Stevland Hardaway Morris (né Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally a… Read Full Bio ↴Stevland Hardaway Morris (né Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band, Wonder's use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B. He also helped drive such genres into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive and consistent, in addition to socially conscious statements with complex compositions. Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11, where he was given the professional name Little Stevie Wonder.

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.

Fingertips
Stevie Wonder Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody say yeah (yeah)
Say yeah (yeah)
Say yeah (yeah)
Yeah (yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Just a little bit of soul
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Clap your hands just a little bit louder
Clap your hands just a little bit louder

I know, that-a, yeah
Everybody had a good time
So if you want me to
If you want me to
I'm gonna swing the song, yeah
Just one more time when I come by
Just one more time when I come by
So be advised

Come on, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

I'm gonna go, yeah
Gonna go, yeah, dance, you swingin' mama, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Stevie Wonder's song "Fingertips" describe a scene of pure joy and exuberance as the singer encourages everyone around him to partake in a little bit of soul. The repeated refrain of "yeah, yeah, yeah" sets the tone for a raucous party atmosphere, with the call-and-response style of the verses creating a sense of collective celebration. As the audience claps along to the beat, the singer implores them to keep the energy going by clapping a little bit louder. The song reaches its peak as the singer promises to swing the song one more time when he comes back, and bids farewell to the audience with a cry of "goodbye, goodbye."

Interpreting the lyrics of "Fingertips" reveals a deeper meaning than just a simple party song. The repeated phrase "just a little bit" suggests a sense of restraint and hesitation that the singer is urging the audience to let go of. By encouraging everyone to clap a little bit louder and dance a little bit more fervently, he is asking them to break free from their inhibitions and lose themselves in the music. The final plea to "dance, you swingin' mama" creates an image of carefree abandon and liberation, encouraging listeners to let go of societal norms and simply enjoy themselves.

Overall, "Fingertips" is a song about letting loose and celebrating life. Its infectious beat and catchy chorus have made it an enduring classic, beloved by generations of fans.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody say yeah (yeah)
Encouraging audience participation and engagement with the music

Say yeah (yeah)
Continuing to prompt audience participation

Yeah (yeah)
A celebratory affirmation

Yeah, yeah, yeah
A joyful exclamation

Just a little bit of soul
Acknowledging the power of soul music

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
A joyful exclamation

Clap your hands just a little bit louder
Encouraging the audience to become more physically involved with the music

Clap your hands just a little bit louder
Reiterating the call for audience engagement

I know, that-a, yeah
Expressing confidence in the musical performance thus far

Everybody had a good time
Asserting that everyone present is enjoying the music

So if you want me to
Offering to take song requests from the audience

If you want me to
Reiterating the offer to take song requests

I'm gonna swing the song, yeah
Promising to perform another song to keep the audience energized

Just one more time when I come by
Promising to perform the song again during a future performance

Just one more time when I come by
Reiterating the promise to perform the song again

So be advised
Encouraging the audience to take note of this promise

Come on, goodbye, goodbye
Indicating that the performance is coming to an end

Goodbye, goodbye
Wishing the audience farewell

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Repeating the farewell sentiment

I'm gonna go, yeah
Announcing the performer's imminent departure

Gonna go, yeah, dance, you swingin' mama, yeah
Encouraging a particular audience member to continue enjoying and dancing to the music

Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Cosby, Clarence O. Paul

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS