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.
Weakness
Stevie Wonder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something always throws it back together
And every time I think I've found someone new for my heart
After one kiss my heart tells me never
[Chorus]
Oh everyone has got a weakness in life
Girl, you just happen to be mine
Your love just happens to be mine
Every time I think your love has no more to give
You do something more to take me higher
And every time I think that for someone else I could live
I'd be living love out as a liar
[Chorus]
We keep thinking that our love won't last beyond tomorrow
But our hearts say we're gonna stay in love this way
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
In Stevie Wonder's song "Weakness," he explores the idea of unconditional love and how it can be both a strength and a weakness. The lyrics suggest that despite attempts to move on from a past love, there is always something that pulls the two individuals back together. Wonder describes how he believes he has found someone new for his heart, but after just one kiss, his heart tells him never to let go of his old love.
The chorus emphasizes the point that everyone has a weakness in life, and for the singer of the song, that weakness is the person he loved and lost. He cannot seem to move on or find someone new who can compare to the love he once had. Despite this weakness, the song suggests that there is a certain beauty in the unconditional love he feels. The love is strong, powerful, and never-ending, making it a force that is hard to resist.
The final lines of the song suggest that even though they may think their love won't last, their hearts keep them together. The idea of the heart winning over the mind is a common theme in love songs, and it's one that resonates with many people. The song ends with the chorus repeating, reinforcing the idea that everyone has a weakness, and for Stevie Wonder, that weakness is his old love.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I think our love is drifting apart
Despite thinking that our bond is fading away, something always brings us back together.
Something always throws it back together
There are certain unexplainable forces that move us to reconcile every time we start to grow apart.
And every time I think I've found someone new for my heart
Even though I might meet other people who appear suitable for me, my heart reveals they won't be the one for me.
After one kiss my heart tells me never
It only takes a single smooch with potential lovers to know that they're not the love of my life.
Oh everyone has got a weakness in life
Each person has a certain vulnerability that can be exploited or troubles them.
Girl, you just happen to be mine
In my case, it's you that holds the key to my weaknesses as I am easily provoked by your actions.
Every time I think your love has no more to give
Even if I feel that you have given your all, you always exceed expectations and keep on giving.
You do something more to take me higher
You always manage to raise the bar, going above and beyond to make me feel loved and appreciated.
And every time I think that for someone else I could live
Occasionally, the possibility of finding happiness with another person might seem plausible in my mind.
I'd be living love out as a liar
However, I know that it would only be a falsehood to pretend that I can forget about the love that we share.
We keep thinking that our love won't last beyond tomorrow
Despite our fears, we both worry that our love will not be sustainable.
But our hearts say we're gonna stay in love this way
In contrast, our feelings tell us that our love will endure and continue in the same fashion and strength.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
1st Sarge
This song is nostalgia! I remember falling in love for the first time. Everytime I saw her or was in her presence it gave me butterflies and I found myself saying and doing foolish things to impress her. We've been married for 27 blessed years. Her sweetness was my weakness!
Sean Ferguson
❤❤❤❤
Carlenejennifer Roberts
So happy for you both ❤
elphonics
Absolutely! This duet was beautiful! "It's You" "Love Light", "Moments", " I Just Called To Say". All Gems in the Stevie Wonder catalog!
Edward Hill
This song is still as powerful as the first time I ever heard it..from 1984 till 2021 still good stuff
Nately Laroyce
This song right here touches your Heart and Soul/Spirit! And I live(d) this song til this day. Love the whole sound track and Movie! Sing it Dionne and Stevie sing it!!!!! Love this!
Dwayne E. Towns
Stevie Wonder Works timeless, priceless, musical magic with the accompaniment of Dionne Warwick... so excellent.
The arrangement in this composition is so emotionally charged makes me think about what was happening in my life at that time. And now.
Karl24-7
2 superstars perfectly explaining what it means to have your
heart owned by somebody even when time has passed. Absolutely
loved this incredible duet between Stevie and Dionne.
Mitchell Carpenter
One the all time greatest duets ever
Sheila Echols
And I put an emphasis on the EVER!!
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH 💙❤