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.
I'd Be a Fool Right Now
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
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When things go wrong and trouble calls
But they don't know that your sweet sunshine babe
Will never fade when darkness falls
They say that when the chips are down girl
Your love won't stay so long my friend
But they don't know that your sweet lovin' babe
Has been around through thick and thin
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should hurt you girl
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should leave you girl
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I wouldn't love you girl
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
On the outside, looking inside
They say your love is surely goin'
Just like a snowman in the sun
But they don't know that your sweet lovin' babe
Was here when all my friends were gone
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should hurt you girl
Oh, such a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should leave you girl
Baby, baby, a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I wouldn't love you girl
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
On the outside lookin' inside
All my dreams would fall and crumble into dirt
If I walk away from you, I'd be the one to hurt
One day my dreams were surely dyin', dyin', dyin', baby
Just like a flower without rain
They just don't know that your sweet sunshine babe
Made my life blossom again
And so the story goes around, baby, yeah, yeah-yeah
That this is just a passing thing
But I believe in your sweet lovin', lovin' babe
With every summer fallin' rain
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should hurt you girl
Oh, such a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should leave you girl
I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I wouldn't love you girl
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
Oh, hey
And I'd be a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should hurt you girl
Oh, such a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
If I should leave you girl
Baby, baby, a fool right now (I'd be a fool right now)
In "I'd Be a Fool Right Now," Stevie Wonder sings about the doubts and criticisms that others have about his relationship, but how he chooses to believe in the longevity of his love. He uses vivid imagery to describe how others believe that love will "fade" like a snowman in the sun or a flower without rain. However, he believes that his love is as constant and necessary as the rain that waters a flower, and it has helped him through tough times. He expresses his fear that he would be a fool to hurt or leave his partner, and that he chooses to love her despite the doubts of others.
Line by Line Meaning
They say your love will surely fade girl
Some people believe that your love will fade when faced with problems
When things go wrong and trouble calls
They think your love won't be able to handle difficult situations
But they don't know that your sweet sunshine babe
But they are not aware that your love brings light to the darkness
Will never fade when darkness falls
Your love remains strong even in difficult times
They say that when the chips are down girl
Some people believe that your love won't last through tough times
Your love won't stay so long my friend
They believe that your love is not reliable during difficult times
But they don't know that your sweet lovin' babe
They are unaware that your love will stand by my side
Has been around through thick and thin
Your love has been with me through all of life's hardships
And I'd be a fool right now
I would be foolish at this moment
If I should hurt you girl
If I were to cause you pain
And I'd be a fool right now
I would be foolish at this moment
If I should leave you girl
If I were to abandon you
And I'd be a fool right now
I would be foolish at this moment
If I wouldn't love you girl
If I were not to show you my love
And I'd be a fool right now
I would be foolish at this moment
On the outside looking inside
Feeling lost, away from something you long for
They say your love is surely goin'
Some people believe that your love is fading away
Just like a snowman in the sun
Like a snowman melting away in the hot sun
But they don't know that your sweet lovin' babe
But they are unaware of how strong your love truly is
Was here when all my friends were gone
Your love was there for me when others were not
All my dreams would fall and crumble into dirt
My hopes and dreams would be shattered and destroyed
If I walk away from you I'd be the one to hurt
If I were to leave, I would be the one to suffer
One day my dreams were surely dying, dying, dying baby
At one point, my dreams were beginning to fade
Just like a flower without rain
Like a flower wilting without water
They just don't know that your sweet sunshine babe
They do not understand how your love can brighten up my life
Made my life blossom again
Your love allowed my life to thrive once more
And so the story goes around baby yeah y-yeah
This is how the story is told, my love
That this is just a passing thing
Some view this as a temporary situation
But I believe in your sweet lovin', lovin'... babe
But I have faith in the strength of your love
With every summer fallin' rain
And through every challenge that comes our way
Oh, hey!
An exclamation of energy and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
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!