Stevland Hardaway Morris (né Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally a… Read Full Bio ↴Stevland Hardaway Morris (né Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band, Wonder's use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B. He also helped drive such genres into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive and consistent, in addition to socially conscious statements with complex compositions. Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11, where he was given the professional name Little Stevie Wonder.

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.

It's Wrong
Stevie Wonder Lyrics

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Like slavery was wrong, wrong
Like the holocaust was wrong, wrong
Apartheid is wrong, wrong, wrong
It's wrong, wrong, wrong , wrong
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong

The pain you cause in God's name
Points only to yourself to blame
For the negative karma you will be receiving
'Cause when people are oppressed
With atrocities that test
The future of all mankind we
The world won't stand seeing

You know apartheid's wrong, wrong
Like slavery was wrong, wrong
Like the holocaust was wrong, wrong
Apartheid is wrong, wrong, wrong
It's wrong, wrong, wrong , wrong
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong

Ubuqaba babo bucacile
Woqamba kuze kucace
Ngoba nosathane uyabugxeka
Lobuqaba

Oh, freedom is coming
(Inkululeko iyeza)
Say it again
(Inkululeko iyeza)
Hold on tight, it's coming
(Qinisani inkululeko iyeza)
(Inkululeko iyeza)

Oh, the whole world is with us
(Qinisani umhlaba wonke unathi)
Say it again
(Umhlaba wonke unathi)
Hold on tight, 'cause we're with you
(Qinisani umhlaba wonke unathi)
(Umhlaba wonke unathi)

Oh, oh, oh, freedom is coming
Yeah, yeah, yeah
(Qinisani inkululeko iyeza)
(Inkululeko iyeza)
Hold on tight, yeah
(Qinisani inkululeko iyeza)
Freedom is coming
(Inkululeko iyeza)

Hold on tight
(Qinisani)

Overall Meaning

Stevie Wonder's "It's Wrong" condemns apartheid in South Africa and compares it to other historical atrocities such as slavery and the Holocaust. The song paints a vivid picture of the pain and suffering that apartheid creates and how it made innocent people suffer for others' greed and ignorance.

The song opens with the lines "The wretchedness of Satan's wrath will come to seize you at last" and goes on to explain that those who promote apartheid are going against God and the universal principles of justice and equality. The lyrics also question the morality of those who use religion to justify their actions and make them feel superior to others. The chorus repeats "Apartheid is wrong, wrong, wrong, it's wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong." highlighting the overarching theme of the song.

The lyrics remind us that the pain inflicted by apartheid is not just felt by the oppressed, it will also have long-lasting consequences for those who caused it. The song has an uplifting ending as it speaks of hope and the eventual end of apartheid. Stevie Wonder reminds his listeners that they are not alone in their fight against injustice and the whole world stands with them.

Line by Line Meaning

The wretchedness of Satan's wrath Will come to seize you at last 'Cause even he frowns upon the deeds you are doing And you know deep in your heart You've no covenant with God 'Cause he would never countenance people abusing
The evil consequences of your actions will eventually catch up with you. Even Satan disapproves of what you are doing. You are not following God's path because He does not condone the mistreatment of others.

You know apartheid's wrong, wrong Like slavery was wrong, wrong Like the holocaust was wrong, wrong Apartheid is wrong, wrong, wrong It's wrong, wrong, wrong , wrong Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong
Apartheid is just as wrong as slavery and the holocaust. It is completely unacceptable and should be condemned in the strongest terms.

The pain you cause in God's name Points only to yourself to blame For the negative karma you will be receiving 'Cause when people are oppressed With atrocities that test The future of all mankind we The world won't stand seeing
Any harm caused in the name of God is ultimately your responsibility. You will face the consequences of your actions. Oppression and other forms of cruelty create negative consequences for all of humanity, and the world will not tolerate such behavior.

Ubuqaba babo bucacile Woqamba kuze kucace Ngoba nosathane uyabugxeka Lobuqaba
The oppression and cruelty being inflicted on others is clear, and should be condemned. The Devil will be held accountable for such actions.

Oh, freedom is coming (Inkululeko iyeza) Say it again (Inkululeko iyeza) Hold on tight, it's coming (Qinisani inkululeko iyeza) (Inkululeko iyeza)
Freedom is on the way, and we need to hold onto hope and keep pushing forward. It is important that we keep repeating this mantra in order to keep the faith and believe in a brighter future.

Oh, the whole world is with us (Qinisani umhlaba wonke unathi) Say it again (Umhlaba wonke unathi) Hold on tight, 'cause we're with you (Qinisani umhlaba wonke unathi) (Umhlaba wonke unathi)
The struggle for change is not just ours, but belongs to the whole world. We need to remind ourselves of this truth, hold on tight to each other, and keep fighting for a better future.

Oh, oh, oh, freedom is coming Yeah, yeah, yeah (Qinisani inkululeko iyeza) (Inkululeko iyeza) Hold on tight, yeah (Qinisani inkululeko iyeza) Freedom is coming (Inkululeko iyeza) Hold on tight (Qinisani)
Freedom is near, and we should be excited about the prospect of a new, better world. However, we must hold fast to our determination and not let go until the goal is achieved.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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