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.
Moon River
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossin' you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after that same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the Bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
The song Moon River, originally composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, has been covered by many artists, but Stevie Wonder's version adds a little soulful twist to this classic tune. The song speaks of crossing the wide river, Moon River, in style someday, accompanied by the dream maker and heartbreaker. The lyrics are both melancholic and hopeful – a combination that creates a sense of yearning for adventure and companionship on life's journey.
The two drifters, who are off to explore the world, are searching for the same rainbow's end while waiting for what fate has in store for them around the bend. They refer to their companionship as that of "huckleberry friends" – a term coined by Mark Twain in Huckleberry Finn to describe friends who are there through thick and thin. The song captures the beauty of friendship, love, and companionship and how they help one navigate through life's ups and downs.
In Stevie Wonder's rendition of this classic, the lyrics blend perfectly with his soulful rendition of the tune, which includes some sweet harmonica solos. The song invokes deep emotions and has become a timeless classic that captures the soul of American music.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon river, wider than a mile
The river is vast and cannot be contained. It represents the journey to come.
I'm crossing you in style some day
The singer will travel across the river with poise and elegance when they finally embark on their journey.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
The dream maker is the one that can create any possibility. The heart breaker is the one that crushes those dreams. The singer is addressing the unknown force that will shape their journey, for better or worse.
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way
The artist is dedicated to following the dream maker's path, no matter where it leads them.
Two drifters, off to see the world
The artist and their companion are wanderers searching for adventure.
There's such a lot of world to see
The vast expanse of the world is enticing and calls for exploration.
We're after the same rainbow's end, waitin' 'round the bend
The singer and their companion share a common goal of pursuing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They know that it is a challenging path and obstacles await them on the journey.
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
The artist's companion is their loyal and trusted friend during their journey. Together, they will travel down the moon river and face the unknown ahead.
Lyrics © Tratore
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini
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!