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.
These Three Words
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That they heard you say
Mother or father, I love you
And when was the last time
That they heard you say
Daughter or son, I love you
Ones you say you cherish everyday
Then you'd say I know this can't be true
When you never took the time
To simply tell them, "I love you"
When was the last time
That they heard you say
Sister or brother, I love you
And when was the last time
That they heard you say
Darling or best friend, I love you
The one for whom you'd give your very life
Could be taken in the twinkling of an eye
Through your tears you'd ask why did you go
Knowing you'd didn't always show
Just how much you loved them so
These three words
Sweet and simple
These three words
Short and kind
These three words
Always kindles
An aching heart to smile inside
I know a family
Who hasn't a cent to their name
And yet the joy and love they have between them
They always claim
And when one's called from life
The survived mourn the lost
And will never be the same
Yet they rejoice
In knowing they gave them their all
These three words
Sweet and simple
These three words
Short and kind
These three words
Always kindles
Stevie Wonder's song "These Three Words" speaks to the importance of expressing love and appreciation to the important people in our lives while they are still with us. Through his lyrics, he asks listeners when was the last time they told their loved ones how much they mean to them. The song encourages us to cherish and appreciate the people we love, as we never know when we may lose them. Wonder touches on the pain and regret that can come from not expressing our love, saying that it can be all too easy to take our loved ones and their presence in our lives for granted.
Wonder's lyrics are a poignant reminder of how important it is to regularly express our love to the people we cherish. The simple act of saying "I love you" can have a profound impact, filling our aching hearts with joy and making us smile even in the toughest of times. The song inspires us to appreciate our loved ones while they are still with us, showing them just how much we value and care for them.
Overall, "These Three Words" is a powerful and moving song that speaks to the universal human experience of love and loss. Its message resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, reminding us of the importance of expressing our feelings and appreciation for the special people in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
When was the last time
Have you ever stopped to think about
That they heard you say
If you've ever expressed to
Mother or father, I love you
Your parents just how much you love them
And when was the last time
When did you last say
That they heard you say
Tell
Daughter or son, I love you
Your children how much you care for them
Ones you say you cherish everyday
The people you claim to love and value every day
Can instantly be taken away
Can be gone in a moment
Then you'd say I know this can't be true
At that point, you might still struggle to believe it
When you never took the time
Even though you never took a moment
To simply tell them, "I love you"
To say those three words that can mean so much
Sister or brother, I love you
Have you expressed to your siblings how much you care?
Darling or best friend, I love you
What about your partner or closest friend?
The one for whom you'd give your very life
The person for whom you would do absolutely anything
Could be taken in the twinkling of an eye
Could be taken from you instantaneously
Through your tears you'd ask why did you go
In your grief, you would wonder why this happened
Knowing you'd didn't always show
Recognizing that you didn't always express
Just how much you loved them so
The depth of your love for them
These three words
The simple, powerful phrase
Sweet and simple
Gentle and easy to say
Short and kind
Brief but meaningful
Always kindles
Is always capable of stirring up
An aching heart to smile inside
Even in moments of sadness, it can bring joy
I know a family
Stevie Wonder shares an example
Who hasn't a cent to their name
That despite their lack of wealth
And yet the joy and love they have between them
They still experience great joy and love within their family
They always claim
They always acknowledge and talk about it
And when one's called from life
Even when one of them passes away
The survived mourn the lost
The remaining family members grieve
And will never be the same
Their lives will forever be changed by the loss
Yet they rejoice
Despite their sadness, they still celebrate
In knowing they gave them their all
Because they know that they loved and cared for their family member with all their heart
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
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!