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.
Village Ghetto Land
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down my dead end street
Would you like to come with me
To Village Ghetto Land
See the people lock their doors
While robbers laugh and steal
Beggars watch and eat their meals-from garbage cans
Broken glass is everywhere
It's a bloody scene
Killing plagues the citizens
Unless they own police
Children play with rusted cars
Sores cover their hands
Politicians laugh and drink-drunk to all demands
Families buying dog food now
Starvation roams the streets
Babies die before they're born
Infected by the grief
Now some folks say that we should be
Glad for what we have
Tell me would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land
Village Ghetto Land
In the song “Village Ghetto Land”, Stevie Wonder paints a vivid picture of the stark reality of life in the inner city of America, and how it is a different world from the rest of America. Wonder opens the song by asking the listener to come with him to his dead-end street or “Village Ghetto Land” to witness the harshness of life in a neighborhood that is teeming with problems.
The first verse portrays the residents of the ghetto locking their doors, while robbers roam the streets and take whatever they can. Meanwhile, beggars search for food in garbage cans. The chorus of the song speaks of the hopelessness of life in the ghetto, where broken glass, bloodied pavements, and rampant crime are the norm. The residents of the ghetto are at the mercy of the criminals, and the only hope is to have the police on their side.
The second verse paints an even grimmer picture of life in the ghetto, where children play with rusted cars, and politicians are corrupt and indifferent to the plight of the poor. Families are forced to buy dog food as there is not enough to eat, and babies die before they are born due to the stressful conditions and lack of medical care. The song's final question: "Tell me, would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land?" serves as a stark reminder of the chance factors that allow one not to be born in such areas and that there is a great privilege in being born in a world of relative comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you like to go with me
Do you want to come with me
Down my dead end street
To the end of my block
Would you like to come with me
Would you like to join me
To Village Ghetto Land
To the neighborhood of poverty and despair
See the people lock their doors
Observe the people shutting themselves in
While robbers laugh and steal
As criminals break in, chuckling at their thefts
Beggars watch and eat their meals-from garbage cans
Panhandlers scavenge from trash bins to find food
Broken glass is everywhere
Shattered fragments of glass lie strewn about
It's a bloody scene
The scene is violent and chaotic
Killing plagues the citizens
The people suffer from rampant violence and death
Unless they own police
Unless they have their own private law enforcement
Children play with rusted cars
Kids use corroded vehicles as toys
Sores cover their hands
The children have infections and painful abrasions on their hands
Politicians laugh and drink-drunk to all demands
The politicians are apathetic, enjoying a life of luxury and ignoring the people's needs
Families buying dog food now
Families must purchase dog food to survive
Starvation roams the streets
People suffer from severe malnourishment
Babies die before they're born
Infants pass away before they even enter the world
Infected by the grief
Affected by the unbearable sadness and loss
Now some folks say that we should be
Some individuals claim that we ought to be content
Glad for what we have
Satisfied with what we possess
Tell me would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land
Do you think you could feel joy in a community plagued by poverty and hardship?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Shatema Byrd, Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PROPHETIC POETRY64
Stevie and his genius self.....
Great piece of work pulled from the shelf fa me to listen.....
Brotha was no doubt on a prophetic mission......
Great art and skill ....
They care not about life is why they kill......
Calling out to the Universe fa help from a spook of a man....
They doo as they will is a designed well orchestrated planedout lifestyle crocodile tears no emotions no feeling shady underground dealings.....
They say join us and bow to Satan aint it appealing??
Poverty and lack.....
Monopoly money in stacks......
Luxury cars and furnished homes and the whisper from those who danced with the devil saying let it burn with no love or concern.....
In a new reality it will be yoo and my turn......
The next Sojourn....
Megan D
Would you like to go with me
Down my dead end street
Would you like to come with me
To Village Ghetto Land
See the people lock their doors
While robbers laugh and steal
Beggars watch and eat their meals-from garbage cans
Broken glass is everywhere
It's a bloody scene
Killing plagues the citizens
Unless they own police
Children play with rusted cars
Sores cover their hands
Politicians laugh and drink-drunk to all demands
Families buying dog food now
Starvation roams the streets
Babies die before they're born
Infected by the grief
Now some folks say that we should be
Glad for what we have
Tell me would you be happy in Village Ghetto Land
Village Ghetto Land
yani bunny
My U.S history teacher showed my class this song along with other songs that surround America but this song just hit so different than the others. Ive personally never listened to Stevie’s music until a couple days ago but i just want to say this man is a lyrical genius. Hearing this song made me actually cry the meaning is just so ugghh its so good. I just wanted to come on here to say this because i was just crying over this beautiful masterpiece. And i wanted to thank my history teacher for introducing me to this song.
Isaiah Patterson
I almost cried listening and picturing this song but its still true. Imagine a blind man seeing the world better than people with vision 💔🤦🏾♂️
BlueRoseInc
This song was made in 1973 and we’re in 2020 and sadly this song still applies
Johnelienyc187
‘76
Augustine Lark
Rolling 70's
Chris Beadles
And it always will
Majora
it always will as long as the state that is designed to oppress all those that are marginalized is upheld. here's to the collapse of imperialism, capitalism and fascism.
Gunter Butler
So in 20Jordan23 you would have expected it to be a wee bit better. The price we pay for having a then black president. The art of civilization is about to tap out as we know it. Hope you enjoyed the ride♤♡◇♧¿
Hank Hill
Just discovered this record, this dude is rightfully a legend. Every song felt like a masterpiece on this record
Tehri Jackson
This is one of the saddest yet most beautiful songs EVER!!!