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.
In Your Corner
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
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On the corner of Main and Dog-Meat-Bite
Friday midnights would not be right
Without Redd's hot party and a nasty fight
But I'll be in your corner
I'll be in your corner, if they do
I'll be in your corner
You can't renege cause its goin' be live
Fine women, lots of liquor and stuff for your mind
Now where we're goin' they don't like your kind
But they'll cool when you tell them you're a friend of mine
Cause I'll be in your corner
I'll be in your corner, if they do
I'll be in your corner
I'll be in your corner, if they do
You can't tell your pa and mama
Where we're goin' til after we've been there
Cause that might make their poor heads worry
And worrying can cause grey hair
And one thing just might lead to another
And if there's any trouble they'll blame it on me
I think we just might have two to go
The pretty's lookin' over here from the middle of the floor
We'll make a be -line to Hotel La Sin
Where you'll do the talkin 'to get us in
And I'll be in your corner
I'll be in your corner, if they do
We should a been long gone 'cause this place is hot
Cause in the corner there are two brothers who are undercover cops
If they stop us for questioning mum is the word
Cause a question not answered is a answer not heard
And I'll be in your corner
I'll be in your corner, if they do
I'll be in your corner
I'll be in your corner, if they do
You can't tell your pa and mama
Where we're goin' til after we've been there
Cause that might make their poor heads worry
And worrying can cause grey hair
And one thing just might lead to another
And if there's any trouble they'll blame it on me
The lyrics to Stevie Wonder's "In Your Corner" narrate a scenario where the singer, presumably a young adult, is going to a party that is notorious for rowdiness and violence. The location of the party is rumored to be on the corner of Main and Dog-Meat-Bite, and it is claimed that the party, hosted by Redd, is incomplete without a nasty fight. The singer's friends invite the singer to the party, promising lots of liquor and fine women, but caution them that the attendees may not take kindly to the singer's kind. Despite the warnings, the singer agrees to go to the party, and their friends reassure them that they will be in their corner, i.e., they will support them if things get ugly.
The partygoers are concerned about being caught by the police as two undercover cops are present at the party. The singer's friends warn them to keep quiet if they are questioned by the cops, indicating that an unanswered question is an unheard answer. The singer is also advised not to inform their parents about the party's location, as their parents might worry and blame the singer's friend in case of any trouble.
The song's lyrics capture the essence of youthful rebellion, the allure of danger, and the importance of having a support system when things get tough. The song addresses a universal desire to have someone always in your corner, be it in moments of chaos, danger or drama. It is a reminder that when we have someone we can count on, we can face anything.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear tell there's big fun tonight
I've been told that there's a big party happening tonight
On the corner of Main and Dog-Meat-Bite
The location of the party is on the street corner of Main and Dog-Meat-Bite
Friday midnights would not be right
It wouldn't feel right if we didn't go out on Friday nights
Without Redd's hot party and a nasty fight
Redd's party is known for being exciting, and usually ends up with someone getting into a fight
But I'll be in your corner
I'll always be there to support you
I'll be in your corner, if they do
I'll be there for you in case anything happens
You can't renege cause its goin' be live
You can't back out because the party is going to be amazing
Fine women, lots of liquor and stuff for your mind
There will be plenty of attractive women, alcoholic beverages and other things to keep your mind occupied
Now where we're goin' they don't like your kind
Some people at the party may be prejudiced against you
But they'll cool when you tell them you're a friend of mine
If you say you're with me, they should stop bothering you
You can't tell your pa and mama
Don't let your parents know where we're going
Where we're goin' til after we've been there
Wait until we're already at the party to tell them
Cause that might make their poor heads worry
It could cause unnecessary worrying and stress for them
And worrying can cause grey hair
Constant worrying can cause physical symptoms like grey hair
And one thing just might lead to another
One worry or suspicion could lead to other problems
And if there's any trouble they'll blame it on me
If anything goes wrong, your parents will likely blame me
I think we just might have two to go
There are two women looking at us that we might be able to talk to
The pretty's lookin' over here from the middle of the floor
One of the women we're looking at is in the middle of the dance floor
We'll make a beeline to Hotel La Sin
We'll go straight to Hotel La Sin to have some privacy
Where you'll do the talkin 'to get us in
I'll let you do the talking to convince the staff to let us in
We should a been long gone 'cause this place is hot
We should leave soon because this party is getting wild and could attract trouble
Cause in the corner there are two brothers who are undercover cops
There are two plainclothes police officers watching the party from a corner
If they stop us for questioning mum is the word
If the police stop us and ask questions, we need to keep quiet
Cause a question not answered is a answer not heard
If we don't say anything, they won't have anything to use against us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
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!