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.
True Love
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why'd you take so long
Every time I thought I found you
I was oh so wrong
True love
Were you playing with my heart
Or me not trying to feel that
I'd say yes I found you
And think maybe so
I'd say here's my love true
And feel are you sure
But love is that feeling
Sharing no room with doubt
For I knew you were the key to my heart
Oh, sweet love
Never go away
Let our love have us forever
To prove why we can't stay
Oh, true love
Are you saying touché
Let us live as perfect lovers
With a promise for always
Let us live as perfect lovers
With a promise for always
In Stevie Wonder’s song True Love, the artist reflects on the journey of finding true love. The singer questions why it took so long to find his soulmate and why he was misled with false love in the past. Wonder shares his vulnerability towards love, admitting that he was not able to recognize true love from the beginning. He describes the uncertainty and doubt he had towards his own feelings and the love he thought he had found, emphasizing the importance of feeling secure and sure in true love.
Wonder portrays the importance of love through the lyrics “never go away” and “let our love have us forever”. The theme of eternal love and the promise of forever is prominent throughout the song. Wonder suggests that true love should be without any doubts and insecurities, declaring that “love is that feeling sharing no room with doubt”. He concludes the song with a beautiful line “Let us live as perfect lovers with a promise for always”, emphasizing that true love does exist and is worth cherishing.
Overall, Stevie Wonder’s True Love is a beautiful introspection into the journey of finding true love. The song celebrates the beauty of true love and the importance of recognizing it, while acknowledging the doubts and uncertainties one faces during this journey.
Line by Line Meaning
True love
Wonder is addressing his idea of true love, asking why it took so many heartaches and failed relationships to find it
Why'd you take so long
The singer wonders why true love had to wait so long to come into his life, causing him so much emotional pain
Every time I thought I found you
Wonder reflects on how he thought he had found true love multiple times before, but each time it fell apart
I was oh so wrong
The artist recognizes that his past relationships were not true love, as they always ended in heartbreak
True love
Once again, Stevie addresses his concept of true love, questioning whether it was leading him on or if he just couldn't recognize it
Were you playing with my heart
Wonder asks if his true love was toying with him, causing him to feel pain and confusion
Or me not trying to feel that
The artist considers the possibility that he was subconsciously avoiding true love, refusing to let it in due to past heartaches
They weren't it from the start
Wonder acknowledges that the people he was with before were not true love from the beginning, despite how hard he tried to make it work
I'd say yes I found you
The singer reflects on saying that he had found true love before, only to realize that it wasn't what he thought it was
And think maybe so
Even after saying he found true love, the artist wasn't sure if it was genuine or not
I'd say here's my love true
Stevie would pour out his heart to his lovers, expressing his true love, even though it wasn't actually true love
And feel are you sure
Despite expressing his love, the singer was never entirely sure if he was with the right person
But love is that feeling
Wonder explains that true love is a distinct feeling, separate from doubt and confusion
Sharing no room with doubt
True love doesn't tolerate any doubt or uncertainty, according to the artist
For I knew you were the key to my heart
Stevie knew that his true love was the one who held the key to his heart, unlike any of his previous partners
Oh sweet love
The artist addresses his true love, calling it sweet and expressing his deep affection for it
Never go away
Stevie pleads with his true love to stay with him always, never to leave
Let our love have us forever
The singer hopes that their love can keep them together for eternity
To prove why we can't stay
The two lovers will stay together to prove that their love is real and can stand the test of time
True love
The song finally ends with the artist once again addressing his true love, seemingly more confident and hopeful than before
Are you saying touché
Stevie wonders if his true love is responding to his pleas and affirming the depth of their relationship
Let is live as perfect lovers
The artist envisions living as perfect lovers together, with their mutual love and support for each other
With a promise for always
They will make a promise to love and support each other always, never to let their true love fade away
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
T
I love this song. Stevie is THE best musician to ever grace the planet
danynumero6
Stevie has such a smooth voice
SpikeJet2736
Still a genius to this day.
Radio Station Laptops
Published on Jul 15, 2009
Tracey Hughes
True love knows no boundaries. Has no limitations. It is infinite. So glad to be in this deep with you my beloved. Once again. I really am blessed to know you.
Mônica Ely
Amo essa música!!!!!
Eduardo Guzman
Steve Wonder is the solider of jazz, I've been hearing his music since 1974, his the best 🎧🎶🎶🍺
chlimele
I really like the sound of the saxophone in this song......Wonderful.....
ILEENA BELLE
❤️ First time I've heard this smooth tune . Great pick for my morning playlist ❤️
northrify
Soothing, soulful, romantic.