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.
Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is ten zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But in my heart I can feel it
Feel His spirit wow oh woo
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
I, can't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Ah people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, wow oh wow
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sure enough could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
Stevie Wonder's song "Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" deals with themes of religion, faith, and social justice. The song uses the metaphor of distance to express a longing for a better world. The phrase "ten zillion light years away" suggests that heaven, an ideal world where everyone is equal, is impossibly far from our current reality. The lyrics suggest that, while we may not know the exact location of heaven or if it exists at all, we can still strive to make the world a better place.
One interpretation of the song is that it voices Wonder's frustration with the injustices of the world, particularly with regards to racism. The line "why must my color black make me a lesser man" suggests that Wonder is critical of a society that values people differently based on the color of their skin. Additionally, the line "let God's love shine within to save our evil souls" suggests that Wonder sees love as the solution to the world's problems.
Overall, "Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away" is a call for people to strive for a better world, one in which love and equality are paramount. It speaks to Wonder's enduring commitment to social justice and his belief in the power of music to promote positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
According to popular belief, heaven is an infinitely far distance from Earth
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
Only those who are morally good will be able to enter heaven
But if there is a God, we need Him now
If a higher power exists, humanity is in dire need of its help
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
Stevie's friends question why he has faith in God given the struggles and hardships he faces
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Stevie believes that God hasn't intervened in the world's problems because humanity still has a long way to go in terms of progress
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is ten zillion light years away
Stevie questions why people can't express the idea that hate should be infinitely far away from the world
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Stevie wonders why goodness and love cannot radiate in every human being as a reflection of God's love
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
Stevie questions why people associate skin color with one's worthiness, and reminds that the world is meant for all human beings to live in peace and harmony
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
Stevie asserts that God loves all people equally, regardless of race or any other factor
But in my heart I can feel it
Feel His spirit wow oh woo
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
Stevie has a strong, personal connection to God's divine presence within himself
I, can't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Stevie admits that he doesn't know the true location of heaven, but hopes that all people can become pure-hearted so they can enter
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
Stevie suggests that only God's love can purify the souls of those who act immorally or sinfully
For those who don't believe will never see the light
According to Stevie, people who lack faith will never be able to understand or experience the glory of God
"Where is my God" He lives inside of me
Stevie answers his friends' doubts by indicating that he carries God's presence within him
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, wow oh wow
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sure enough could feel it yeah yeah
Stevie encourages others to open their hearts to God's love, as he personally experienced the feeling of God's presence when he did so himself
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
Stevie repeats that the presence of God can be felt and experienced by any individual who opens their heart to it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SEB12578
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is ten zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But in my heart I can feel it
Feel His spirit wow oh woo
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
I, can't say that heaven is ten zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
Ah people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, wow oh wow
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sure enough could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
@franknancy4075
Why can’t they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can’t the light of good shine God’s love in every soul
Why must my colour black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that’s what my God tells me
And I say it’s taken him so long
‘Cause we’ve got so far to come
Beautiful❤️
@JivinJane
"Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away"
They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
And just the pure at heart will walk her righteous streets someday
They say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if there is a God, we need Him now
"Where is your God"
That's what my friends ask me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
But in my heart I can feel it, yeah,
Feel His spirit wow oh woo...
Feel it, yeah, feel His spirit...
I... can't say that heaven is 10 zillion light years away
But if so let all be pure at heart
Just to walk her righteous streets I pray
Let God's love shine within to save our evil souls
For those who don't believe will never see the light
"Where is my God" - He lives inside of me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
No people, "where is your God?"
Inside please let Him be
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come...
But if you open your heart you can feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit, yeah
Feel it, feel His spirit, wow oh wow...
Feel it, you can feel His spirit
I opened my heart one morning and
I sho nuff could feel it yeah yeah
Feel His spirit yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
You can feel it, yeah, feel His spirit
@NicoTetrox
So many people SLEEP on Fulfillingness' First Finale! The whole album is beautiful!
@avatarfin
what an absolute classic album so many outstanding songs. this and SKL are my favorites.
@Richthelionheart64
Amen! 🙏
@shirleyzimmerman6527
Glad I didn’t sleep on it. You’re right. The Entire album is beautiful!!
@chynnatai3685
I was raised on this 💯
@husq48
Well, I have often gone to sleep with it on...
@Doubletree77
My age was 28 years December 1981 and was going through a very bad time. This song restored me and brought me by the grace of GOD through the darkest. In my darkest hour the voice of Stevie Wonder came through for me. I can feel the SPIRIT!!!!!!! Save our evil souls!!!! Current age 64 going on 65 Feel It the Spirit!!!!!
@rjhyden
I was 28 that year too.
@andrewnkunda7
Nice to meet someone else who was moved deeply by this song...this song changed my heart..I finally became a Christian in 1985. Thank you, Stevie.
@immasoxfanbaby
Me too. When I was in the projects