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.
Kiss Me Baby
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We rode on horses made of sticks
I wore black and she wore white
She would always win the fight
Bang, bang, she shot me down
Bang, bang, I hit the ground
Bang, bang, that awful sound
Seasons came and changed the time
I grew up, I called her mine
She would always laugh and say
Remember when we used to play
Bang, bang, I shot you down
Bang, bang, you hit the ground
Bang, bang, that awful sound
Bang, bang, I used to shoot you down
The music played and people sang
Just for me the church bells rang
Hey, bang, bang, bang, bang
Hey, bang, bang, bang, bang
Yeah, bang, bang, bang, bang
Yeah, bang, bang, bang, bang
Now she's gone, I don't know why
'Til this day sometimes I cry
She didn't even say goodbye
She didn't even take time to lie
Bang, bang, she shot me down
Bang, bang, I hit the ground
Bang, bang, that awful sound
Bang, bang, my baby shot me down
The lyrics of Stevie Wonder's "Kiss Me Baby" tell a story of childhood innocence, young love, and the pain of lost love. The song begins with a nostalgic recollection of a young boy and girl, both around five or six years old, riding on makeshift horses made of sticks. The boy, who describes himself wearing black, reveals that the girl, dressed in white, always had the upper hand in their playful fights.
The lyrics then transition to a time when the seasons changed, signifying the passage of time and the growth of the boy. He claims the girl as his own, and they reminisce about their childhood games and adventures. However, there is a shift in perspective as the boy now sings from the girl's point of view. He acknowledges that she would playfully shoot him down, metaphorically speaking, in their games.
As the song progresses, the music begins to play and people celebrate around them. The church bells ring, symbolizing a moment of joy and celebration, possibly a wedding. The repetitive use of the phrase "bang, bang" in this section could signify the sound of the church bells or the sound of their make-believe guns during their childhood games.
The final verse reveals the painful truth that the girl is now gone. The boy is left in confusion and sorrow, unsure of why she left without saying goodbye. He expresses his lingering emotions, acknowledging that he still feels the pain, sometimes even shedding tears for the lost love. The song ends with the repetition of "bang, bang," emphasizing the lasting impact of the girl's departure and the emotional wounds she left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
She was five and I was six
We were young children, just beginning to navigate the world
We rode on horses made of sticks
We imagined our own adventures and created our own joy
I wore black and she wore white
We had contrasting personalities and styles
She would always win the fight
She had a strong personality and often had the upper hand
Bang, bang, she shot me down
Metaphorically, she caused me pain and brought me down
Bang, bang, I hit the ground
I was emotionally wounded and felt defeated
Bang, bang, that awful sound
The impact of her actions had a deep and negative effect on me
Bang, bang, my baby shot me down
Her actions had a profound impact on me, causing emotional pain
Seasons came and changed the time
Time passed, and things in life evolved and transformed
I grew up, I called her mine
As I matured, I considered her to be a significant part of my life
She would always laugh and say
She had a carefree and playful spirit
Remember when we used to play
Reflecting on our joyful moments and shared experiences
The music played and people sang
There was a celebration or happy atmosphere around us
Just for me the church bells rang
Symbolically, there was a sense of divine intervention or specialness in our connection
Hey, bang, bang, bang, bang
An expression of intense emotions, possibly frustration or longing
Now she's gone, I don't know why
She has left my life, and I am left feeling confused and without understanding
'Til this day sometimes I cry
Even now, I occasionally shed tears over the loss and the pain it caused
She didn't even say goodbye
She left abruptly and without any farewell or explanation
She didn't even take time to lie
She was honest in her departure, not even giving false excuses or promises
Bang, bang, she shot me down
The memories and impact of her actions still haunt me
Bang, bang, I hit the ground
Emotionally, I am still affected and wounded by her actions
Bang, bang, that awful sound
The echoes of the pain and heartbreak resound within me
Bang, bang, my baby shot me down
She metaphorically caused me immense pain and heartache
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sonny Bono
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!