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 Go Sailing
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down life's avenue
Just to try to find a way to smile again
While I was on my way
I met a wise man who said
That happiness you only find within
I learned my lesson then
Through the rivers of my mind
I go sailing
Be surprised what you can find
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what you'll find
I took a friend's advice
Who said go up and away
Take the magic of a mystery tour
But I felt so all alone
Though I could almost touch the stars
I started missing things I touched before
The tour was such a bore
So I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
I go sailing
Be surprised what you can find (I go sailing)
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what you'll find
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind (sailing)
I go sailing
Be surprised what you can find (I go sailing)
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what you'll find
I go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind (sailing)
Spent some time going sailing
Be surprised what you can find (I go sailing)
Be surprised what you find
You'll go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what you'll find
Go sailing
Through the rivers of my mind (sailing)
I go sailing
Be surprised what you can find (I go sailing)
I'm sailing
Through the rivers of my mind
Take a chance on your mind
Be surprised what you'll find
Sailing
Through the rivers of my mind (sailing)
Yeah
In "I Go Sailing," Stevie Wonder sings about his search for happiness and how he realized that it can only be found within oneself. The song starts with him stating he took a "worthless trip" down life's avenue trying to find a way to smile again. Along the way, he meets a wise man who tells him that happiness can only be found within oneself. This revelation teaches him a valuable lesson, and he decides to go sailing through the rivers of his mind. The rivers represent his thoughts, and the sailing represents the journey of exploring those thoughts. He encourages listeners to take a chance on their minds and be surprised by what they try to find.
In the second verse, he talks about his experience of taking the advice of his friend to go up and away on a mystery tour. He goes on this tour and feels alone, despite being surrounded by stars. This loneliness makes him realize that he misses the things he used to have and that the tour is boring. Later in the song, he invites listeners to join him in sailing through the rivers of their minds and discover what surprise lies there.
Overall, "I Go Sailing" is a song about the importance of inner happiness and how we can embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a worthless trip
I went on a trip that was meaningless and unproductive
Down life's avenue
I went through life trying to find something
Just to try to find a way to smile again
I was trying to find happiness and joy in life
While I was on my way
During this journey
I met a wise man who said
I encountered a person with wisdom who told me
That happiness you only find within
True happiness can only be found within oneself
I learned my lesson then
I gained knowledge and understanding from this experience
So I go sailing
Therefore, I choose to go on a mental journey
Through the rivers of my mind
This journey is through the thoughts and emotions in my mind
Be surprised what you can find
I may discover unexpected things
Take a chance on your mind
I am encouraged to explore my own thoughts and feelings
I took a friend's advice
I listened to a friend's suggestion
Who said go up and away
They encouraged me to take a trip and get away
Take the magic of a mystery tour
They suggested a mysterious and exciting adventure
But I felt so all alone
However, I still felt lonely
Though I could almost touch the stars
Even though it seemed like a great adventure
I started missing things I touched before
I began to miss familiar and comforting things from my past
The tour was such a bore
The adventure was not as exciting as I had hoped
Spent some time going sailing
I spent time on this mental journey
Be surprised what you find
I may still discover unexpected things
You'll go sailing
You too can go on this mental journey
Yeah
An exclamation reflecting the artist's positive sentiment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Camille Cotton
This is my all time favorite Stevie SONG EVER!!! Takes me to a place so calming in my mind. Stevie is number one hands down. Even his B SIDES are hits! #undeniable
Mr. Brown
I strongly agree
kwame omar
So Soothing!
King James
"I took a worthless trip down life's avenue, just to try to find a way to smile again"...life trials can have you forget how to smile :)Stevie is a master Poet.
Walt M.
Amen! " Happiness you only find within." These trials won't get you if you just go sailing. When you get it, you will be free!
martin staton
Every song he puts out is magic........for me....Stevie, Michael, James Brown, Donny Hathaway, Luther vandross, marvin Gaye are cats that put out 98% great music...no question
Jon Robert Gibson
Wow, I haven't really heard this record since I sang the lead BGs with Stevie in the session. Beautiful, Stevie's the man, will listen again and again!
Michael Dunham
Jon Gibson I've covered this song a couple times. I remember your work with Bill Wilder as well. Great voice.
Ken H.
Oh yeah JG ( @Jon Gibson ) I can pick out your vocals... Nice man.
Tandiweh
This whole sound tract was sick!!!