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'm Wondering
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know I'm wondering
Little girl, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
A little more than you loved him?
Ooh,Baby I'm wondering
Little girl, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
Oh baby
Jimmy was your sweetie pie
Your precious one
And I knew you used to love
The very ground he walked upon
One day, Jim's papa told him
Things were looking down
And they packed up everything
They owned and left this little old town
Each tear I dried for you,
The closer our lives grew,
I fell in love it's true
And you say you love me, too
But, baby I'm wondering
Little girl, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
A little more than you loved him?
Oh baby I'm wondering,
Little girl, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
A little more than you loved Jim?
The day you see his face again
Or hear his voice
I don't want to be a loser
If you have to make a choice
Like a puppet to a string
To you, girl, I'm attached
And I know I'd be in trouble
If he came and took you back
I feel so insecure
In my mind, I can picture
Losing you for sure
And the pain I can't endure
Oh baby I'm wondering
Little girl, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
A little more than you loved him?
Oh baby I'm wondering,
Sure enough, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
A little more than you loved Jim?
Ooh Baby
I can't stop loving you, baby,
I can't stop loving you , no
I can't stop loving you, baby
I feel so insecure
In my mind, I
Can picture
Losing you for sure
And the pain I can't endure
Baby, I'm worried,
Really, really worried
I want to make you happy
Really truly happy
Oh baby I'm wondering,
Little girl, I'm wondering
How can I make you love me
A little more than you loved him?
Oh baby I'm wondering
Little girl, I'm wondering ...
The song "I'm Wondering" by Stevie Wonder talks about a man who is worried about losing his lover to her previous lover, Jim. He wonders how he can make her love him a little more than she loved Jim. The lyrics reflect the man's insecurity and fear of losing the person he loves to someone who she loved before. He is worried that he might not be enough for her and that she might leave him for her former lover.
The song talks about how the man fell in love with his partner while she was still getting over her previous relationship. He supported her through her sadness and tried to make her forget Jim. They both fell in love with each other, but the man is still worried that she might go back to Jim if he ever comes back into her life. The lyrics reflect the man's vulnerability and his desire to make his partner happy and to be the one she chooses.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'm Wondering" talk about love, vulnerability, and insecurity. Through his words, Stevie Wonder paints a picture of a man who is deeply in love but also deeply afraid of losing the person he loves to someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Well,
Starting the song with an expression of contemplation
Don't you know I'm wondering
Asking the listener if they are aware of the singer's worries
Little girl, I'm wondering
Addressing the subject of the song, expressing the singer's anxiety
How can I make you love me
Expressing the singer's desire to have the subject's love
A little more than you loved him?
Acknowledging that the subject had previously loved someone else, and the singer wants to surpass that love
Jimmy was your sweetie pie
Referring to the person the subject had previously loved
Your precious one
Describing the subject's love for Jim
And I knew you used to love
Acknowledging that the subject had previously loved someone else
The very ground he walked upon
Emphasizing that the subject's love for Jim was strong
One day, Jim's papa told him
Introducing a pivotal event in the story, where Jim leaves town
Things were looking down
Implying that Jim's family was facing financial difficulty
And they packed up everything
Depicting Jim's departure from town as permanent
They owned and left this little old town
Stating that Jim's family left with all their belongings
Each tear I dried for you,
Describing the singer's emotional support for the subject
The closer our lives grew,
Implying that the two grew closer over time
I fell in love it's true
Revealing the singer's feelings for the subject
And you say you love me, too
Indicating that the subject reciprocates the singer's love
But, baby I'm wondering
Returning to the singer's worries
The day you see his face again
Anticipating the possibility of Jim's return
Or hear his voice
Reinforcing the fear of Jim's return
I don't want to be a loser
Conveying the singer's fear of losing the subject to Jim
If you have to make a choice
Acknowledging that the subject may have to make a decision between the two
Like a puppet to a string
Metaphorically describing the singer's attachment to the subject
To you, girl, I'm attached
Reiterating the intensity of the singer's attachment to the subject
And I know I'd be in trouble
Expressing the dire consequences of the occurrence of the singer's fears
If he came and took you back
Stating the scenario that the singer fears
I feel so insecure
Expressing the singer's vulnerability and anxiety
In my mind, I can picture
Describing the vividness of the singer's imagination
Losing you for sure
Describing the singer's worst fear
And the pain I can't endure
Expressing the severity of the potential loss
I can't stop loving you, baby,
Conveying the intensity of the singer's love
I can't stop loving you , no
Emphasizing the singer's commitment to the subject
Baby, I'm worried,
Reiterating the singer's anxiety
Really, really worried
Emphasizing the severity of the singer's anxiety
I want to make you happy
Expressing the singer's desire to satisfy the subject's needs
Really truly happy
Emphasizing the singer's sincerity in wanting the subject's happiness
Sure enough, I'm wondering
Repeating the main theme of the song
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY COSBY, SYLVIA MOY, STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
58Musicman
Absolutely among the BEST REMIX you've done by far....and you have amazed for years
marknorthwest93
Like everyone else who appreciates Β your extended versions, I'm wonderin' Β just how you Β work your Β magic. Β Fantastic!
mosogotam
Thank you, John! Those strings are perfect!!!
Verline Ogbogu
Love this recording and it's on tepeat. Of course I was around when it first hit the record stores back the day when we had a regular record shop to sit down and listen to the tunes to make your selection if you wanted this or some other record. It was so enjoying. Just something simple as purchasing a record.
texassoul
What can I say that hasn't already been said......FANTASTIC!
tropicalpancake56
The sound is so clear, I can hear Jack Ashford's tamborine! This is the first time in all these years I've heard it! 5*!
theboyfromxtown
Adore this. Play it regularly
Gerald Johnson
Stevie Wonder. 'Nuff said..Classic. Thanks for the upload, extended version, mosogotam. Doing yo' thing. Blessings.
theboyfromxtown
I so love this. Happy 67th birthday Stevie
Darren Hicks
Its obsene at that tender age he is musical genius - sir stevie wonder i salute you πππ