God Bless the Child
Stevie Wonder Lyrics


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Mm-hmm, hmm, hmm
Oh, yeah

Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible says
And it still is news
Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, yeah
That's got his own
Oh, yeah

Yes, the strong gets more
While the weak ones fade
Empty pockets don't
Ever make the grade, no, no, no, no

Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child who's got his own, yeah
That's got his own
Oh, yeah

Money, you've got lots of friends
Crowding 'round your door, oh yeah
But when you're gone and spending ends
Oh, they don't come around anymore, oh yeah

Rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
Please don't take too much, no, no, no

Mama may have, papa may have
But God bless the child that's got his own, yeah
That's got his own

Oh, rich relations give
Crust of bread and such
You can help yourself
But oh, don't take too much, no, no, no

Mama may have, papa may have
God bless the child that's got his own, hoo
That's got his own, oh, hmm
That's got his own, yeah, hmm




I've got my own, hmm
That's got his own, la, la-la-la, la

Overall Meaning

Stevie Wonder's song God Bless The Child is a powerful commentary on the social and economic inequalities that exist in society. The lyrics say that those who have wealth and privilege are more likely to gain even more through their inherent advantages, while the less fortunate will continue to struggle and face obstacles. The line "Them that's got shall get / Them that's not shall lose / So the Bible says / And it still is news" highlights this message, acknowledging that this has been a known issue for centuries, and unfortunately, still exists today.


The song goes on to say that while having supportive parents or family members can be helpful, the truly blessed ones are the ones who have achieved success on their own merit. "God bless the child that's got his own" is a repeated refrain, emphasizing this idea that self-sufficiency and hard work are admirable qualities that should be celebrated.


The last verse shifts the focus towards the nature of relationships and how money can play a role in them. While having wealth can attract people, once the money is gone, so is the support of the "friends" who were only there for the wealth. The final refrain emphasizes the message that achieving independence and self-sufficiency is a worthwhile goal in itself.


Overall, Stevie Wonder's God Bless The Child is a commentary on the realities of societal inequality and the value of hard work and self-sufficiency.


Line by Line Meaning

Them that's got shall get
According to the Bible, those who already have will continue to receive more.


Them that's not shall lose
In contrast, those who do not have will lose even what they do have.


So the Bible says
This is a statement of something that the Bible teaches.


And it still is news
Even though this teaching is very old, it remains relevant and important today.


Mama may have, papa may have
Even if your parents are wealthy,


But God bless the child that's got his own, yeah
it is a great blessing to have financial independence and possessions that are truly your own.


Yes, the strong gets more
Those who are already successful continue to become even more so.


While the weak ones fade
Conversely, those who are not successful continue to struggle and lose ground.


Empty pockets don't
Being poor


Ever make the grade, no, no, no, no
is not considered success in our society.


Money, you've got lots of friends
When you have money, people are often very eager to be around you.


Crowding 'round your door, oh yeah
They come to you and try to get close to you in various ways.


But when you're gone and spending ends
However, when you no longer have money to spend,


Oh, they don't come around anymore, oh yeah
these people may quickly disappear and lose interest in you.


Rich relations give
Even wealthy family members


Crust of bread and such
might only give a small amount of help to those in need.


You can help yourself
But if you do have wealth and possessions,


Please don't take too much, no, no, no
you need to be careful not to take advantage of others or hoard your resources selfishly.


God bless the child that's got his own, hoo
Once again, it is a great blessing and privilege to have your own resources and financial independence.


That's got his own, oh, hmm
This is a repeated phrase emphasizing the importance of having one's own belongings and being self-sufficient.


I've got my own, hmm
The singer affirms that he himself has his own resources and is grateful for this.


That's got his own, la, la-la-la, la
This is another repetition of the phrase emphasizing the song's central message.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Herzog, Billie Holiday

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Krompus

Stevie was only eighteen when he did this soulful rendition of the jazz standard. He has my respect.

Ian Goodridge

That voice doesn’t even sound close to eighteen….Genius 🔥🔥

Donnymac

I love this. A Billie Holiday song with Stevie's twist on it.

Sandra Bell

His voice is gorgeous

Radio Station Laptops

Published on Feb 3, 2008

Ian Goodridge

Another Stevie classic!!!!!!!!!!

tropicalpancake56

Love the way Steve and Motown produced this....very well done.

Banthum Bailey

Is this guy the greatest musician ever? It's like, I don't hear anything that can compare to this guy.

Usurped

Classic! Superb!

David Solis Jr.

I think this is the best version... When it started, I just stopped what I was doing, and looked at the screen just like, "Woah..."

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