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.
He's Misstra Know It All
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He's Misstra know-it-all
Playin' hard
Talkin' fast
Makin' sure that he won't be the last
Makes a deal
With a smile
Knowin' all the time that his lie's a mile
He's Misstra know-it-all
Must be seen
There's no doubt
He's the coolest one with the biggest mouth
He's Misstra know-it-all
When you tell him he's livin' fast
He will say what do you know
If you had my kind of cash
You'd have more than one place to go
Ooh
Any place
He will play
His only concern is how much you'll pay
He's Misstra know-it-all
If he shakes
On a bet
He's the kind of dude that won't pay his debt
He's Misstra know-it-all
When you say that he's living wrong
He'll tell you he knows he's livin' right
And you'd be a stronger man
If you took Misstra know-it-all's advice oh oh
Ooh
He's a man
With a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He's Misstra know-it-all
Take my word
Please beware
Of a man that just don't give a care no
He's Misstra know-it-all (look out he's coming)
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Bum bum bum bum bum say
He's Misstra know-it-all
Can this line, take his hand
Take your hat off to the man who's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Every boy take your hand
To the man that's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
Don't you know he's got the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
You know damn well he's got the super plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
You know damn well he's got the super plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
If we had less of him
Don't you know we'd have a better land
He's Misstra know-it-all
So give a hand to the man
Although you've given out as much as you can
He's Misstra know-it-all
Check his sound out
He'll tell it all
Hey you talk too much you worry me to death
He's Misstra know-it-all
"He's Misstra Know-It-All" is a song by Stevie Wonder that highlights the issue of dishonest people who think they are smarter than everyone else. The opening lines, "He's a man with a plan, got a counterfeit dollar in his hand" set the tone for the song with the concept of the deceitful protagonist who is desperately trying to prove their intelligence and cunningness. The song goes on to narrate how the character, Misstra Know-It-All, plays hard, talks fast, and is concerned with how much money he can make from his schemes. He's so confident in his lies that he doesn't care about the debt he owes, and when someone challenges his way of living, he quickly shoots back with how they don't know anything. In the end, the song encourages people to be cautious of individuals like Misstra Know-It-All and to limit their authority and influence to improve society.
The lyrics to "He's Misstra Know-It-All" by Stevie Wonder are significant because they were written at a time when corruption was rampant in the United States, particularly in politics, entertainment, and big corporations. Stevie Wonder was known for his socially conscious music, and this song is no different as it reflects the public's growing frustration with individuals who manipulate the system to benefit themselves. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" was one of the final songs on Stevie Wonder's 1973 album "Innervisions," which was an immediate success and received critical acclaim. The song would later be sampled by numerous musicians, including J Dilla, where he used it in his song "Baby."
Line by Line Meaning
He's a man
He's an individual
With a plan
He has a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He possesses a fake dollar
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Playin' hard
He's acting tough
Talkin' fast
He talks quickly
Makin' sure that he won't be the last
He wants to be first
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Makes a deal
He negotiates
With a smile
He does so pleasantly
Knowin' all the time that his lie's a mile
He is aware of his falsehoods
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Must be seen
He desires attention
There's no doubt
It's unquestionable
He's the coolest one with the biggest mouth
He is the most suave and vocal
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
When you tell him he's livin' fast
When you accuse him of recklessness
He will say what do you know
He will dismiss your criticism
If you had my kind of cash
If you possessed his wealth
You'd have more than one place to go
You would have more options for activity
Ooh
Exclamation of excitement/emotion
Any place
Anywhere
He will play
He will participate
His only concern is how much you'll pay
He solely cares about the financial gain
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
If he shakes
If he agrees
On a bet
Regarding a wager
He's the kind of dude that won't pay his debt
He is unwilling to settle his debts
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
When you say that he's living wrong
When you criticize his lifestyle
He'll tell you he knows he's livin' right
He will assert that he is correct
And you'd be a stronger man
You would be more resilient
If you took Misstra know-it-all's advice oh oh
If you acted upon his suggestions
Ooh
Exclamation of excitement/emotion
He's a man
He's an individual
With a plan
He has a plan
Got a counterfeit dollar in his hand
He possesses a fake dollar
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Take my word
Believe me
Please beware
Be cautious
Of a man that just don't give a care no
Of an individual who does not care
He's Misstra know-it-all (look out he's coming)
His name is Misstra know-it-all (be careful, he is approaching)
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Nonsensical lyrics for musicality
Dum bum bum ba bum bum
Nonsensical lyrics for musicality
Bum bum bum bum bum say
Nonsensical lyrics for musicality
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Can this line, take his hand
Can this phrase convince him
Take your hat off to the man who's got the plan
Respect the man with the plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Every boy take your hand
Every person take action
To the man that's got the plan
To the individual with a plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
Applaud the individual
Don't you know he's got the plan
You are aware he has a plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
Applaud the individual
You know damn well he's got the super plan
You know undoubtedly he has an excellent plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Give a hand to the man
Applaud the individual
You know damn well he's got the super plan
You know undoubtedly he has an excellent plan
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
If we had less of him
If there were fewer individuals like him
Don't you know we'd have a better land
We would have a better country
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
So give a hand to the man
Applaud the individual
Although you've given out as much as you can
Even if you have given all you can
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Check his sound out
Listen to what he has to say
He'll tell it all
He will reveal everything
Hey you talk too much you worry me to death
Your excessive talking concerns me greatly
He's Misstra know-it-all
His name is Misstra know-it-all
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
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!