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 Want My Baby Back
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My girl is gone, can't take it
I'm trying to conceal the loneliness I feel
But it's real, can't fake it
The pain in my heart is tearing me apart
Her memory, can't shake it
I tried to tell myself to find somebody else
But my heart, won't make it
Ah ah, I need love and that's a natural fact
And more than anything I want my baby back
(I want my baby back) I want her here with me
(I want my baby back)
She's the only girl that brightens up my world
What can I say, don't make her do it
She's fine as can be and was so good to me
I had a good thing, and I blew it
Now I'm all alone, the love we had is gone
What can I do,to renew it?
If I only had a chance to continue our romance
I wouldn't hesitate, to get to it
I need love and that's natural fact
And more than anything I want my sugar back
(I want my baby back) I want her here with me
(I want my baby back) Ah ah ah, ah ah yeah
(I want my baby back)
I need love and that's a natural fact
And more than anything I want my baby back
(I want my baby back) I want her here with me
(I want my baby back)
I, want my baby back
My heart is aching, think it's breaking
I want my baby back
My world is lonely, need her only
Everybody sing I want my baby back now
(I want my baby back)
Ha ha ha, ha ha I, want my baby back
My heart is sad
The lyrics to Stevie Wonder's song "I Want My Baby Back" describe a man who is devastated by the loss of his girlfriend. He is unable to sleep and feels overwhelming loneliness. He tries to convince himself to move on, but he is unable to shake the pain in his heart. The chorus reveals his desperate desire to have her back in his life. He believes she is the only one who can make him feel complete and brighten up his world. He admits that he had a good thing but failed to appreciate it. The song portrays the deep regret and intense longing of someone who has lost the love of his life.
The lyrics are simple but powerful. The pain and sorrow of the singer are palpable. Through his words, we understand the intensity of the feelings he has for his lost love. The imagery is vivid, allowing the listener to experience the loss and sorrow of the singer. He describes the sleepless nights and the ache in his heart in a way that is relatable and poignant. The chorus repeats the sentiment that he wants his baby back, further emphasizing the magnitude of his desire to reunite with his girlfriend.
Line by Line Meaning
Ow, tossing and turning the whole night long
I couldn't fall asleep and was restless throughout the night
My girl is gone, can't take it
I'm devastated because my girlfriend left me
I'm trying to conceal the loneliness I feel
I'm trying to hide my true emotions
But it's real, can't fake it
My feelings of loneliness are genuine and I can't pretend otherwise
The pain in my heart is tearing me apart
The emotional pain I feel is unbearable
Her memory, can't shake it
I can't stop thinking about my ex-girlfriend
I tried to tell myself to find somebody else
I attempted to move on and find a new partner
But my heart, won't make it
Despite my efforts, I still have lingering feelings for my ex-girlfriend
Ah ah, I need love and that's a natural fact
It's natural for humans to need love and affection
And more than anything I want my baby back
I desire nothing more than to have my ex-girlfriend back in my life
(I want my baby back) I want her here with me
I want my ex-girlfriend to be by my side once again
She's the only girl that brightens up my world
My ex-girlfriend is the only person who made my life better
What can I say, don't make her do it
I regret the actions or words that drove my ex-girlfriend away
She's fine as can be and was so good to me
My ex-girlfriend is beautiful and treated me well
I had a good thing, and I blew it
I messed up a great relationship with my ex-girlfriend
Now I'm all alone, the love we had is gone
I'm single now and our love is over
What can I do, to renew it?
I'd like to rekindle our love, but I don't know how to do it
If I only had a chance to continue our romance
If given the opportunity, I'd like to continue dating my ex-girlfriend
I wouldn't hesitate, to get to it
I'm eager to restore our relationship without hesitation
My heart is aching, think it's breaking
I'm in emotional pain and I think my heart is going to break
My world is lonely, need her only
I'm incredibly lonely without my ex-girlfriend and only want her
Everybody sing I want my baby back now
I'm not the only person who's experienced this kind of heartbreak
(I want my baby back) Ha ha ha, ha ha I, want my baby back
I'm making light of my situation even though it's causing me pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cornelius Grant, Eddie J. Kendrick, Norman J. Whitfield
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!