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.
Frankie And Johnny
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They were lovers, yes they were (yes they were)
Uh huh, I just wanna tell you how they could
Love, love, oh yeah
They were true to each other, yeah
Just as true as the stars above
He was her man, he was her man
But he done her wrong
Frankie went down to the dance hall
Yes she did, ahh
And tell that she looked in the window so high
High, oh yeah
When she saw her loving Johnny, yeah
With his arm around Ellis Bly
He was her man, he was her man
But he done her wrong
Yes he did, he done her wrong
They told me that Frankie shot Johnny once, ohh
They told me that Frankie shot Johnny twice, oh yeah
But the third time she shot him
That bullet took his life
The judge said to Frankie, yes he did, uh-huh
Just as plain as plain can be, oh, oh yeah
You have shot your loving Johnny, yeah
(Murder) in the first degree
He was her man (you shot your man)
You shot your man (you shot your man)
But he done her wrong (done her wrong)
Yes he did, he done her wrong
The song "Frankie and Johnny" by Stevie Wonder is a classic tale of love, betrayal, and tragedy. The song tells the story of Frankie and Johnny, two lovers who were true to each other until Johnny's infidelity caused their relationship to come to a tragic end. Frankie caught Johnny with another woman, Ellis Bly, at the dance hall, and in a fit of jealousy, she shot him three times. The song describes how the first two shots didn't kill him, but the third one did. Frankie was arrested and charged with Johnny's murder, and she was found guilty of murder in the first degree.
The lyrics of "Frankie and Johnny" are a powerful commentary on the complexities of love and relationships. They show how love can make us do crazy things, like shooting someone we love. The lyrics also highlight the consequences of infidelity and the pain it can cause. Overall, the song is a cautionary tale about how love can turn into a tragedy if we're not careful.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna tell you 'bout Frankie, yeah, and Johnny
I want to narrate a story about Frankie and Johnny
They were lovers, yes they were (yes they were)
Frankie and Johnny had a romantic relationship
Uh huh, I just wanna tell you how they could
I mean to explain how their love was expressed
Love, love, oh yeah
They shared immense love for each other
They were true to each other, yeah
They were dedicated to and honest with each other
Just as true as the stars above
Their loyalty and sincerity were as constant as the stars in the sky
He was her man, he was her man
Johnny was Frankie's boyfriend and partner
But he done her wrong
However, Johnny betrayed or hurt Frankie
Yes he did, he done her wrong
It's true, he mistreated her
Frankie went down to the dance hall
Frankie visited the dance hall
Yes she did, ahh
It's the truth
And tell that she looked in the window so high
She peered through a high window
High, oh yeah
It was quite high up
When she saw her loving Johnny, yeah
She noticed Johnny, her beloved
With his arm around Ellis Bly
Johnny had his arm around Ellis Bly
They told me that Frankie shot Johnny once, ohh
I heard a tale that Frankie shot Johnny once
They told me that Frankie shot Johnny twice, oh yeah
I was told that Frankie shot Johnny two times
But the third time she shot him
However, on the third attempt, she hit him with the bullet
That bullet took his life
The bullet killed Johnny
The judge said to Frankie, yes he did, uh-huh
The judge spoke to Frankie, yes he did
Just as plain as plain can be, oh, oh yeah
The judge was crystal clear
You have shot your loving Johnny, yeah
The judge accused Frankie of shooting Johnny
(Murder) in the first degree
Frankie committed first-degree murder
He was her man (you shot your man)
Johnny was Frankie's man, and she killed him
You shot your man (you shot your man)
Frankie killed Johnny
But he done her wrong (done her wrong)
Johnny hurt or wronged Frankie, but she killed him in retaliation
Yes he did, he done her wrong
It's true, Johnny betrayed or mistreated Frankie
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Clarence O. Paul
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@darkness8891
Pero que niño tan hermoso!!
@groovinwalrus
November 9, 2008 Wonderful version.