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.

Love Having You Around
Stevie Wonder Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Please
(Mama, mama, mama)
Mama, mama, baby
Baby, baby, baby, oh mm
(Mama, mama, mama)
(Baby, baby, baby)

(Listen, baby)

Every day I want to fly my kite
And every day I want to fly my kite
And every day I want to get on my camel an' ride
Uh yeah

Every day I want to shake your hand (yeah, yeah, yeah)
For in the world makin' me a better man
An' every day I want to get on my camel an' ride
(On my camel ride, on my camel)
Oh baby

And when the day is through
Nothin' to do, I sit around groovin' with you
And I say it 'cause I love having you around
And I say it 'cause I love having you around, Yeah

Everyday I wanna be your friend, (be your friend)
'Cause you have stuck with me through thick and thin
An' every day I want a smile in your lovely brown eyes
(Smile at your lovely brown eyes)
Oh yeah

Every day I'm gonna give my share,
'Cause I know your gonna take me there, (hey, hey)
An' every day I want to get on my camel an' ride, uh
(Get on my camel)

Uh, and when the day is done
Nothin' to do, spend all my time just loving you
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around, mm baby
And I say it 'cause I love, oh having you around
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Mm, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

An' in the end I know you'll be with me
'Cause you made my soul so free, (so everyday)
An' every day I want to get on my camel an' ride
(On my camel)
Eh, yeah

And when the day is through
Nothin' to do, spend all my time just lovin' you
An' I say it 'cause I love yeah having you around
(Love having you around)
And I say it 'cause I love having you around yeah, yeah, yeah
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around (having you around baby)
And I say it 'cause I love -can't you hear me people?- (having you around)
Can't you hear me people? Oh no
(And I say it 'cause I love having you around)
Can't you hear me say it?
Can't you hear me say it baby?
And I say it 'cause I love having you around
(An' I say it, I say it, oh baby, baby, baby baby, baby)

(An' I say it, say it, say it, say it)
Baby, baby baby (say it, say it, say it)
Baby, I say it 'cause I love having you around (say it, say it baby)
An' I say it 'cause I love (say it, keep saying, say it again)
Having you around (say it, say it, just say it, say it, baby)
An' I say it 'cause I love (say it, an' I keep saying it, I keep saying it)
Having you around (yeah, yeah)
(And thank God, for the one you love)
I love having you around (thank God, for the one you love)
An' I say it 'cause I love (thank God, for the one you love)
I love it, no, no my baby, baby, funky, funky, funky, yeah
(Let me play, we just say, let me play)

And when the day is done (yeah)
Nothin' to do, spend all my time making loving you
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around (having you around)
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around (my baby)
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around
Baby stay stay right here, need you here, keep you right here
An' I say it 'cause I love having you around

(Take it back) alright
Ain't got the words

The preceding has been put here on tape
To let you all know
That I say it to her because I love her,
Can you dig it? Can you get to that?
Even when she's messin' around

He likes having her around even when she's messing around
Which is very often, that's what she's doing

Overall Meaning

In "Love Having You Around," Stevie Wonder sings about his love for his partner and the everyday things he enjoys doing with them. The song starts off with Stevie calling out to his mother and then to his baby. He goes on to express how he wants to fly his kite, ride his camel, and shake his partner's hand every day. He sings about his love for his partner's lovely brown eyes and their unwavering support throughout the thick and thin. The song ends with Stevie declaring that he loves having his partner around and that he wants them to stay.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a simple and happy life shared between two people in love. The imagery of flying kites and riding camels adds a whimsical and carefree element to the song. The repetition of the phrase "having you around" emphasizes Stevie's affection for his partner and the joy they bring into his life.

Overall, "Love Having You Around" is a sweet and uplifting love song that celebrates the beauty of everyday moments shared between two people in love.

Line by Line Meaning

Please, Mama, mama, mama
The singer is pleading with his mother for something important.

Mama, mama, baby, baby, baby, oh mm
The singer is addressing both his mother and a lover or child, expressing affection towards them.

(Listen Baby)
The singer is drawing attention to a specific message or request for his lover.

Every day I want to fly my kite
The singer has a simple hobby that makes him happy and he wants to enjoy it every day.

And every day I want to get on my camel an' ride
The singer wants to have exciting adventures every day, like riding a camel in foreign lands.

Uh yeah
An expression of enjoyment or affirmative agreement.

Every day I want to shake your hand (yeah, yeah, yeah)
The singer wants to greet and appreciate his lover every day, symbolized by a handshake.

For in the world makin' me a better man
The singer acknowledges that his lover has made him a better person through their presence and support.

On my camel ride, on my camel
The singer again references adventurous activities that he wants to do every day.

And when the day is through
At the end of each day.

Nothin' to do, I sit around groovin' with you
The singer enjoys spending his leisure time with his lover, simply relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

And I say it 'cause I love having you around
The singer expresses his affection and appreciation for his lover's presence in his life.

Everyday I wanna be your friend, (be your friend)
The singer values his lover's companionship and wants to maintain a strong friendship with them.

'Cause you have stuck with me through thick and thin
The singer acknowledges that his lover has been a source of support and loyalty, even during difficult times.

An' every day I want a smile in your lovely brown eyes
The singer wants to see his lover happy every day and admires their physical features, specifically their eyes.

Oh yeah
An expression of enjoyment or affirmative agreement.

Every day I'm gonna give my share,
The singer wants to contribute his fair share to the relationship every day.

'Cause I know your gonna take me there, (hey, hey)
The singer trusts and believes in his lover, knowing that they will take him to new places and experiences.

Get on my camel
The singer repeats the idea of riding a camel as a metaphor for adventurous experiences and travels.

Uh, and when the day is done
At the end of each day.

Nothin' to do, spend all my time just loving you
The singer wants to spend all his time and attention on showing his love and affection towards his lover.

Love having you around
The singer expresses his love and enjoyment of his lover's presence in his life.

Mm baby
An expression of affection towards his lover.

Everyday I wanna be your friend, (be your friend)
The singer repeats his desire for a strong friendship with his lover.

And in the end I know you'll be with me
The singer believes in the long-lasting love and commitment of his relationship with his lover.

'Cause you made my soul so free, (so everyday)
The singer feels a unique sense of freedom and happiness with his lover that he wants to experience every day.

An' every day I want to get on my camel an' ride
The singer repeats the idea of wanting to have adventurous experiences with his lover every day.

And when the day is through
At the end of each day.

Spend all my time making loving you
The singer wants to show his love for his lover through his actions and time spent together.

Having you around
The singer repeats his appreciation for his lover's presence in his life.

My baby
An expression of affection towards his lover.

Stay stay right here
The singer wants his lover to stay with him and be present in his life.

Need you here, keep you right here
The singer emphasizes how much he needs and wants his lover to be with him.

All right
An affirmative exclamation of agreement or approval.

Yeah yeah, mm, babe, coo coo
A nonsensical phrase expressing enjoyment or positive feelings.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Syreeta Wright, Stevie Wonder

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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