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 You Worry Bout A Thing
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But some don't know how to handle it
Always reachin' out in vain
Just taking the things not worth having but
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
'Cause I'll be standing on the side
They say your style of life's a drag
And that you must go other places
But just don't you feel too bad
When you get fooled by smiling faces but
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
'Cause I'll be standing on the side
When you check it out
When you get it off your trip
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Bam bambam bambam bambam
Bambambambam bambambambam
Bam bambam bambam bambam
Bambambambam bambambambam
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
'Cause I'll be standing on the side
When you check it out
When you get it off your trip
Everybody needs a change
A chance to check out the new
But you're the only one to see
The changes you take yourself through but
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, pretty mama
'Cause I'll be standing in the wings
When you check it out
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Yeah
Bam bambam bambam bambam
Bambambambam bambambambam
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, sugar
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, sugar
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
In Stevie Wonder's song Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing, the lyrics touch on a variety of themes that are relevant today, such as not caring what others think of us, embracing our uniqueness, being cautious of people who may seem friendly but have ulterior motives, and finding inner strength during difficult times.
The first verse implies that everyone has their own problems, and some people either don't know how to handle them or are chasing after things that aren't worth having. However, the chorus reassures the listener that they don't have to worry about anything because the singer (presumably Stevie Wonder) will be there to support them.
The second verse may be interpreted as societal pressures to conform to a certain lifestyle or mode of thinking, but the singer encourages the listener not to feel bad if they're taken in by "smiling faces" or people who seem friendly on the surface but may not have their best interests at heart. Again, the chorus asserts that the listener has someone there for them who won't let them fall.
Finally, the bridge encourages the listener to embrace change and take chances, even if they're the only one who can see the value in those changes. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing that the listener shouldn't worry about anything because they have someone in their corner.
Overall, the song is a message of hope and encouragement, telling the listener that they can overcome their struggles and that they have support along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's got a thing
Everyone has their own issues and struggles
But some don't know how to handle it
However, some people don't know how to deal with their problems effectively
Always reachin' out in vain
They continuously try to find solutions but are unsuccessful
Just taking the things not worth having but
They settle for things that are not valuable or really important
Don't you worry 'bout a thing
Don't stress about it
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama
Don't worry, I'm here for you
'Cause I'll be standing on the side
I'll be there to support you
When you check it out
When you figure it out
They say your style of life's a drag
People criticize your way of living
And that you must go other places
They suggest that you need to change your lifestyle and surroundings
But just don't you feel too bad
But don't let it get to you
When you get fooled by smiling faces but
When people with fake intentions deceive you
When you get it off your trip
When you overcome the difficulties and obstacles
Everybody needs a change
Everyone needs a break from their routine
A chance to check out the new
An opportunity to experience something different
But you're the only one to see
However, you're the only one who truly knows
The changes you take yourself through but
The personal transformations that you go through
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, pretty mama
Don't worry, beautiful
'Cause I'll be standing in the wings
I'll be there to support you
Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry
Don't stress about it
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, sugar
Don't worry, my love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OldSusannah1
Is this not the most positive, magical song ever? I remember being a little girl and hearing it through the radio - and was enchanted. Still totally am. It's sooooo beautiful and uplifting. Kind of like the man himself.
@wickedshadesproductions5254
there’s also Don’t Worry Be Happy and all of James Brown
@jefffirnhaber6250
I love you
@t.j.7789
Just what I need today!!!
@0921AV
Agree, agree, agree!!! It lifts my spirit every time.
@aquariuscheers9191
Absolutely.❤️
@glenncsombok3377
I'm 63 year old. I've been listening to this song since it came out. It's still one of my all time favorite songs! What a voice and talent. Thank you Steveland Hardaway Junkins!
@PaulPattiPhD
Me too, well just a bit younger at 61. But I remember the summer of ‘74 well and always will. Thank you, Stevie!!❤️⭐️👍🏆
@cathywulschner3646
Stevie Wonder is a blessing to the whole world
@irw4350
He's Mistra know it all............ Tha knows 😆😆😆