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.
Race Babbling
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're race babbling
This world is moving much too fast
The end's unraveling
Man's production
Life's corruption
World destruct
Save you, people
God's induction
Life's construction
These instruct
Will save every living thing
Can't you see that
Life's connected
You need us to live
But we don't need you
This world is moving much too fast
They're race babbling
This world is moving much too fast
They're race babbling
This world is moving much too fast
The end's unraveling
This world is moving much too fast
You can't conceive the nucleus of all
Begins inside a tiny seed
And what you see is insignificant
(Incomprehensible)
Man's production
Life's corruption
World destruct
Help me, people
Save you, people
God's induction
Life's construction
These instruct
Will save every living thing
Can't you see that
Life's connected
You need us to live
But we don't need you
This world is moving much too fast
This world is moving much too fast
They're race babbling
This world is moving much too fast
They're space traveling
This world is moving much too fast
They're race babbling
This world is moving much too fast
The end's unraveling
This world is moving much too fast
This world is moving much too fast
This world is moving much too fast
They're race babbling
This world is moving much too fast
They're space traveling
In the song Race Babbling, Stevie Wonder is commenting on the rapid pace of society and the destructive nature of humanity. He starts off the song by saying "this world is moving much too fast" and "they're race babbling," which can be interpreted as people constantly competing against each other and striving for more, without taking a moment to slow down and appreciate what they have. The lyric "the end's unraveling" alludes to the idea that humanity may be causing its own demise by moving too quickly and not being mindful of the consequences.
Throughout the song, Stevie Wonder contrasts the negative aspects of humanity, such as "life's corruption" and "world destruct," with positive ideas like "God's induction" and "life's construction," which he hopes will "save every living thing." The repeated phrase "you need us to live, but we don't need you" could be interpreted as humanity's attitude towards the natural world, taking it for granted as they consume and exploit its resources without considering the long-term consequences.
Overall, Race Babbling can be seen as a call to action to slow down, appreciate the world around us, and take responsibility for our actions in order to avoid the destruction of the planet and humanity's own demise.
Line by Line Meaning
This world is moving much too fast
The pace of modern life is too rapid and overwhelming.
They're race babbling
Society is focused on competition and futile squabbling, rather than cooperation and progress.
The end's unraveling
The world is falling apart, as the problems facing humanity mount uncontrollably.
Man's production
Humanity's endless drive to create and innovate.
Life's corruption
The negative impact humanity's actions have had on the natural world.
World destruct
The looming possibility of total ecological collapse.
Help me, people
A call to action for societies around the world to unite and address the environmental crisis before it's too late.
Save you, people
A plea for individuals to put aside their self-interest and do their part to protect the planet.
God's induction
The belief in a higher power or spiritual force that can offer guidance and support to humanity.
Life's construction
The building of a better world, one that prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability.
These instruct
The importance of adopting new technologies and strategies to address the environmental crisis.
Will save every living thing
The potential for humanity to make a positive difference and prevent the extinction of countless species.
Can't you see that
An appeal to those who ignore or deny the science behind the environmental crisis.
Life's connected
The recognition that all life on earth is intertwined and dependent on one another.
You need us to live
The acknowledgement that humans are deeply dependent on the natural world for survival.
But we don't need you
The sobering realization that the natural world doesn't need humanity to survive, and may in fact be better off without us.
They're space traveling
Humanity's focus on space exploration and escapism, rather than fixing the problems on earth.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ewaf88
This track is now 40 years old. I was blown away by it when I bought the album back in 79.
What daring and innovation.
@cinebeatl
Such a misunderstood and sadly overlooked album. I LOVE this tune!
@islezeus
This sounds so futuristic, almost a precurser to Dance/House/Electronica music.
@not2shy2say
My BF used to play this album everyday and the plants in her house flourish like crazy. It's true that plant love music too.
@thepromiseman7745
That's why Stevie wonder called it the secret life of plants
@trentdavis733
I remember being 14 years old and discovering this song/album and I was calling all my friends saying, 'You gotta hear this!' It was (and still is) considered cutting edge for the time
@napulex107
Stevie was making electronic music in the late '70s.. way ahead of its time! This track could be played in some clubs today.
@pedroordonez8054
Alessandro B Stevie one of the founding fathers of EDM music. 😍❤️🕺
@FUNKINETIK
I’ve mixed it with Techno, I bought the album on release I was only 13.
I’m sure it has been used in dance track about 15+ years ago.
@callmemrgg4028
My plants love it