I do not exist.
If one day you decide to smile and say hello, and I say goodbye; Don't wonder why, my baby. (No.) Don't wonder why, my baby.
If I eventually decide to leave you after you have disregarded me for so long, you should not be surprised or puzzled by my decision.
When I think of how you hurt me, it brings the tears to my eyes.
The pain you have caused me leaves me feeling emotional and sad.
I just can't seem to make you happy no matter how hard I try. I wonder why?
Despite my best efforts, I cannot seem to please you or make you content, which confuses and frustrates me.
Seems like no matter what I do, it's never good enough for you.
My attempts at meeting your expectations fall short and you are always dissatisfied.
My pain - it shows loud, but it still can't let go now, but I want you to know, Now: nights grow old, and winds blow cold, so old if my loves grows cold, And I don't wonder why, my baby. (Woooo,) baby, don't wonder why.
Despite my visible hurt, I cannot bring myself to end this relationship just yet. However, if my love for you eventually fades and our connection ends, you should not question why.
Oh yeah! / (Yeah,) seems like no matter what I do, I'm never, never, never, never, / Never, good enough for you.
I am constantly striving to improve myself to meet your standards, but it never seems to be enough for you.
My pain - it shows loud; oh, you know I still, just no matter, I just can't let go, Now, but I want you to know: Love me, baby.
Although my pain is obvious, I am still unwilling to let go and end our relationship. I just want you to love me in return.
Nights grow old, and winds blow cold, and so old if my love grows cold, / And I've... don't wonder why, baby. / No, no, no, no, don't wonder why, my baby. / Baby, don't wonder why; don't wonder why, my baby.
As time passes and we grow older, if my feelings for you eventually fade and our relationship ends, you should not be surprised or puzzled by it. Baby, do not question my decision.
Don't wonder why, my baby. / No, no, no, no, don't wonder why, my baby. (Ooohhh.) / Don't wonder why, my baby. / Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
Repeated confirmation that you should not question or wonder why when our relationship ends. The final line is a plea to be heard and understood.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD CASTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cheryl Rowland Hall
on Isn't She Lovely
Dedicated to my lovely daughter, Amy Kathleen Rawson, the lovely child who helped mom to grow up!